By the Book Bride: Ryder (A BBW Western Romance) (Matchmaking A Marriage 1) by Patricia Mason, Joann Baker Page B
Authors: Patricia Mason, Joann Baker
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miss having you around.”
Georgia warmed at his words even as a brow rose in disbelief. “You’ve spent every one of those nights at my house, cowboy. How can you miss me?”
The last two weeks had been a whirlwind. Every day after work, Ryder would come to her house where she’d have dinner waiting, or she’d stop and pick something up to bring home with her. They’d spent the time painting and putting down the tile he’d bought for her—and stealing kisses. There was still some painting to do because, frankly, they hadn’t spent every evening working.
No, some of those had been spent in bed, loving each other until sun up. She’d never felt closer to another human in her life. Ryder was a kind and attentive lover and he was so damn sexy there were some nights that she thought she’d burst into flames in his arms.
He reached for her hand, twining her fingers with his. “Because I got used to seeing you first thing in the morning and when I walked into the house in the evenings. Not seeing your lovely face makes for a very long work day.”
Reluctantly Georgia pulled her hand from Ryder’s. “I bet you’ve used that line a lot.”
“What?” Ryder’s brows drew together. He flexed his fingers, missing the warmth of hers. “I’ve never had a woman stay at the house before.”
“Not that part.” Georgia wished she’d kept quiet but old insecurities about his thriving bachelorhood had surfaced as soon as she realized how easily the pretty words rolled from his tongue. Though not in Gabe’s class, Ryder was still quite glib. She distracted herself from the sudden tension by picking up the garbage and replacing lids on the proper containers.
“Stop, honey.” Again he reached for her hands, claiming them both inside his warm, calloused ones. “I know my reputation, but honest-to-God, I’m not using a line on you. I thought you knew me better than that by now.”
His thumbs made little circles on the backs of her hands and Georgia found herself being swayed by the sincere look in his dark eyes. “I’m sorry.” She shrugged, slightly embarrassed at her momentary insecurity. “You’re right.” She pasted a smile on her face, determined not to spoil their time together by giving sway to her self-doubts. “So what would you like to do tonight?”
“I’m sorry, babe. That’s another reason I wanted to have lunch with you. I’m going to help Gramps do inventory at the store tonight.” One hand squeezed hers. “I’d like to come by later if that’s okay?”
“You’re awfully sweet, Ryder Anderson.” Georgia leaned across the table and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
“Is that a yes?”
Georgia nodded, feeling the heat of his gaze all the way to her toes. “That’s definitely a yes, cowboy.”
CHAPTER SIX
GEORGIA PUT AWAY the last book from the return cart and stretched her shoulders. Both she and Prudence had stayed late to sort the books and begin the laborious task of switching out the shelves. The new ones that Pete had built would allow expansion of certain sections and make the pursuit of reading material more inviting. The hand-stained wooden ones also made for a cozier, homey feel. Plus, the library budget just wouldn’t stretch to purchase the metal ones most libraries used.
“Well, I’m tuckered so I’m heading out.”
Lost in thought, Georgia nodded.
“You gonna stay all night?”
“No.” Georgia turned to the older woman with a tired smile. “I’m leaving too. I just have to grab my purse.”
“Then I’ll wait and walk out with you.”
“Okay.”
Georgia shortened her stride to match Prudence’s slower shuffle on the shiny tile floors. “I can’t thank you enough for coming back and helping out like this.”
“Psst. It’s nothing.”
“No,” Georgia pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder and dug out her keys, “it’s really something.” She held the door for the older woman then turned to lock
Georgia warmed at his words even as a brow rose in disbelief. “You’ve spent every one of those nights at my house, cowboy. How can you miss me?”
The last two weeks had been a whirlwind. Every day after work, Ryder would come to her house where she’d have dinner waiting, or she’d stop and pick something up to bring home with her. They’d spent the time painting and putting down the tile he’d bought for her—and stealing kisses. There was still some painting to do because, frankly, they hadn’t spent every evening working.
No, some of those had been spent in bed, loving each other until sun up. She’d never felt closer to another human in her life. Ryder was a kind and attentive lover and he was so damn sexy there were some nights that she thought she’d burst into flames in his arms.
He reached for her hand, twining her fingers with his. “Because I got used to seeing you first thing in the morning and when I walked into the house in the evenings. Not seeing your lovely face makes for a very long work day.”
Reluctantly Georgia pulled her hand from Ryder’s. “I bet you’ve used that line a lot.”
“What?” Ryder’s brows drew together. He flexed his fingers, missing the warmth of hers. “I’ve never had a woman stay at the house before.”
“Not that part.” Georgia wished she’d kept quiet but old insecurities about his thriving bachelorhood had surfaced as soon as she realized how easily the pretty words rolled from his tongue. Though not in Gabe’s class, Ryder was still quite glib. She distracted herself from the sudden tension by picking up the garbage and replacing lids on the proper containers.
“Stop, honey.” Again he reached for her hands, claiming them both inside his warm, calloused ones. “I know my reputation, but honest-to-God, I’m not using a line on you. I thought you knew me better than that by now.”
His thumbs made little circles on the backs of her hands and Georgia found herself being swayed by the sincere look in his dark eyes. “I’m sorry.” She shrugged, slightly embarrassed at her momentary insecurity. “You’re right.” She pasted a smile on her face, determined not to spoil their time together by giving sway to her self-doubts. “So what would you like to do tonight?”
“I’m sorry, babe. That’s another reason I wanted to have lunch with you. I’m going to help Gramps do inventory at the store tonight.” One hand squeezed hers. “I’d like to come by later if that’s okay?”
“You’re awfully sweet, Ryder Anderson.” Georgia leaned across the table and placed a quick kiss on his cheek.
“Is that a yes?”
Georgia nodded, feeling the heat of his gaze all the way to her toes. “That’s definitely a yes, cowboy.”
CHAPTER SIX
GEORGIA PUT AWAY the last book from the return cart and stretched her shoulders. Both she and Prudence had stayed late to sort the books and begin the laborious task of switching out the shelves. The new ones that Pete had built would allow expansion of certain sections and make the pursuit of reading material more inviting. The hand-stained wooden ones also made for a cozier, homey feel. Plus, the library budget just wouldn’t stretch to purchase the metal ones most libraries used.
“Well, I’m tuckered so I’m heading out.”
Lost in thought, Georgia nodded.
“You gonna stay all night?”
“No.” Georgia turned to the older woman with a tired smile. “I’m leaving too. I just have to grab my purse.”
“Then I’ll wait and walk out with you.”
“Okay.”
Georgia shortened her stride to match Prudence’s slower shuffle on the shiny tile floors. “I can’t thank you enough for coming back and helping out like this.”
“Psst. It’s nothing.”
“No,” Georgia pulled the strap of her purse over her shoulder and dug out her keys, “it’s really something.” She held the door for the older woman then turned to lock
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