Page 59 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Thanks, that would be nice.” Libby’s eyes went to the picture of a man on the wall opposite where she sat.

“That’s our father. He died when we were young,” Brody said.

“I’m sorry, that must have been hard.”

“Very,” he added. “Uncle Asher dropped everything and moved home to help Mom raise us.”

“It was an honor,” the man said, looking at his niece and nephews.

“So, Libby,” Zoe Duke then said after clearing her throat. “Tell us all about you.”

Oh hell no.

Chapter17

His sister had never been one to take a back step when she wanted information, and because he didn’t know that much about Libby, he let Zoe ask her questions. All he knew about the woman living in his house was that she was an accountant, her father had frozen her bank accounts, she’d walked out on her wedding, and she was an average ballet dancer. So maybe he did know some stuff, but not all of it.

“Beer, bud?” JD asked, holding out the drink.

“Cheers.” Ryder took it and then a mouthful.

Life had become complicated since Libby Gulliver stepped into his cafe. She brought out his protective instincts, and that wasn’t a good thing. Even though she wasn’t his type, he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her and caring what she was up to.

Then there was her brain. He’d enjoyed it the few nights they’d shared a meal and watched the news when she disagreed with something the announcer said. Ryder and Libby had debated several issues, and while he’d thought she’d back down, she didn’t.

Independence was liberating. He’d felt it moving into his house and buying the cafe. Ryder wondered if this was Libby’s first taste of it, and maybe she was starting to believe in herself.

His rage was usually reserved for when things went wrong with his family, but he’d felt it when he’d seen her with Fox and his cousins and known she’d considered sleeping in that RV. He’d wanted to beat the crap out of Fox, but of course, he hadn’t because the man was basically a harmless moron.

“Where in Oklahoma is home for you, Libby?” his mom asked before Zoe could ask another question.

Ally burst into the room with her fluffy mutt on her heels, putting a halt to the conversation. “Hey, Uncle Ry.”

He picked her up, tipping her upside down and swinging her around in the kitchen, which had her squealing.

“Seriously, bro, that just about pierced my eardrum,” Brody said.

“Whereabouts in Oklahoma, Libby?”

Ryder had a feeling that if it were anyone but his mom asking these questions, Libby would evade and divert, but he also knew she was a good girl who followed the rules.

“Piedmont,” she said.

“How lovely. I’ve heard it’s beautiful there. It’s also where my favorite chocolate and hazelnut toffee comes from.”

It was only a small gesture, but Ryder saw Libby twitch as her mother spoke. He remembered that night when they were watching the ice hockey and she’d looked the same as she did now when that candy commercial came on.

Curious.

“I’ve tried that. It’s very good,” Libby said, but her words sounded stilted.

“My kids order it in for me,” his mom added.

“So, Libby, where are you staying tonight?” Zoe asked, persistent as always.

“Ah, well?—”

“With me again tonight,” Ryder said, eyeballing his sister and then his brothers to make sure they understood nothing more needed to be said on that matter.

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