Page 8 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

Rip laughed, sitting up straight. This had to be some kind of joke, but Derry didn’t crack the slightest smile. In fact, he looked uneasy, almost sick. Most people knew that Noelle and Rip had been close until she’d broken up with him—and broken his heart. “I didn’t think Tuck had that deep of a sense of humor.”

“Oh, he was a man with a lot of secrets.”

“I guess so, but I want no part of this.” When Derry wouldn’t take the letter back, Rip laid it on the small glass table.

“Before you make up your mind so quickly, there’s something you should be aware of. Tuck was Noelle’s father.”

Rip blinked. “He probably did think of her as a daughter. She lived here, with her mother, for a long time.”

Derry smoothed his hands down his slacks. “That’s not what I mean, he was actually her biological father.”

Chapter 3

Rip checked his GPS.

According to the directions, he was approaching his destination.

And hell.

His heart raced like a horse out of the gate.

He’d changed his mind at least a dozen times during his drive to the town of River Bend where Noelle lived. He realized he must be crazy to show up there uninvited, but what was crazier was the news Derry had shared with Rip during their meeting yesterday. Tuck was Noelle’s biological father.

That old man did have a lot of secrets.

Rip guessed the letter would explain everything.

Why the hell would Tuck divulge important news through a letter? It felt almost cold, and Tuck was anything but unfriendly.

Glancing down at the envelope on the passenger seat, Rip shook his head. How did he get roped into being the messenger?

How would this affect Noelle?

He hoped he was doing right by going to see her.

Nothing said Rip had to deliver the news. He could have mailed the letter, or talked one of his brothers into delivering it. Tuck would never know, but Rip would. Having history with her instilled an obligation within him to do the right thing, even if he didn’t like it one bit.

Maybe on some deeper level he wanted to see her and this was a convenient excuse.

The last time he saw her they’d just graduated high school, and they were excited about planning a future together. They were heading to separate colleges but promised they’d work through the long distance.

Then everything changed…

He pushed that thought into the dark recesses of his mind and took on the problem at hand. Sweat slicked his skin so he rolled the window down and breathed in fresh air. The idea of seeing Noelle again made him feel like a fish out of water.

For fifteen years, he’d told himself that her breaking up with him had been for the best. They were young and wouldn’t have made it long distance anyway. Better the breakup happened before she left Second Chance than getting a Dear John letter while he was away.

Liar.

To be honest with himself, he’d thought about Noelle Evelyn every day since she’d broken his heart. She’d been his sunshine and oxygen, so how would he forget? His first love. The woman who’d taught him a few things about himself.

Since, he’d built a steel wall around his heart to prevent love from ever happening again. Rip might still ponder all thewhat ifs, but that ship had sailed.

Today, he’d prove it to himself that he’d moved on from their high school romance.

“You have arrived. Your destination is on the right.”The GPS told him.

Pulling into the quiet neighborhood, he checked house numbers until he came to the appropriate one.

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