Page 7 of The Moment He Saw Her

Jed Knox said he was competing in archery, which had everyone groaning, because last time he’d shot an arrow, he’d nearly put it through his wife, who’d been stupid enough to stand within ten feet of the man while he had a bow in his hand.

The Lynpicks was really just an excuse to eat and drink a lot, but the locals would enjoy it, as would any tourists in town.

“Yeah, we’ve been practicing, and we’re ready,” Ryder said.

“Well, I’m sure Tripp won’t mind if you can’t dance and need more practice,” Enzo added. “Winning is important, Ryder.”

“Got that, thanks, Enzo.”

Lyntacks, as the locals called themselves, liked to win at all costs.

“How are you feeling, Libby?” Meadow asked as she added a little flair to her moves by jumping and hopping a few steps.

“I’m well, thank you, Meadow.”

“Excellent, that amethyst must be working.”

Libby nodded, looking nervous and totally freaked out by what was playing out around her.

“She’s just being friendly.” His words came out hard.

She frowned. “I know that.”

“Like I said, you’re a big-city girl, right?”

“I’m not sure what that’s got to do with anything,” Libby snapped.

“It means you don’t know how small towns work. We like each other here,” Ryder added.

“That’s insulting to all big cities, but then I guess you don’t leave town often,” she hissed back.

“My mom took me on a road trip to the next town, does that count?” Ryder mocked her.

“Jett, you tell your mom to bring her crochet patterns to club tomorrow,” LouJean said. “I’ve a hankering to create something.”

“Will do,” Jett said, light on his feet considering he was wearing work boots.

“I should leave and find somewhere to stay,” Libby said as the music stopped.

“Not sure much will be open yet,” Ryder said, walking back to his cafe. She could stay or go—that was on her. “I can make you another coffee, but this time you pay.”

“Have I offended you in some way?”

Her phone rang as he was about to answer, so he kept moving.

“You going to answer that?” he said when she followed him through the door.

“No.”

Ryder hated it when people didn’t answer their phones, unless they had a good reason not to. But his real pet peeve was when he was texting someone and called them, and they didn’t pick up.

“Sure seems like whoever is calling is determined to speak to you,” he said on the sixth ring.

She moved away from him and shook her hands twice before taking the phone out of her pocket. It wasn’t what he’d expected her to have. It looked like a burner phone. Inexpensive and easily tossed in the trash. He’d pegged her to have the latest model. Maybe she was on the run or negotiating some big drug deal? No, she didn’t look like a criminal to him, but then he’d been fooled before.

Ryder headed for the coffee machine and watched Libby.

She said something he couldn’t hear, then looked up at his ceiling briefly before shaking her head.

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