Page 49 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

“Right.” He rubbed his forehead. “You did a lot of work on the land today. Just like old times. Are you sore?”

“A little.” She rubbed her neck then rolled it in a circle as if to ease out some tension. “You’re a tough boss.” She winked.

“Actually, you’re the boss.” He chuckled.

“Not when I don’t have a clue what I should be doing.”

“You’ll learn. Turn your back to me. I’ll rub your shoulders. It’s the least I can do when I worked you too hard.”

“A massage?” Her eyes lit.

“I remember how much you loved to have your shoulders and head rubbed. I still have magical hands.”

“I’m all for it.” She bounced on the sofa, pulling the ends of her hair over one shoulder.

“You have very tight shoulders,” he said, finding it torture to even speak. Everything was growing tight in his body. What had been meant with good intentions was quickly becoming something very different.

“Even yoga didn’t help with the stress.”

He pressed his fingers into her muscles. “There’s only one thing I can think of that relieves my stress.” He bent and kissed her exposed neck. She smelled so good.

She moved her chin, giving him better access to kiss her. He took that as an invitation…

And then a loud knock ruined it all.

Rip groaned. “You expecting someone?”

“No. Are you?” With the shake of his head, she got up. “Let me get it.”

“I should,” he stood.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t think the person we’re looking for will show up knocking on the door.”

“I’m already up so I might as well answer it.” He kissed her on the cheek and headed for the door, dragging it open to find a tall, slender man with semi-long black hair, earrings, and sleeve tattoos on both arms. Rip had a good guess who he was. “Can I help you?”

The stranger stared for a good One-Mississippi-Two-Mississippi-Three-Mississippi before he replied, “I’m looking for Noelle. I was told I could find her here.” He had a heavy accent.

“And who are you?” Rip said a little too coarsely. After all that had happened, he didn’t have patience.

“I’m Gavin. Who are you, mate?”

“Gavin?” Noelle pushed her way in front of Rip. “What are you doing here?”

“You know him?” Rip asked her.

“Yeah, she knows me.” The man interjected. “I’m Ollie’s father.” He looked Rip up and down and chuckled.

“You didn’t answer me. What are you doing here?” Her intolerance had grown.

“What else was I supposed to do? I stopped at your house and found the place empty. Good thing you didn’t make it hard to find you.” He slipped off his sunglasses and shook his head. “You can’t just take off with my kid, Noe.”

“I can just leave with Ollie because the judge granted me full custody. You know, at the hearing that you didn’t even bother showing up for?”

“You can’t hold that against me. Can we talk without cowboy boots here listening? Thanks, bucko, but we don’t need a chaperone,” Gavin said bravely.

Maybe Rip tended to jump to conclusions but he didn’t like the man. At all. What had Noelle saw in him? Anyway, Rip didn’t make a move.

“Everything that needed said has been said already,” she said calmly.

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