Page 44 of Follow My Heart

Ryder walked into the kitchen with a swagger that immediately drew my gaze lower. He braced his hands on the counter, his shirt pushed up to his elbows, revealing sinewy muscles. “George looks tired. I’d better get you home.”

I glanced in the living room where George sat in an armchair talking to Al. “That’s probably a good idea.”

I didn’t want to go. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun on a holiday. Then I remembered I hadn’t called my family.

I checked my phone to find a missed call from my mother. She was going to be upset that I hadn’t answered. But for once, I’d been too busy to even think about what I was missing out on in Florida.

When we said our goodbyes, I wondered if the rest of the family thought we were just friends. Neighbors who had nowhere to go on the holiday.

None of Ryder’s brothers had teased him about what I was doing at the dinner table, and after watching his family interact, that’s what I would have expected.

Maybe the girls were seeing something that wasn’t there. Ryder hadn’t given me any indication that he was interested in a relationship. And given what he was going through, I wouldn’t expect it. He needed to focus on his daughter, and I needed to keep my attention on the shop.

We got into the truck, and Al came out to see us off. It was nice and gave me the warm and fuzzies inside. “Your family’s great.”

Ryder shot me an amused glance. “I think they’re overbearing and opinionated.”

I laughed. “They obviously care about you.”

“I don’t know what I would have done without them. I’m just thankful this transfer at work brought me closer to them.”

What if he’d been transferred farther away from Faith and his family? That would have been awful for him.

Ryder went to my house first since him and George lived on the same street. He left the truck idling as he walked me to the door.

I was very conscious that my grandfather and Faith were inside the truck and most likely watching.

“Thank you for inviting us. I had a great time.”

He moved so that his shoulders blocked my view of his truck. “Better than eating at a restaurant?”

“You know it was.” My heart picked up its pace, and before I could stop myself, my hand drifted to his cheek, and I lifted on my toes to kiss it.

To hide my reaction to the feel of his scruff under my lips, I turned and fumbled with my keys. He easily took them from me, inserted my house key, and turned it in the lock. Then he handed them back to me.

“Thanks again for a wonderful night.” It was the wine that had my cheeks flushing and my skin overheating. It had nothing to do with the intimacy of Ryder walking me to my door and waiting for me to go inside safely.

“You’re welcome. Happy Thanksgiving.”

“You too.” I shut the door softly behind me, waiting for the sound of his truck as it backed out of my driveway.

I let out the breath I’d been holding. I liked Ryder Calloway. The single father, the recent divorcé. There was the technicality where he wasn’t divorced yet. Why was I such a mess when it came to my love life?

I shouldn’t want him. Even if he was interested in me, it would be a rebound. He wasn’t ready to be serious with anyone. Unless he was looking for a distraction.

My skin heated at the thought. I wanted to be that distraction. I knew it would feel so good. That I’d get lost in the moment, in his touch, his mouth, the heat I saw in his eyes. But at the end of the day, he wasn’t good for me. We didn’t want the same things.

I was attracted to unavailable men, and Ryder matched the definition.

I wouldn’t make the same mistake I always did by assuming he was the one for me. The red flags were there to see. This time, I was going to be smart.

I got ready for bed, then dialed my mother, resigning myself to the guilt trip.

“Violet. Why didn’t you call me back earlier?”

I bit my lip. “I was busy.”

“I thought you and Dad were going out to eat.”

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