Page 23 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“One of awkward disdain?” Rip teased.

“Look at the little fellow. He likes you, Rip.” Bea wiggled her fingers through the air then went to drop spoonfuls of the butter onto the pan of cornbread.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. That was when he saw Noelle. She stood on the bottom step of the staircase, watching him with Ollie. He couldn’t quite read her expression but instinct warned him she wasn’t enthused.

“Mama,” Ollie cried out, stretching his tiny arms.

Noelle swept through the kitchen. Her wet hair was pulled on top of her head and held with a clip. She was wearing sweatpants, a loose T-shirt and flipflops. She looked very comfortable but sexy as hell. “Hi, baby.” She scooped up the boy and her scent, vanilla and feminine soap, filled Rip’s lungs. “What have you boys been doing?”

“Hoe,” Ollie sputtered.

Noelle turned her gaze onto Rip and he quickly said, “Horse, buddy.”

“He has trouble with his r sound.” Noelle placed Ollie in the high chair.

“Go ahead and sit, Rip,” Bea chimed as she brought over a large, steaming pot. “You’ve been on your boots all day. Eat up. Did you get the cameras installed?”

“Finally.” He snorted.

“Any activity?”

“Deer grazing is about it.” Rip nearly collided into Noelle as they headed for the same chair.

“Would you like to feed Ollie?” she said with a tiny smile playing at the corner of her lips.

“You can take it,” he said and rounded the table to the opposite chair. There wasn’t anywhere for him to sit where he wouldn’t be seeing Noelle, unfortunately.

Bea happily filled their bowls like they were children, and plated large triangles of golden cornbread dripping with melted butter. Rip’s stomach growled like it had died and gone to heaven.

“Look at this pretty picture.” Bea took a step back and pressed her hands in a prayer in front of her chest. “Thank you, Jesus, for filling the dinner table. Now, if only Tuck could see this. I’m sure he does and is smiling from ear to ear.”

Rip did not meet Noelle’s gaze but he felt her eyes on him. Was she watching for a reaction? He spooned up some of the stew and didn’t wait for it to cool down before he stuck it into his mouth. He scalded his tongue and emptied the glass of ice water. Why did his brain seem to malfunction when he was around Noelle? This had to change.

Silence enveloped the table.

He didn’t mind. He didn’t have anything to say and feared he might embarrass himself if he opened his mouth anyway.

It was Bea who finally broke the quiet. “What do you do, Noelle?”

“I’m a counselor who works with youth.” Noelle poured sweet tea from the pitcher into her glass. She flicked her gaze on Rip.

“That’s terrible.” Bea planted her hand against her chest. “I mean, not that you’re a counselor, but kids these days are different. Too much technology.”

“Social media certainly has made things change.” Noelle broke up the cornbread into chunks for Ollie.

“What happened to your clients?” Rip asked, curious.

“Since I sold the house and was getting ready to move, I managed to find new counselors for my few clients.”

Rip could see that it wasn’t easy for her to leave. He felt a ping inside his chest understanding it wasn’t an easy decision that she made to come to town. “Second Chance could use a good child counselor.”

“I don’t—”

“Yes!” Bea said loudly making Noelle jump. “That’s a marvelous idea.”

He caught Noelle’s narrowed gaze. He scooped up more stew. “This is delicious, Bea.”

“Except that it doesn’t have any beef in it. Did you know that Noelle is one of those people who eats fake meat,” Bea said in astonishment.

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