Page 70 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Do you know about that kind of thing?” Libby asked him.

“Yeah, I did a master class and several other small courses over the last few years.”

“I understand it’s difficult?”

“How did you come by that knowledge?” Ryder asked, looking at her now. Being a chocolatier wasn’t something just anyone wanted to do.

Her eyes lifted to his, and their expression wasn’t empty anymore. Panic was what he saw in the green depths now.

“Libby—”

“You should follow your dreams, Ryder,” she said, getting to her feet. She then walked to the kitchen and away from him.

He followed.

“What did I say?” She had her back to him and was washing her mug so hard, it was amazing it didn’t break.

“Nothing. I’m going to bed.”

“What did I say that made you walk away, then, Libby?”

“Nothing.” She turned, holding his dish towel clasped in her hands.

Ryder moved closer. “You reacted to me wanting to design specialty chocolates. I want to know why.”

“Why would I do that?”

He leaned into her space. “You tell me.”

They were close enough that he could see the flutter of her pulse. He reached out to stroke the skin with a finger. Soft, he thought.

“Something happened back there that had you leaving, and as we were talking about me taking my business online with specialty chocolate and fudge, I’m thinking that was what spooked you.”

Their eyes locked, and he saw the turmoil then.

“Libby, it’s okay. I don’t need to know. I’m just not the most patient man when I want information about someone.”

“Why do you want to know about me?”

“You interest me, no matter how hard I’ve tried to fight it.” He brushed his thumb across the scar on her jaw. “You’re beautiful, but there’s also that brain of yours, which intrigues me. How did you get this?”

“I was late to a meeting and tripped on the stairs. I landed on a ledge.”

“Ouch,” he said, brushing his fingers back and forth along it.

“Ryder, my life… it’s a mess, and there is so much you don’t know about me.” Her words were breathless now as he closed the distance between them.

“Shhh, it’s okay, Libby.” He kissed her slowly.

“Ryder,” she whispered against his lips.

“I know.” And he did. They shouldn’t do this, but neither one of them was pulling away. He leaned in and took her bottom lip between his teeth. She moaned, and he was gone.

Ryder took the kiss deeper, exploring her mouth as she opened for him. Sliding his hands up her hips, he craved the feel of her skin. Easing his fingers under the hem of her shirt, he felt Libby shudder as he touched her.

Christ, she was sexy. That subtle scent she wore that he’d been smelling every time she was near. The sweet curve of her lips beneath his. It all got to him. Even wrapped in layers, he knew she had a lovely body, but dressed in a fitted long-sleeved pajama shirt and baggy bottoms, he could feel every curve.

He stroked her stomach slowly, mapping the woman he didn’t know nearly well enough to be doing this to. Ryder was on fire as he battled the desperate need to take her on his kitchen counter, and he’d only touched her stomach.

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