Page 76 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Welcome.” They stood staring at each other because it seemed that like him, she didn’t know what to say next.

He had no rights to this woman and couldn’t tell her what to do, even as everything inside him balked at the fact she was now working two jobs. Lots of people did that all around the world, Ryder got that, but for some reason, it bothered him she was doing it. That she’d walk home in the cold after this to Klaus and Lea’s sleepout and stay there alone.

Not exactly alone, as Klaus and Lea would be in the house, but still.Christ, stop, Ryder, she’s not your problem.

“Problem?”

He turned to find JD behind him. “No, you ready for me now?”

His brother-in-law-to-be nodded, his eyes going from JD to Libby. “Yup.”

Ryder walked around him to the room JD did his tattooing in and sat on the bed.

“You all good there, Ryder?” JD said, wandering back in minutes later.

“Of course. You?” He rolled up the sleeve of his T-shirt.

“Never better. I’m living with your sister after all.”

“I mean, to you that could be a bonus, but you have to understand we likely got the other version of her,” Ryder said, making himself relax. “My sister was a she-devil.”

“Watch how you talk about the love of my life,” JD drawled.

He then pulled his cart closer and sat on his stool.

“So lay it on me. What do you want on your upper arm?”

“This.” Ryder handed over the paper with the picture of the tree he’d found online.

“A symbol of growth and continued growth?” JD asked, getting it immediately. “Nice. Mind if I add my touch to it?”

“Have at it,” Ryder said.

“So why the tattoo now?”

“Why not?” Ryder lay back and looked at another ugly painting across from him. “What’s with the ugly artwork, bud? You get a deal on them or something?”

JD swiveled from what he was doing to look at the painting. It was black lines and squiggles that looked like semicolons.

“I paid a lot for the artwork in here, you heathen.”

“You were ripped off.”

“So Libby.”

“No Libby.”

“You seemed kinda tense when I saw you talking to her just before.”

“Not tense,” Ryder said, wondering if he should move towns and visit his family occasionally. Would he enjoy the anonymity? Even as he thought it, he knew he’d miss everyone too much.

“What’s he getting done?” This came from Nina minutes later while JD outlined his tattoo. She and Cill were soon looking over JD’s shoulder, watching.

“I’m sure you both have clients,” their boss said.

“Nope, mine’s just drying her nails. Libby is making us coffee. Anyone want one?” Nina asked. “She also got the dead mouse that Deidra dragged into my room, so you don’t have to do that today, JD.”

“Can’t say I’m sorry about that. Two coffees for us,” he added before Ryder spoke.

---