“Too short!” Sophie looked at Denver with such love in her eyes. A couple of weeks ago, the exchange would’ve made Ryder bitter and grumpy. Before Kinley showed up and brought him back to life. “We went to Barcelona,” Sophie continued.
“How romantic,” Kinley said the words with a sigh.
“Some of it was book research,” Denver admitted.
“Denver’s a famous mystery author,” Ryder explained to Kinley. “So, be careful what you say to him. He might put it in a book.”
Denver raised an eyebrow at him from across the table. “Did you just tell a joke? Like, a funny one?”
“Lunch is served!” Mom announced, carrying the heaping plate of burgers to the table. “It’s so very nice to have all of you here. I just love it!”
The family meal was everything Ryder didn’t realize he wanted it to be. Leftovers were scarce, laughter was plentiful, and love overflowed. The time off he begrudgingly took from work became the best inconvenience he’d ever had. He reached for Kinley’s hand beneath the table, giving it a squeeze before hopping out of his chair to help clear the table.
Mom stood by the sink, filling it with dishwater. No matter how many times he brought up the benefits of a dishwasher, Mom always shot the idea down. “I have to ask you about something, Ryder.” Mom’s voice sounded less peppy and more serious than it had all morning. The way she looked over her shoulder at the doorway to the dining room didn’t bode well for her question, either. It made sense that she volunteered him, and him alone, to help with clean-up.
He steeled himself, prepared for the inevitable question about Kinley.
“What really happened for you to take so much time off?”
Thrown off balance, Ryder busied himself scraping the extra crumbs from plates into the trash. “It’s nothing to worry about. Can’t talk about it anyway.” He flashed her a calm smile, hoping that satisfied her unexpected curiosity.
“I wouldn’t ask, except—” She waited until Caroline set a pile of bowls on the counter and skipped back toward the dining room. “Except a man came by yesterday.”
Ryder stiffened. “Who?”
“Some lawyer. Matthews. He was asking questions about you. About that kid you saved.”
What was the point of laying low if the slimy ambulance-chaser was harassing his family? “Why didn’t you tell me right away?” He did his best not to growl, but the words came out a little scary anyway.
“I chased him off a minute later.” Mom wasn’t intimidated by his Hulk-like response as most others would be. “I still own a shotgun, and I know how to use it.”
“Oh, geez, Mom.”
“He won’t be coming back. But Ryder, what’s he even doing in town? I thought that whole ordeal was over. Rhett’s poor family doesn’t need it all drummed up again for no reason.”
“You can’t gossip about this at your book club or birthday socials—”
“Garden club tonight, but go on. I promise not to breathe a word.”
Ryder got to work scrubbing dishes as he filled Mom in on the lawyer’s grand scheme to defend the kidnapper and sue the town for his negligence. “Lee wanted me to lay low for a few days. Didn’t want me drawing any attention.”
“Or doing anything stupid like confronting him on a crowded sidewalk?” Mom added.
“Whome?” The mood lightened a hair. But that didn’t change the facts. Ryder’d be speaking with the mayor as soon as he left Mom’s. If Matthews wanted to harass his family, he wasn’t going to stand idly by. His family was more important to him than any lawsuit.
“You got that look in your eye,” Mom said. “Don’t go doing anything crazy, okay? Stay focused on what’s important. Your time with Kinley’s almost over.”
The irritation that clenched his heart slowly eased its grip as his gaze traveled through the doorway to the dining room. Kinley, mid-conversation with Sophie, looked over at him briefly and smiled.
Towel-drying his hands, he slipped down a hallway off the dining room to text Murph.
Ryder:Did you know anything about Matthews harassing my family?
Murph:No. I’ll handle him. You’re still on leave.
Ryder:Only if you keep him away.
Murph:I got this, Ryder. I mean it.
