Ryder recovered quickly with a crooked smile that said he was ready to play any game I threw at him. But this wasn’t a game, and we were never playing together again.Chapter ThreeI sat in a catatonic trance on Emma’s baby blue floral coach obsessing about my encounter with Ryder and Bobby Jay. Not much more was said after the whole Chief and Carroll thing, except Bobby Jay invited me to have dinner with them. He was obviously out of his mind. Ryder must have been too because in a taunting tone he’d said, “Yes, Miss Shelby, why don’t you have dinner with us? It’s been so long. A lot has happened in a year.”
How dare he mock me like that after what he’d done to me? I gripped the iced tea Emma was kind enough to pour me tighter. Wonderful Emma knew I loved sweet tea. I’d never had the heart to tell her that she was making it all wrong. Putting sugar in iced tea did not make it sweet tea. There was a process that involved steeping, baking soda, and adding the perfect amount of sugar while it was still hot until every last bit of it had dissolved. Then it was time to cool it. But I was so rattled after seeing Ryder and Bobby Jay that I couldn’t think about putting anything in my stomach.
All I could do was look around the small cabin that used to be Emma’s parents’ place. My lands, did her momma love floral and pink. Her daddy must have loved her to live in such a feminine place. Probably the way Sawyer loved Emma so much that he was more than happy to live there temporarily among the ruffled pink curtains and the overly floral furniture.
Emma patted my bare knee. “I’m sorry I wasn’t the one to check him in. I didn’t know he had arrived.”
I set down the tea in front of me on the coffee table, happy it was only Emma and me. Sawyer was out in the stables with Mr. Carrington monitoring one of the mares who was about ready to give birth. “Goodness, it’s not your fault that liar bypassed you.”
Emma raised her brow. “Listen to you being fiery.”
“I know. I should watch my manners.”
Emma laughed. “You’re going to have to do better than that to be considered ill mannered. Why don’t you yell or throw that glass in the fireplace?”
“Gracious, I could never break anything of yours.”
“We’re going to have to work on that.” Emma smirked.
I gave her a small smile.
“So, you saw him. Then what happened?”
“Well, after I insulted him by using his God-given name—”
“Which is what, again?”
“Carroll.”
Emma stifled her laugh. “As tragic as that name is for a man, we are going to come up with some better insults for you.”
I put my face in my hands. “I know. I’m pathetic. At the very least I should have punched him, but I just had my nails done yesterday and he isn’t worth ruining my manicure.”
Emma shook her head at me. She was more of a tomboy. “You’re not pathetic, but a swift kick to the groin would have been appropriate. I’ve seen your moves when you and the girls are working out. Which, by the way,” she groaned and slumped, “do you think I could join you?”
I leaned away from her. She’d never wanted to join our cardio dance workouts even though I’d asked her several times. She was more of a runner and obstacle course kind of girl. I used to teach a couple of classes at the fitness center in the hospital I worked for. It was something I still enjoyed doing, so several nights a week I did a class for just Macey and Marlowe at home. Mr. Carrington had asked if I’d be interested in doing a group class once a week during the summer for the guests. I’d said yes before I knew who all the guests would be. He’d even offered to pay me, but there was no way I could take that sweet man’s money. He’d already done so much for me, letting me live rent free in his home. The Carringtons had become like family to me.
“Of course you can join us. What brought this on?” I asked.
“I went to the doctor,” she snarled, “because I’m still not pregnant.”
“It’s not unusual for it to take several months.”
“That’s what he said, but he also suggested that losing a few pounds might help. Fine, I get that. Maybe I’ve gained a few extra pounds on top of my already extra pounds since I’ve been married. Sue me for being happy and loving food. But, get this, he wants me to quit drinking Dr. Pepper. I’m not even sure I can go back to him now.”
I had to laugh at her.