Page 58 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Now, Libby.” He pushed her gently inside and shut the door behind them.

“I’ve been making decisions for years—in fact, since I was at least four,” she said.

“Well, good for you,” he said. “Keep walking until you hear the noise, then go in that direction.”

She saw white walls and splashes of color in the frames hanging with pictures that looked like they’d been drawn by children. Thinking of her parents’ house, she knew there had been none of her drawings on display there.

Beside her, Ryder sniffed loudly.

“What?”

“Dinner,” he said, grinning.

Libby inhaled and caught the delicious scent in the air then.

“My mom is an awesome cook, Libby. Brace yourself for the meal of a lifetime.”

She’d eaten in some expensive places, but never in a house like this and sitting down with a family she didn’t know for a home-cooked meal.

“My family all talk over each other. Yours?” Ryder asked her as a loud shout reached them.

“Not at mealtimes.”

They walked into a large kitchen that seemed to be filled with noise. The long wooden table had people seated on either side of it, and most of them she’d met in the cafe. An older lady with gray hair, who Libby guessed was Ryder’s mother, was at the stove. She had an apron with flowers all over it wrapped around her.

The room seemed alive with noise and scents. It was a scene totally foreign to Libby, and nothing like the meals she’d eaten in her parents’ house.

For a start, the cooking in there was done by someone else and served by staff. This was like something she’d seen on TV—a sitcom or movie. Libby wasn’t sure why she felt an ache in the pit of her stomach right then, but she did.

Everyone’s lives had their own kind of normal, and she knew this was that to these people. There was a plate on the wall that looked like a kid had painted it and said, “Best Mom Ever.” Libby tried to imagine something like that hanging in her parents’ house and couldn’t.

One large glass-fronted cabinet held plates and mugs. A blue-and-white jug sat on the table with dried flowers in it. She saw a red and chrome coffee maker and other appliances dotted around the long bench tops.

All these people probably had their own issues and problems, Libby knew that, but she had a feeling they were always there for one another, and that many things had been discussed and worked through in this kitchen.

It was speculation, but she also knew Ryder was a good guy. That had to come from somewhere, and she was guessing it was being raised in this setting.

“Hey, Mom,” Ryder said as he walked to the woman wrapped in an apron. He then leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“This is my mom. Libby, Robyn,” Ryder said. “You know all the others because they were nosey and came into the cafe and met you.”

She shot them all looks, surprised at his words. They’d come to the Swing Through Cafe to meet her when she thought they were visiting Ryder.

“Just checking you weren’t an ax murderer,” Dan said, smiling.

“Or after our brother for his money,” Zoe said.

The look in her eyes told Libby she wasn’t sure how to take her yet and what her intentions toward her brother were. Libby wanted to reassure her that although her brother was hot and they’d kissed—nope, not going there again—he was safe from her.

“Hello, Libby, I’m so sorry you’re having such a tough time of things,” Robyn Duke said. She then stepped into Libby’s space and hugged her. There was a hint of lemon and lavender coming from the woman, and it was lovely, but while she was getting used to the need this town had for hugging and touching, it was still uncomfortable. Especially when you were raised in a family who was not big on personal contact.

“Now you go on and sit down. My youngest has made room for you.”

A hand nudged her to the seat.

“Coffee or mulled wine, dear?” Robyn Duke asked.

“Go with the wine, it’s good,” Brody Duke said from across the table.

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