Page 10 of Finding Love

“Just passing through. I didn’t know you lived here,” he said, trying to change the subject.

“Yes, for the past few years. I met my husband, Rafe, right there.” She motioned down the street. He turned and saw a two-story brick building with a sign above the door that said Brew Ha Ha.

“Yes, I just heard. Your husband owns the place?” he asked.

“He is partners with his sister. But Rafe doesn’t really run the place. He’s a psychologist. He actually has a practice just there…” She motioned to another building. There was a smaller sign that read Family Counseling.

“Nice,” he said, taking a bite of his éclair and washing it down with the coffee.

“I’m actually in the process of writing a book,” Eva surprised him by saying, then she chuckled and held her hand up. “Don’t get too excited. I’ve been writing it for a while now. I do some freelance articles for a local paper every now and then, more so before this monster came along.” She chuckled as her son finished his cookie.

“I’m still impressed,” he said with a smile. Then he motioned to the cup. “I heard you had a hand in the special blend I’m enjoying.”

“I did.” Eva smiled. “I’ve lent my father a hand with his business every now and then. I came up with a few special blends in the past few years.”

“Good. I’d like to get my hands on some when I return to Seattle.” Only after the words had left his mouth did he realize that Brook was standing next to him with a cup of coffee and a chocolate milk for Eva.

When he met Brook’s eyes, he could tell she was trying to figure something out.

“Thanks, Brook. Oh, this is an old friend of mine, James Gallant,” Eva said, causing Ryder to wince.

“I go by Ryder now,” he corrected.

Eva’s eyebrows shot up, then she nodded. “Ryder suits you much better.” She touched his hand.

“Let me know if you need anything else,” Brook said, then she turned on her heels and disappeared inside.

“Where are you staying?” Eva asked.

“Willy and I have our van.” He motioned to his home away from… well, everything. “We’ve been going up and down the coast for a while.”

Eva frowned. “I heard about your father. I’m so sorry.” She took his hand again.

“Thanks,” he replied. He felt nothing when talking about his father’s death. Nothing. There had never been any emotions between the father and son.

“Ryder, I…” Eva sighed. “After the accident, when Nate died, I took off. I spent a year running from my family, from the pain.” She sighed and looked around. He followed her gaze. The sun had come out from behind a cloud and the little town was blanketed in sunlight, making it almost look surreal. “From the guilt. It wasn’t until I found somewhere I belonged, someone who made me want to stop running”—Eva’s smile grew—“that I realized that running wasn’t doing any good.”

He nodded and turned back to her. “Yeah, Willy and I decided to head home today.” His eyes moved back to the bakery, to where Brook stood just inside the windows. He thought back to the previous night. To how Brook had treated him. He’d never experienced that much kindness from one person in his entire life.

Even when he and Eva had dated, she’d been… different than she was now. He supposed they both were. They’d been young, spoiled, selfish.

Eva’s eyes followed his and her smile grew. “Pride is unlike any place on earth. The people here are… not like the ones we grew up around,” she finished as she took the empty chocolate milk container from her son and wiped milk and cookies from his face. “If you can, stick around for a couple more days. I don’t think you’ll regret it.”

“I might do that.” He smiled when Brook glanced up in his direction. He thought about spending more time with her. Seeing if there was anything beyond the flash flood of lust that he felt for her. “Do me a favor though,” he said, turning back to Eva, his smile slipping. “If anyone asks about me…”

A look crossed Eva’s eyes, something close to sadness and understanding. Once more, her hand reached out and touched his. “I hid out here in Pride myself once.” She glanced over his shoulder at the town and her smile returned. “Your secret’s safe with me. Well, except from Rafe. I tell him everything. He has an uncanny knack of knowing when I’m lying or hiding something from him.” She chuckled. “He’s a really good psychologist.” She started to get up but stopped. “You might want to check out Pride’s Bed and Breakfast if you need a place to park and stay. It was really good seeing you again.”

“Yeah. You too. Congratulations on the marriage and kid.” He motioned to the young boy. “Thanks.” She laid her hand over her stomach. “Nate will be getting a sister in six months.”

“Congrats.” He smiled.

Eva’s smile slipped a little. “Stay in touch. You know where to find me now.”

He nodded and then watched her walk away.

Willy gave a happy little bark and did a circle. Ryder glanced over and saw Brook standing behind him.

“So, you and Eva appear to go way back.” She sat down across from him with a plate of sticky cinnamon rolls and a coffee.

“We knew each other from school,” he said, wanting to change the subject. The rolls looked even better that the eclairs that he’d had. “Are those fresh? Can I have one?”

She leaned on the table a little. “That depends.”

His eyebrows shot up as his stomach sank. Here it was, she was just another person who wanted something from him. “On?”

“If you and Willy will join me for an after-lunch sail.” She leaned back and slid the plate towards him slowly, as if waiting for his answer.

He couldn’t explain it, but at her words, his heart did a little flip. “Do you know how to sail?” he asked.

She smiled. “My dad runs the coast guard facility just outside of town.”

He chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Well?” she asked, pulling the rolls back towards her.

“You’ve got yourself a deal.” He took the fork and the plate from her.