By the Book Bride: Ryder (A BBW Western Romance) (Matchmaking A Marriage 1) by Patricia Mason, Joann Baker Page A
Authors: Patricia Mason, Joann Baker
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favorite.”
If Ryder hadn’t remembered the way to the children’s reading room, the sound of Georgia’s voice would have led him right to her. It was sweet and low and made his stomach flip. He remembered the way she’d sounded when she’d been under him in his bed, matching his passion.
He stopped just inside the doorway and watched as she read to the children. Her dark hair was caught up in a makeshift twist with a pencil jammed through it. She wore a red blouse with black slacks. It was simple, but elegant. He frowned, looking down at her feet. Surely, she wouldn’t… nope, his woman had done the right thing and was wearing a pair of flat shoes.
The children sat in front of her on a round area rug with fairy-tale images on it. He looked at the little faces in the room and his gut clenched. One day, his children could be here, listening to a story. His eyes flew to Georgia’s face. Read possibly by their mother.
He must have made some sound because her gaze flickered to the doorway. Her eyes opened a fraction in surprise, but she didn’t lose her place in the story. He smiled at her and she gave a small one in return.
It took only a few more moments for the story to end.
“Alright, children,” she ordered softly, “grab the book you picked to check out and take it to Miss Prudence at the front desk.” As the children began scrambling to their feet, Ryder stepped inside the room and out of the way. Two of the larger boys were almost to the door when Georgia called out again. “And no running Jamie and Joseph.”
“Right, Miss Georgie.” They grinned at her and slowed their pace.
It took about ten minutes for the room to clear. Ryder’s presence was a surprise, but one she welcomed. As he made his way to her, she watched that same lazy stroll that turned her insides to goo. “What are you doing here?”
“Brought some lunch. I thought we could eat together.”
She gave him a quizzical look. “You came all the way from the ranch to have lunch with me?”
“Yep.” He pulled up a stool and sat down in front of her. “Since our picnic was interrupted the other day, I thought we could have one here.”
She didn’t know what to say. No one had ever done anything so thoughtful for her. Sure, she’d dated, but she’d never really had a relationship with a man. Was this what it felt like? Oh, heavens, she hoped so. Her mouth suddenly became too dry to get anything close to words out, so she simply nodded.
“Let’s see what Pops made.”
“You mean you didn’t make it yourself?” She batted her eyes and gave a slight pout she’d seen hers sisters use on more than one occasion.
Ryder stilled, a frown on his face as he turned to her. “I guess maybe it would have meant more if I’d fixed it myself.”
Georgie was touched by the distressed look on his face. “I’m just kidding, Ryder. I’m really glad you’re here with or without food.”
“So am I.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to her lips. After several, sweet seconds, he pulled back and she saw a hungry glint in his eyes that made her knees go weak.
“Let’s eat.” He pulled over a small table before reaching into the paper bag and pulling out chilled water bottles, waxed paper bundles, plastic covered bowls, napkins and plastic silverware. He handed one of the wax paper bundles to her. “I’d say that’s ham sandwiches from last night’s supper. Hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will. Pops is a great cook. I’ve missed his meals since going back home.” She opened the bowls to reveal potato salad and baked beans. Setting the containers between them, they spent the next few minutes digging into the tasty fare.
“This is so good,” Georgia muttered around a mouthful of succulent ham. “I still can’t believe you came all the way into town, but I’m sure glad you did.”
“The last two weeks have been pretty lonely since you moved back to Pops house.” He leaned forward. “Believe it or not, I
If Ryder hadn’t remembered the way to the children’s reading room, the sound of Georgia’s voice would have led him right to her. It was sweet and low and made his stomach flip. He remembered the way she’d sounded when she’d been under him in his bed, matching his passion.
He stopped just inside the doorway and watched as she read to the children. Her dark hair was caught up in a makeshift twist with a pencil jammed through it. She wore a red blouse with black slacks. It was simple, but elegant. He frowned, looking down at her feet. Surely, she wouldn’t… nope, his woman had done the right thing and was wearing a pair of flat shoes.
The children sat in front of her on a round area rug with fairy-tale images on it. He looked at the little faces in the room and his gut clenched. One day, his children could be here, listening to a story. His eyes flew to Georgia’s face. Read possibly by their mother.
He must have made some sound because her gaze flickered to the doorway. Her eyes opened a fraction in surprise, but she didn’t lose her place in the story. He smiled at her and she gave a small one in return.
It took only a few more moments for the story to end.
“Alright, children,” she ordered softly, “grab the book you picked to check out and take it to Miss Prudence at the front desk.” As the children began scrambling to their feet, Ryder stepped inside the room and out of the way. Two of the larger boys were almost to the door when Georgia called out again. “And no running Jamie and Joseph.”
“Right, Miss Georgie.” They grinned at her and slowed their pace.
It took about ten minutes for the room to clear. Ryder’s presence was a surprise, but one she welcomed. As he made his way to her, she watched that same lazy stroll that turned her insides to goo. “What are you doing here?”
“Brought some lunch. I thought we could eat together.”
She gave him a quizzical look. “You came all the way from the ranch to have lunch with me?”
“Yep.” He pulled up a stool and sat down in front of her. “Since our picnic was interrupted the other day, I thought we could have one here.”
She didn’t know what to say. No one had ever done anything so thoughtful for her. Sure, she’d dated, but she’d never really had a relationship with a man. Was this what it felt like? Oh, heavens, she hoped so. Her mouth suddenly became too dry to get anything close to words out, so she simply nodded.
“Let’s see what Pops made.”
“You mean you didn’t make it yourself?” She batted her eyes and gave a slight pout she’d seen hers sisters use on more than one occasion.
Ryder stilled, a frown on his face as he turned to her. “I guess maybe it would have meant more if I’d fixed it myself.”
Georgie was touched by the distressed look on his face. “I’m just kidding, Ryder. I’m really glad you’re here with or without food.”
“So am I.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss to her lips. After several, sweet seconds, he pulled back and she saw a hungry glint in his eyes that made her knees go weak.
“Let’s eat.” He pulled over a small table before reaching into the paper bag and pulling out chilled water bottles, waxed paper bundles, plastic covered bowls, napkins and plastic silverware. He handed one of the wax paper bundles to her. “I’d say that’s ham sandwiches from last night’s supper. Hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will. Pops is a great cook. I’ve missed his meals since going back home.” She opened the bowls to reveal potato salad and baked beans. Setting the containers between them, they spent the next few minutes digging into the tasty fare.
“This is so good,” Georgia muttered around a mouthful of succulent ham. “I still can’t believe you came all the way into town, but I’m sure glad you did.”
“The last two weeks have been pretty lonely since you moved back to Pops house.” He leaned forward. “Believe it or not, I
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