Page 30 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“I must have the magical touch,” Rip said proudly.

“Apparently.” Ollie never fell asleep at the park. She’d learned from the time he was born that a sleeping child should never be woken so she didn’t disturb him.

“Do I stop pushing or keep it up?”

She smiled at the question. “You can stop. Once he’s out he’ll sleep for a good bit. Want to sit?” She gestured at the bench just feet away.

They sat down together and suddenly the bench seemed too small because of Rip’s broad shoulders. He didn’t have an ounce of fat on his body. He was all muscle. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t notice.

“It seems surreal that I’m here at the park with my own kid. Remember how we used to sit on a picnic table over there?” She pointed. “And walk by the lake?”

“And all the baseball games you attended. Cheering me on.” He propped his elbows on the back of the bench.

“I still have the jersey you gave me.” Once she admitted that, she wished she wouldn’t have.

“That was my lucky jersey.” His smile made her toes curl. “You’re a good mom, Noelle.”

“Thanks. He’s my world.”

“I can tell. I always knew you’d be an exceptional parent.”

***

Rip guessed he shouldn’t have come over but when he saw Noelle, he’d gravitated toward her like a kid to candy. He was pretty sure she saw him but pretended not to. That should have been Rip’s cue to stay away.

But he’d never been a good listener to logic.

He looked at her now as she watched her son sleep and his heart filled with unmistakable emotion. Damn his heart.

She had her hair pulled into a ponytail which made her look more like the girl he remembered, especially with the smudge of dirt she had on one cheek. A mixture of joy and regret had settled in his gut.

“Why haven’t you married, Rip?” she asked.

“We really want to go down that path?” He laughed.

“I did ask.”

He stretched his legs and turned slightly to face her. “I have nothing against marriage, but I guess it just wasn’t in the cards, at least not yet. All my brothers have all taken the leap. Even Pa, who said he’d never remarry, has married.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of interested women. Once upon a time you were all the girls talked about.”

“And I only found one interesting.” He needed to be honest.

Some of her smile slipped and she averted her gaze.

He’d wanted her so deeply, so completely, that he’d never guessed they’d drift apart. And here he was, sitting next to her and daydreaming again of things he couldn’t have. What they shared was in another life but he couldn’t stop the bit of hope that kept creeping back into his heart when she was near.

“I have an idea,” he said, glancing at Ollie who had his head leaning against the chain of the swing. “When little man there wakes up how about we go grab lunch and ice cream for dessert?” Seeing her hesitation, he added, “We should at least be friends, Noelle. We need to work as a team if we are going to make this thing work.”

She must have appreciated his reasoning because she nodded. “Okay, but I insist that I pay.”

“But I invited you so I insist that I pay.”

“Can I pick the place?”

“Sure.” He’d agree to just about anything if he could spend more time with her.

“We passed a food truck on the way here and the sign boasted that they have the best tacos in town. Game for tacos?”

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