Page 74 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Oooh, I like that one. It has a strawberry flavor to it.”

Brody ate one too. “Not to be critical, bro, because they are good, but the texture isn’t quite right. Kinda grainy.”

Libby put the dishes in the sink and washed them.

“You think?” Ryder said, taking a bite of the chocolate.

“You try, Libby,” Phoebe said.

“I’m all good, but?—”

“It’s not poison, Libby,” Brody drawled. “Try the damn chocolate.”

Wiping her hands, she took a piece from the tray Ryder held out. Sniffing it, she then took a small bite of the outside and swallowed before the inside.

“Well, that’s a different way of eating chocolate,” Brody said.

“Are your molds dry when you pour in the chocolate, Ryder?” Libby asked.

He frowned.

“Just a thought,” Libby muttered, going back to the sink.

“Who has a thought like that if they don’t know about chocolate making?” Ryder asked.

She shrugged and continued washing the dishes loudly.

“Well, are they?” Phoebe demanded.

“I washed them earlier, but maybe I didn’t dry them properly,” Ryder said, and Libby could feel his eyes on her.

She needed to keep her opinions to herself, or people would start asking her more questions she didn’t want to answer. Because the truth wasn’t something she wanted to share with anyone.

Chapter22

Two hours after closing, Ryder was finally ready to leave. Libby had gone to meet up with Klaus and Lea and could or could not be in his house when he got home. He told himself the latter would be better, but the truth was, he liked having her there.

He’d only known her a short time, but she’d made a big impact on him, and maybe her leaving was for the best. Then he couldn’t get in any deeper or end up in her bed, which was what he wanted… had wanted last night.

She’s leaving Lyntacky soon, bud. Try to remember that.

“What do you want?” he said, answering his phone when it rang.

“I have a free appointment now, as it’s our late night. So get here in five, asshole,” JD said.

Snorting, Ryder hung up and drove to the Gnat. Walking in the front door minutes later, as most things were close in Lyntacky, he found his future sister-in-law seated behind the reception desk.

“Hey, Birdie.”

“Hi, Ryder.”

“How are you doing? Picked a date yet?”

Small, blond, and sweet, Birdie was the exact opposite to the bear she was marrying.

“End of the month at our place. Simple and just with the people we love.”

Most people would say with friends and family, but not Birdie. Raised by Meadow and Hamish McAllister surrounded by peace, love, and understanding, she was all about that.

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