Page 57 of The Moment He Saw Her

“I just never got around to changing things and didn’t realize he still had access to my accounts.”

He was looking confused. “You’d possibly know more about this kind of thing than me, but doesn’t he need to be a joint signatory on your account to do that?”

“It’s complex” was all Libby was willing to say.

“Well, call him and tell him you want your money and cards reinstated,” he said calmly, like she’d not thought about doing that at least ten times today already.

“It’s complicated, and I’m not ready to talk to him yet.” Which made her sound pathetic.

“So what? You’d rather live in Fox Gleeson’s flea pit than swallow your pride?” Ryder’s eyes were narrowed now.

“You don’t know my reasons, and I’m not getting into it with you, Ryder.”

“Seeing as I’m the one bailing you out of your bad decisions and your employer, seems to me I have some rights.”

“I will leave when Bob has my car fixed.” The words came out stiff and cold. He laughed. “Don’t laugh at me.”

“I want to help you, Libby, and this, the shit you’re doing, is going to end bad for a good girl like you who has no life experience. You’re like my niece when she took off her training wheels: really wobbly and clueless.”

“I am not! I have been surviving well on my own for three weeks,” she said stiffly.

“With money, but now that it’s run out, you’re not. So admit you need help and?—”

“No! I’m doing this myself,” Libby said. She had to for her own pride, if not to show her family she was strong enough to be away from them. Strong enough to walk away from Andrew and the life they would have shared.

“I understand pride better than most, but not stupidity. You’re not used to roughing it, Libby, and any fool could see that.”

“I don’t need your advice, Ryder. As soon as I get paid and my car back, I will leave and no longer be your problem.”

“Is that a hint for me to pay you? It’s payday tomorrow.”

“No!” She was horrified he’d think that.

“Just messing with you, and for the record, I’m worried about you, Libby.”

“Don’t be. Once I’m back on track, I’ll be fine. Then I’ll leave, and you can forget me.” The thought of leaving him… this town shouldn’t hurt as much as it did.

“And what? You’re just going to keep running from the mess you left behind?”

“I’m working through some things,” Libby said.

He didn’t add anything and eased back, allowing Libby to join him outside. She couldn’t remember a time when a man made her more aware of him than Ryder Duke, and that couldn’t be true considering she’d been engaged. It was just that her life was a bit like the spin cycle on a washer right now. She had no idea which direction it was heading.

“You can leave the Rollaway books in the car,” he said. “They’ll be safe there.”

“Are you sure? I mean, Dee entrusted me?—”

“Look around you, Libby.”

She did and saw nothing. No cars or people.

“So we’re good?”

She nodded.

“Right, in you go, then,” Ryder said, opening the front door. “It’s cold out here.”

“Ryder—”

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