Page 82 of The Moment He Saw Her

“Girl, you are my new hero,” Caleb said, hugging her.

“Thank you, Libby,” SJ said solemnly.

“It’s okay, SJ,” Libby said patting her shoulder before heading out the door. She’d have to run now to get to the cafe on time.

Adrenaline coursed through her as she jogged along the street.

Holy crap, she’d stepped in to take on that man without a thought. Libby had done nothing like that before. It had been instinctive, and her brother, Samuel, would be proud that his self-defense lessons had worked.

Libby had never thought of herself as brave, but it had been something she’d been working on since that day she walked out of her wedding. She felt stronger suddenly and less vulnerable. It was a wonderful feeling.

The sound of a car horn had her looking to the road. It was Tripp Lyntacky. He waved, and she replied. People knew her here, and she knew them. She was no longer invisible.

Smiling, she opened the door to the Swing Through Cafe and entered. Ryder was standing there with one hand on his hip, legs braced, and a phone pressed to his ear. His brown eyes were locked on her. He pocketed the phone and advanced on Libby.

“What the fuck did you think you were doing?”

Chapter24

“About what?” Libby asked as she closed the door behind her.

Ryder ran his eyes over her as she turned back to face him. Caleb had just called to tell him what happened, and recount what Libby had done. It had taken ten years off his life.

He saw no bruises or blood on the clothes she wore, which were her usual uniform of black leggings and that jacket and boots. But the hat and scarf were recent additions, and he’d put money on Lea Becker knitting them for her. Sweet, he thought, tamping down his anger. Libby Gulliver was sweet.

She’s standing unhurt right in front of you,he reminded himself.

“You took on a man twice your size, Libby. He could have hurt you.”

“Who called you?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

This Libby was already different from the pale scared one he’d met on that first day her car broke down. Stronger, he thought. Happier too. The tension had gone from her body and eyes.

“Caleb. He wanted me to check you were okay.” He moved closer. “Are you?”

She made a huffing sound. “Of course I am. It was scary, but I’m okay now. Caleb didn’t need to check up on me.”

“His concern was valid considering that was a member of the Bandits motorcycle gang, and he could have?—”

“He didn’t because I took care of him.” Her chin lifted, daring him to question her further.

Oh, he’d question her all right. The woman needed to understand a few things.

“You can’t do stuff like that, Libby. Caleb said his heart nearly stopped.”

“Would you have done it?”

“Of course.”

“But I’m not allowed to?”

“If he’d connected with that punch, he would have dropped you and likely concussed you or worse, Libby.”

“But I used the self-defense moves my brother taught me to stop him,” she said, sounding far too rational. “And Caleb shouldn’t have told you because I’m fine. I’m not your concern, Ryder.”

He wanted to say that wasn’t true. He wanted to tell her she was driving him crazy, and she was all he could think about.

“What is being done about Klaus and Lea, Ryder?”

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