He would have to bring up the one thing that would makemeblush.
“That was a miscommunication. A mistake.”Is it suddenly hot out here? “He thought there was something to salvage from our relationship. There isn’t. I’m not seeing anyone. Not in town, not out of town, and certainly not Cooper Clark. My trips to the casino are a chance to get a cup of coffee where I’m not Delaney Reed, the chief of police who couldn’t figure a way not to get roped into taste-testing rhubarb, a fruit that is an affront to all things decent.”
“Vegetable,” he said. “It’s a vegetable.”
“That’s what you got out of the conversation?”
He shrugged one shoulder and the smile was back, along with the light in his eyes. “Everyone knows it’s a vegetable.”
“New York ruled rhubarb was a fruit in 1947. Lower tariff fees.”
He pursed his lips, hiding the smile. But not for long.
“I did not know that,” he said.
“So what about you?”
“I like the coffee in town.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“I’m trying to, but she works really long hours and has no concept of the food groups.”
Oh. That was sweet.
“Are you going to keep trying? To see her?”
“Dessert is a strong possibility.”
“Good.”
He stood there. I stood there. We stood there. One of us was going to have to do something. The ever-present wind tossed his dark hair, sunlight highlighting the stubble along his jaw. I wondered what his scruff would feel like against my lips.
“We lost Jean.” He waved vaguely at the door, his gaze on me. He hadn’t moved. Hadn’t looked away.
“She knows her way around.” He was wearing that nice cologne again. Just strong enough that, standing this near to him, I could catch a hint of it on the breeze.
I wanted to kiss him, taste him. Wanted to run my fingers over the curve of his lip and bite at the soft skin near his ear. A knot of ache, of desire filled my chest. This felt right. The idea of Ryder being mine, even if it was only for a short time, felt really right.
“Ryder, do you think—” I started, then shut up as a door slammed.
Jean jogged over to us. “Hey, Ryder,” she singsonged. “Hey, Delaney. How’s it going?”
Better before you butted in.“Swell,” I said.
Ryder exhaled, then rubbed his palm over his hair to smooth it. He looked off to the horizon for a moment, and I thought his breathing was a little faster than it should be. I thought mine was too.
“Did I interrupt something?” Jean asked. “I sure hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
“Were you going to ask me something, chief?” Ryder met my gaze again.
I nodded. “Do you think it’s stupid to work with your siblings, or do you think it’s super stupid?”
“No comment,” he deadpanned.
“Good answer.” I walked toward Jean’s truck. “Ryder, head on back to the station and see if Roy or Myra need a hand with anything. Jean and I will be back in a bit.”
“Roger that.” He strode over to his truck and swung up inside.
