Casey didn’t see Erica.Her focus was on the woman at the stove.Until Matilda Bass passed judgment on what she’d done, she wouldn’t feel right.
“Tilly, this is my, uh…this is Ryder Justice.Ryder, this is Matilda Bass.I consider her my second mother, as well as the best cook in the whole state of Mississippi.”
Upon entering the kitchen, he’d taken off his hat.He extended his hand in a gesture of friendship, which Tilly accepted with obvious reticence.But Ryder behaved as if he’d known her all of his life.
“Mrs.Bass, it’s a pleasure.If everything tastes as good as it smells, I’d warrant Casey is right.”
Tilly’s gaze wavered.She hadn’t been prepared for someone like him, and hewassomeone, that she could tell.She frowned slightly.This man didn’t look like any drifter out of the flatlands.He didn’t sound like one, either.His words were sweet, his appearance sweeter.All she could think was, He’d better be good to my girl.
She nodded regally, accepting the praise as just.“Call me Tilly, and I’m pleased to meet you, sir.You aren’t from these parts, are you?”
He grinned.“I don’t answer to anything but Ryder, and no, ma’am, I’m not.”
Tilly nodded in satisfaction.“I knew as much.I’d be guessing you’re from Oklahoma…or Texas.Am I right?”
Startled by her perception, he didn’t have it in him to lie.
“Yes, ma’am… Texas.”
Casey felt strange.Here she was married to the man and she’d been so caught up in her own agenda, she hadn’t had enough curiosity about him to wonder where he was from, or how he’d gotten from there to here.
“Then sit,” Tilly said.“Food’s ready.”
Only after they’d taken their seats did Casey realize Erica was in the room.She looked up at her and smiled, but when her sister sauntered over to Ryder and ran her fingertips lightly across his back, measuring their breadth from shoulder to shoulder, the urge to slap her away from him was almost overwhelming.
There was a cold, mirthless smile on Erica’s face as she finally glanced in Casey’s direction.
“Well, well, princess.Even when you fall, you land on your feet, don’t you?”
Casey’s hackles rose even further.“Let it go, Erica.”
Erica’s expression was bland, but her eyes glittered with envy.“Oh my, I guess that didn’t come out quite right, did it?”
The antagonism between the two sisters was palpable.Ryder suspected it probably had more to do with old wounds than with his arrival into their midst.Nevertheless, whatever its roots, he seemed to be the latest weed to cause dissent.He took it upon himself to change the subject.
“Someone called me earlier for a ride into town.Do you know who it was?”
Erica’s smile broadened.“It wasn’t me, but that’s not such a bad idea.I’ll bet you give really good rides.”
Ryder’s expression blanked, and if Erica had been as astute as she believed herself to be, she would have backed off then, before it was too late.But she didn’t.
“I’m even better at giving a hard time to people who tick me off,” he said.
Erica’s expression froze.A slap in the face couldn’t have stunned her more.
If Casey had been the impulsive type, she would have thrown her arms around his neck and hugged him.But she wasn’t, and the moment passed.
“Tell whoever it is that Ryder is unavailable until we’ve finished our breakfast,” she said.“This morning, my husband and I just want a little peace and quiet and a meal to ourselves.”
Ryder’s eyebrows rose.Husband!Now she was admitting he was her husband?
Suddenly Ryder’s mouth was only inches from Casey’s ear.She could feet his breath—almost hear the laughter in his voice as he whispered.
“I thought we weren’t usingthatword.”
Casey glared.
Erica was left with nowhere to go but out.She walked away, leaving Ryder with a contemplative stare that Casey chose to ignore.
