Page 72 of The Moment He Saw Her

She was a mess and hadn’t told him the truth about who she was.

Last night he’d wanted to know about her life, but she hadn’t told him because she wanted to just be Libby Gulliver here. Anonymous.

Opening the cafe door, she walked inside. The music was on, and it was toasty warm. She could already smell the delicious scents of baking and coffee and thought they were scents she would always remember when she left here.

She found him in the kitchen, focusing on the dough he was rolling. He wore jeans that were faded at the knees, a gray Henley with the long sleeves rolled up to show really nice forearms, and a ball cap that made his hair curl up at the back. She looked at his hands. They’d touched her last night, and she shivered at the memory of how they’d felt on her skin.

“Hey.”

His head swiveled at the greeting, and their eyes locked.

“Hey, you. How are you this morning?”

“Ryder, about last night?—”

“It shouldn’t have happened, but it does when two people are attracted to each other,” he said, holding her eyes. “But it won’t happen again if you don’t want it to. Okay?”

She nodded.

“So we’re good, and you’re not going to find a hay barn to sleep in tonight or anything reckless like that?”

She found a snort. “No hay barns, but I do need to find a place.”

“Sure, but for now we have lots to get through this morning, so go make us coffee.”

She hesitated. He moved closer and grabbed her shoulders.

“Libby, you need work, and I need a worker. Let the rest go for now.” He gave her a gentle squeeze, then released her. “Now go make coffee. You don’t want an angry boss on your hands, do you?”

She did, pleased they’d talked what had happened through… kind of. He’d said he wanted her, and she knew she wanted him, but they were adults and could ignore that. At least that’s what she told herself. She would find somewhere else to stay tonight.

When Meadow arrived, she had set up out front while Ryder still worked in the kitchens.

“Coffee, stat, Libby.” Nina staggered in at 8:00 a.m. She wore a scarf wrapped around her face so only her nose was showing and a long wool coat to her ankles.

“You’re up early,” Libby said.

“I know. I have to open up, and apparently the first customer is in at 9:00 a.m. Who actually wants a facial done at 9:00 a.m. I ask you?”

“A customer?” Libby said.

“It’s uncivil is what it is,” Nina muttered. “What flavor are the scones today?”

“Maple and date.”

“I’ll take four. Are you still looking for a place to stay, Libby?” Nina asked her. “Although I’m clueless why you want to leave Ryder’s house. That man is hot.”

“I really can’t just stay with him, Nina. It’s not fair. I’m only there because he’s kind enough to let me, as there was nowhere else,” Libby lied. She couldn’t tell her the truth.

“You wouldn’t get me out if I moved in there, but that’s just me. Now, I know somewhere you can stay.”

“Really?” Libby said quickly. “I’ll take it.”

“At least wait until I tell you where it is before you say yes.” Nina leaned in closer. “It’s not far from Ryder’s.”

As long as it got her out of his house and away from his body, Libby was good with that. She needed to call Bob again and check on her car’s progress too.

“Plus, if you want more work, we need someone to clean up the Gnat at night. Sweep floors and wipe down surfaces, so I don’t have to do it,” Nina said.

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