by Joann Baker
“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.”
“Don’t matter what you say, son. What matters is what that girl of yours says.” Pops’ easy chuckle penetrated the thick cloud of sentiment, lightening the mood between the four men.
“Thanks, Pops, Gramps.” He looked at each beloved face and then back to the ring in his hand. Squeezing it tightly inside his fist, he grinned. “I won’t quit asking till she says yes. You can bank on it.”
The high feeling he’d had when he’d left the General Store had pretty much been replaced by a tangle of nerves by the time he reached Georgia’s house. Her small compact car sat in the driveway and lights blazed from every room in the house. Anticipation warred with anxiety as he made his way to the door. He wasn’t going to take the chance that she might not be willing to open it. Taking the key he’d been using to get in and paint, he let himself inside. Strains of Patsy Cline’s rendition of ‘Your Cheating Heart’ could be heard from the bedroom. Was she in there crying? Or planning his murder?
The music grew louder as he neared the open doorway. Steeling himself, he walked through it and froze. Georgia was on the top rung of the ladder, her back to him, painting the ceiling like a woman possessed. He must have made some sound because she turned, too fast, and suddenly he was watching her fall, his brain instantly mapping her shocked expression even as his feet moved forward. Her soft weight landed against him, taking them both to the floor. Wrapping her in his arms, he held on, taking the combined weight of their fall. Luckily, the thick carpet absorbed most of the impact. Still, he was winded for an instant.
“Are you okay?” She let go of the paint roller she still held in her hand as she tried to push away.
He blinked, looking up into the face that he adored. “I thought I told you not to be on that ladder.”
In the space of a heartbeat, her concerned look was replaced by one of indignation. “You can’t tell me what to do, Mr. Anderson.”
She struggled against his hold, but Ryder held on for dear life. “Georgie, listen, honey. I…”
“Don’t you Georgie, honey, me, you, you… two-timing gigolo.” She pushed against his chest. “Your roguish schoolboy charm may work on Angelique, but I’m not falling for it anymore.”
She chose to ignore the fact that she’d literally just fallen on him.
His hands cupped her butt, pressing her against his hardness. She stilled against him, eyes wide.
“Angelique didn’t cause that, honey, you did.”
“Let me go, Rye.”
Ryder loosened his hold, his hands clenching lightly on her sides when she went to move away. “Let me say what I came to say, and then if you still want me to let you go, I will.”
Stilling, Georgia nodded. Even after what she’d seen, she couldn’t deny his request.
“You may not be falling for anything, Georgie, but I already have. For you.” His eyes searched hers, sensing a softening of her body against his. “I don’t know what Gabe told you, but I was headed out to get supper for everybody when she stopped by. She was on her way to the café for supper with a friend, so I walked with her.”
“But I saw you sitting with her. Close to her. Whispering and smiling. She kissed you… and you let her.”
In spite of his good intentions, Ryder again held her against him when she attempted to get away. “Baby, wait. I can explain.”
“I just bet you can.” She exhaled a long sigh. “I’m tired, Ryder, and I really don’t want to drag this out. If you want to keep seeing her or anybody else, that’s your business. But I’m an old-fashioned girl. I only want one relationship at a time.” She shrugged. “After all, you didn’t make me any promises
Ryder slid a hand up her back and into the thick weight of her hair, holding her head and capturing her wide gaze with his. “Listen to me, sweetheart. Hear what I’m saying. I did have a relationship with her at one time. But it didn’t last long. However, we did remain friends.” He stopped her with a gentle tug when she tried to look away. “She told me that she’d met someone special and that he
was meeting her for dinner at the café. I told her that I’d met someone special too. The kiss was a… I’m happy for you kind of thing. Nothing else.”
Georgia blinked, doubting what she’d just heard. “You told her I was… special to you?”
Ryder nodded solemnly. “I didn’t know just how special until tonight.” His arms tightened. “I wanted to kill Gabe. I just don’t know why he’d deliberately try to sabotage my relationship with you.”
“He’s hurting, Ry.”
“What?” Ryder frowned up at the woman now nestled fully against him. “You’re defending him?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what’s bothering him, but there’s something…”
“Really?” Ryder groaned as she moved, her lower body pressing firmly against his arousal. “We’ll get back to that I promise, honey. But right now, I can only think of one thing.”
Georgia trailed a finger along the strong line of his jaw. In spite of what she’d seen and what Gage had inferred, she believed Ryder when he proclaimed the incident had been innocent. Not simply because it was what she wanted to believe, but because she’d gotten to know him—really know him. Not as the Romeo cowboy she’d heard about, but as the man who worked hard and cared deeply about his family.
“Kissing me?”
“Huh-uh,” Ryder murmured, tugging her head closer, “loving you.”
Wanting nothing more than to close the short distance between their lips, Georgia pulled back to look into his eyes. “Do you love me, Ryder?”
“Haven’t you been listening, honey?” His lips traced hers lightly. “I love you more than life itself.” He turned so that she lay beside him, her head resting on one arm while he dug into his pocket with his free hand. “I want you in my life, Georgie. Permanently.”
Georgia gasped at the ring nestled in his palm. The diamond and emerald setting surrounded by a band of white gold brought tears to her eyes. “Be sure, Ryder. Please don’t say this just because you think it’s what I want to hear.”
“Don’t you?” His wicked grin teased her.
Her gaze met his. “I do but…”
“Then I’ll keep on telling you for the rest of our lives.” He reached for her hand, holding the ring to her finger. “That is if you love me too.”
