Page 9 of Finding Love

“Oh?” Becca nudged Sara, a move Ryder caught out of the corner of his eye.

“How long are you staying in Pride?” Sara asked.

He wanted to tell them that he and Willy were heading back up to Seattle after breakfast, but instead he shrugged. “For a while.”

“Where are you staying?” Becca asked.

“Right now, we’re camping not too far from Brook’s place.” He took a sip of the coffee. It was good. Good, good. He’d grown up in Seattle and had always had access to good coffee, but this was some of the best he’d ever had. He frowned at the cup.

“Something wrong with the coffee?” Brook asked.

“No, just the opposite. It’s really good.” He took another sip.

“Eva Elliott, formerly Eva Chapman, hooks us up with her special brand,” Brook said.

“Chapman. As in…” Ryder frowned.

“Coffee King.” Brook smiled.

Ryder went on guard a little. His father had known Harry Chapman. Hell, he knew Eva. He had even dated her way back when… long before her brother had died, and she’d disappeared from Seattle.

“Eva and Rafe live just outside of Pride. Rafe and his sister own the Brew Ha Ha,” Brook added, handing him back his change. “It’s a bookstore slash coffee shop slash wine bar down the street. They open their doors at eleven, we close our doors at one.”

He tried to relax. It was a small world. He doubted that he would be in town long enough to run into Eva. Even if he did, she might not remember him. After all, he looked completely different than he had years ago. How long had it been anyway? Ten years? Shit. More than that.

“Good to know.” He turned towards the other women and added, “It was nice meeting you both.” He held up the bag and coffee, then turned to go.

When he stepped outside, he frowned instantly when he noticed someone kneeling down to pet Willy. His heart jumped and then sank when he realized it was Eva.

She’d changed so much in the last ten years. Still, he’d recognize her anywhere. She had a stroller with a young boy in it. It was obvious she had only stopped because her two dogs were sniffing Willy.

“Aren’t you the cutest?” Eva was saying with a chuckle. “Do you have an owner?”

“Yeah,” Ryder said, moving over. “I’m here.”

Eva glanced up and for a moment, her eyes narrowed, then she smiled and rushed over to hug him. “It is you. I saw you walking inside the bakery and thought I’d imagined it.” She leaned back and ran her eyes over him. “Gosh, you’ve changed. You’re…”

“Older?” he offered.

She laughed. “Tan.”

He nodded. “Yup, I’ve been surfing a lot.”

Eva tilted her head and then noticed the bag and his coffee. “I’m keeping you from your breakfast.”

“No.” He motioned to the table where he’d tied Willy up. “Sit. We can catch up while I eat.”

They sat down and just as he gave Willy a bite of the éclair, the door to the bakery opened and Brook stepped out, holding a tray.

“Morning, Brook,” Eva said with a smile.

“I thought Willy and Merwin and Arthur would like one of our pooch-chinos.” She motioned to the three dogs. “And I figured you and Nate might want a cookie,” Brook said, after kneeling and giving the dogs each a cup of whipped cream. She held out the tray so the young boy could take a cookie before handing one to Eva.

“Thanks.” Eva smiled. “I was coming over to grab my usual. Nate might like a chocolate milk to go with the cookie.”

“I’ll go grab it for you,” Brook said, her eyes darting between the two of them. She turned and headed inside.

“What brings you to Pride?” Eva asked, setting her cookie down.