By the Book Bride: Ryder (A BBW Western Romance) (Matchmaking A Marriage 1) (9 page)

“Not that part.” Georgia wished she’d kept quiet but old insecurities about his thriving bachelorhood had surfaced as soon as she realized how easily the pretty words rolled from his tongue. Though not in Gabe’s class, Ryder was still quite glib. She distracted herself from the sudden tension by picking up the garbage and replacing lids on the proper containers.

“Stop, honey.” Again he reached for her hands, claiming them both inside his warm, calloused ones. “I know my reputation, but honest-to-God, I’m not using a line on you. I thought you knew me better than that by now.”

His thumbs made little circles on the backs of her hands and Georgia found herself being swayed by the sincere look in his dark eyes. “I’m sorry.” She shrugged, slightly embarrassed at her momentary insecurity. “You’re right.” She pasted a smile on her face, determined not to spoil their time together by giving sway to her self-doubts. “So what would you like to do tonight?”

“I’m sorry, babe. That’s another reason I wanted to have lunch with you. I’m going to help Gramps do inventory at the store tonight.” One hand squeezed hers. “I’d like to come by later if that’s okay?”

“You’re awfully sweet, Ryder Anderson.” Georgia leaned across the table and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.

“Is that a yes?”

Georgia nodded, feeling the heat of his gaze all the way to her toes. “That’s definitely a yes, cowboy.”             

GEORGIA PUT AWAY
the last book from the return cart and stretched her shoulders. Both she and Prudence had stayed late to sort the books and begin the laborious task of switching out the shelves. The new ones that Pete had built would allow expansion of certain sections and make the pursuit of reading material more inviting. The hand-stained wooden ones also made for a cozier, homey feel. Plus, the library budget just wouldn’t stretch to purchase the metal ones most libraries used.

“Well, I’m tuckered so I’m heading out.”

Lost in thought, Georgia nodded.

“You gonna stay all night?”

“No.” Georgia turned to the older woman with a tired smile. “I’m leaving too. I just have to grab my purse.”

“Then I’ll wait and walk out with you.”

“Okay.”

Georgia shortened her stride to match Prudence’s slower shuffle on the shiny tile floors. “I can’t thank you enough for coming back and helping out like this.”

“Psst. It’s nothing.”

“No,” Georgia pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder and dug out her keys, “it’s really something.” She held the door for the older woman then turned to lock it behind them. “I wish there was some way I could repay you.”

“Well, there is something you could do for me.”

“Name it.”

Prudence stepped closer and Georgia wondered suddenly if she was going to be asked to take her shopping, clean her house or even take her cats to the vet. Either way, she’d invited whatever request the feisty lady was about to make. She hadn’t made the offer lightly.

“Don’t break that boy’s heart.”

Stunned, Georgia could only blink in confusion. “What?”

“Ryder has always been a good boy. He got a little off track for a while. All three of those Anderson boys did. Especially Gabe.” The other woman shook her head when she said Gabe’s name. “But you’ve managed to rein Ryder in. Show him what the love of a good woman is all about.”

“I don’t think…”

“He loves you, Georgia.” The gray head bobbed. “I know he acts full of spit and vinegar, but he’s got a soft heart.”

Georgia took a deep breath. “I appreciate your concern, Prudence, but—”

“Don’t ‘but’ me, young lady. You may be able to fool everybody else, but I’ve been around a long time. When you two are together, the way you feel about each other is unmistakable.” She eyed Georgia knowingly. “You do love him, don’t you?”

“I…” Deciding there was no point in hiding her feelings, she nodded. “I do.”

“Thought so.” Prudence nodded. “So when are you going to tell him?”

“That’s… I don’t…” Georgia blew out a long breath.

“Don’t wait too long. That boy needs to hear it.”

With that bit of sage advice, the older woman turned and walked briskly down the sidewalk, leaving Georgia standing beneath the golden halo of light from the street lamp.

The city was quiet, most businesses having closed up hours ago. The café down the block was still lit up, undoubtedly to serve the late night customers coming in from the movie theater directly across from it. The General Store sat midway down, between the library and the café. Since she had to walk right by it, why shouldn’t she stop in and see Ryder?

Because we don’t know how to casually drop by and see a man,
her tiny inner voice yelled.

But this was Ryder. The man who had made such sweet love to her for the last week. The man who had brought her lunch today simply because he wanted to be with her.

Reassured by such thoughts, she headed toward the one-story brick building that held everything from food supplies and clothing to animal feed and over-the-counter medication.

It was almost closing time so only a few customers remained, gathered around the checkout counter. Silas waved at her as she walked by. She waved back as she walked down the first aisle looking for Ryder.

“He’s not here.” A rough, masculine voice sounded behind her and she turned sharply, feeling a twinge in her still weak ankle.

“Gabe.”

“Sunshine.”

She looked around once more. “I thought he was helping his grandfather with his inventory.”

“We both are. Or were. Ryder left a while ago.”

“No problem.” She gave him a slight smile and started to step around him. “I’ll catch him later.”

Gabe wouldn’t let her past him, moving gracefully to block her path. He stood before her, his legs spread in a wide stance and his massive arms crossed against this broad chest. “Don’t you want to know where he went?”

A sense of doom settled over her at Gabe’s provocative tone. She tilted her head back, looking directly at his permanent scowl. What kept him so angry? Or was that hurt she saw in his eyes? A deep-seated pain that had turned to anger over the years. She didn’t know much about the Anderson’s history, but she did know losing one’s parents was never easy. “I do,” she nodded, her lips thinning. “But probably not as much as you want to tell me.”

One broad shoulder lifted carelessly. “He went out with Angelique. Just thought you should know.”

Immediately a picture of the pretty blonde that had been in the store the first day she’d met Ryder popped into her mind. A sharp stab of pain sliced through her.
Too good to be true, too good to be true.
The words started running around in her head.

“Out?” If Ryder was determined to break her heart, she wanted to know everything. And, apparently, Gabe couldn’t wait to tell her everything.

“Yeah, for dinner. They left about ten minutes ago.”

Calling on the stoic attitude that had served her so well in the past, Georgia refused to let him see her heartbreak. “Well, I guess there’s nothing more for me here then, is there?”

He grunted, looking almost regretful. “There was never anything for you here, Sunshine.”

The cold, brutal words were enough to send her running. She hurried to the front of the store, avoiding the customers that still lingered. Silas called to her but she didn’t stop. She flew out of the store and down the sidewalk as sobs gathered in her throat, threatening to choke her.

She’d known, damn it. She’d known it was too good to be true. Men like Ryder Anderson didn’t form serious relationships with women like her. Yeah, he’d probably enjoyed the time he’d spent with her—in her bed at least. But then, she was new in town. Fresh meat for the cowboy playboy.

The bright lights of the diner shown through the glass-plated windows as she neared the building and her steps slowed. She could cross the street, avoid seeing the proof with her own eyes. But that wasn’t her way. She needed closure. She remembered when her hamster had escaped its cage when she was eight. She’d spent the summer moping because she didn’t know what had really happened to it. Her father swore to her that it had probably gotten lost and left the house and a family of friendly field mice had adopted it. She wished he was here now to ease her pain.

Straightening her shoulders, she took a deep breath and continued down the street. She’d walk past the building slowly, look inside, let her heart break so she could begin to pick up the pieces. Just like with a band aid, the trick was to rip it off quickly and get the pain over with.

The diner was the quintessential small-town eatery with black and white checkered tile floors and vinyl booths matching tables. And who should be sitting in one of those very booths but Ryder and Angelique. They sat together on one side, their shoulders touching. A cup of coffee sat in front of Ryder and a glass of water in front of her. No doubt they were waiting for their food. She stepped back, hiding in the shadows, watching. It seemed innocent enough, she thought. And Gabe did have that chip on his shoulder…

A gasp escaped her when Angelique leaned over and placed a kiss on the corner of Ryder’s mouth. Ryder didn’t pull away from the other woman’s touch. In fact, he put his arm around her, pulling her close as he smiled down at her. Georgia’s gasp turned into a full-fledged sob as she watched the two of them talk in low whispers. The only thing that prevented her from breaking down in the middle of town was the sound of voices as more people approached the diner. Clutching her purse to her chest, she hurried across the street, away from the shining lights of the restaurant and the destruction of her dreams.

˜**˜

Ryder was whistling as he walked down the sidewalk back to his grandfather’s store. He carried two large bags from the dinner bursting with food. Helping Gramps do inventory in his store was somewhat of a family tradition. He could remember doing it from the time he was old enough to count. Then, it was all of them, both his grandfathers and his grandmother, Ruth. He didn’t remember much his other grandmother, Silas’s wife, Alice.

He did know his father and mother had been well-matched and deeply in love. Just like both sets of his grandparents. He also knew that was what he wanted with Georgie. A big smile broke out on his face as he opened the door.

“Well, there you are, boy. My stomach’s about to eat a hole through my spine.” Pops stood by the counter, leaning on his cane.

“Is that Ryder?” Silas called from the back.

“Yeah, he’s finally back. Let’s eat.”

Silas hurried through the burlap material that served as a door to the store’s office. He looked behind Ryder as if searching for someone else. “Where’s Georgie?”

Ryder had placed the bags of food on the counter and started to unpack them. He looked up at his grandfather’s question. “She’s home, I suppose. Why?”

“She came in earlier.” There was a worried look on the other man’s face. A look that made Ryder’s stomach tighten into a knot, much like it did when he was about to bust a bronc.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing. I was waiting on customers and she walked to the back. Then, she came flying back up the aisle and rushed out without saying anything.

“The back?” Ryder frowned. “Where’s Gabe?”

“Did someone call my name?” Gabe walked up to the counter, grabbing a white Styrofoam container and a bottle of water from the cooler next to the register. 

“What did you do?”

Gabe paused in the act of biting into his double cheeseburger to look at his little brother. “What? Did I get your food?” He put the burger down. “Fine, here.” He pushed the container back. “Now give me mine.”

Ryder stepped forward. “I’m going to give you something alright if you don’t tell me what you did to Georgia. Gramps said she ran out of here without a word.”

Gabe smirked. “I may have let her think that you and Angelique were having dinner together.”

“You what?”

Both grandfathers turned stern looks toward their oldest grandson.

“Why would you do that?” Ryder stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides.

“Hold on.” Pops moved in front of him, blocking his path to Gabe. “Let’s not resort to violence.” He turned to face Gabe. “Even if it might be deserved.”

Gabe frowned, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “Hey, I was trying to help the sad sack.”

“Help me,” Ryder growled, “by destroying the best thing that’s ever happened to me?”

For a moment, Gabe looked uncertain before his features resumed his normal ‘I-know-more-than-you’ expression. “You’ve been with her a damn long time. Well, longer than normal.” He shrugged. “I thought you might be ready to move on to greener pastures so I wanted to help things along. Kind of free you up faster.”

Ryder stepped around his grandfather to stand toe-to-toe with his brother. “Let me put this so that even you can understand, Gabe. I love Georgia, and I don’t ever want to be free of her.”

Silence reigned for one split second before everyone started talking at once. Stunned by his own admission, Ryder stood motionless until Pops slapped his shoulder.

“You’d better go tell Georgia what you just told us, son.”

“Right,” Gramps nodded, “you don’t want to wait too long. After what Gabe has done, she might not be too willing to listen.”

“Damn it all,” Gabe threw up his hands, “I was only trying to help.” He turned to Ryder. “I can go talk to her if you like.”

“No, thanks,” Ryder scowled, “I think you’ve said enough.”

“At least let me say I’m sorry. I may not agree with the choice you’re making to tie yourself to one woman,” he shook his head, “but if it’s what you want, then I’m behind you.”

“That… means a lot, big brother. Thanks.”

“Now go get your girl so I can eat my burger.”

“Not without this.”

Ryder stared at what Pops held in his outstretched hand, feeling a burning sensation behind his eyelids. “That’s Nana Ruth’s ring.”

“Yours now, if you want it.”

“No, that belongs to Gabe, if he ever wants to use it.” He threw a dark look at his oldest brother.

“Nope,” Gramps cut in. “He’ll get my Alice’s ring if he ever grows up.”

“What about Calhoun?”

“We’ve got your mother’s for him,” Gramps added, his voice a little rusty with emotion, and Ryder swallowed against the lump in his throat.

“I don’t know what to say.”