Ryder stared at him. John Hardy had always believed in him, giving him a job and a roof over his head since he was eighteen. He was a good man, someone Ryder was proud to know. It hadn’t been easy to say no to JJ, and JJ wasn’t ready to give up yet, but Ryder knew he was where he belonged. And now this.
John held up his hand. “I know you’re sore about staying put, not getting to work with JJ, but hear me out. If the garage was yours, you could do the bodywork and custom jobs you’ve always wanted to. Stonewall Crossing might be a little off the main road, but they’d come—for your work.”
His own garage. With an established clientele. Here, not starting over. He was getting everything he always wanted.
“Just think about it. Seems like you’re settling down all right, putting down those roots you’ve never wanted to plant before. This might help with that.” John nodded, clapping Ryder on the shoulder again. “I’ll let you stew awhile while I hunt down some more of that honey lemonade Fisher made.”
Ryder nodded, wishing he was better with words. “You’re a generous man, John.”
John smiled. “And you’re a good man who loves an engine almost as much as I do.” He nodded once then headed off in search of Fisher’s lemonade.
“Hiding?” Hunter asked, coming in as John left. “Renata really did invite everyone, didn’t she?”
“The entire damn town.”
Hunter grinned. “Your wife’s looking for you.”
His wife. The woman he took every opportunity to touch, to kiss and hold.
He smiled, heading back to the great room. There was no shortage of activity. The ice storm had delayed the party a week. And now, with the cold and ice hanging on, the party couldn’t spill out onto the series of decks that ran down the hill behind the Lodge, the way Renata had originally planned. Add in the endlessly revolving servers coming to and from the kitchen, and it was a little too close for comfort. His brother Fisher sat with Cody and Eli and a few other kids, making paper airplanes out of Renata’s fancy wedding announcements. His father and a few of his cronies were seated along the back wall, their chairs grouped around the massive fireplace. His other brother, Archer, had been cornered by two women with single daughters. To marry a Boone in Stonewall Crossing was pretty damn close to becoming Hill Country royalty.
“Hey.” Annabeth smiled as soon as she saw him. It warmed him through, seeing her look at him like that.
“How’re you holding up?” He took her hand in his and stared at her. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And when she smiled up at him like that, she made him feel like the only man in the world. A man who wanted to kiss her more than anything. His fingers laced through hers.
“Ryder,” she chastised him. “You shouldn’t look at me like that.”
Ryder laughed. “Like what?”
She turned to face him, flushed. “Like that...” Her voice was unsteady.
He grinned. “I don’t know what you think I’m thinking. I was thinking about me.” He kissed the back of her hand. “And you—”
“Exactly.” She nodded, wiggling her fingers.
“And Cody going fishing when it warms up,” he added, watching her cheeks turn a deep scarlet. “What did you think I was thinking?” he teased.
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Nice to know I’m in your thoughts.”
He slid an arm around her waist. When was she not in his thoughts? Every decision he’d made had been with her in mind. He stroked her side, getting accustomed to the way his heart reacted to her. “You are, Princess,” he whispered.
She smiled up at him.
“Ma.” Cody tugged on Annabeth’s denim skirt. “Can I take Eli to my room? To play with Tom? Or watch a m-movie?”
“’Course you can,” Ryder replied.
Cody looked at Ryder, then Annabeth. She nodded, ruffling his hair. “’Kay, thanks.” The two ran out of the room.
“Can I go with them?” Ryder asked.
; “Nope.” She shook her head. “You’re not leaving me.” Her smile faded into a frown.
He didn’t have time to ask what was wrong—his father was headed their way. Once he saw the people his father had in tow, he realized what Teddy Boone was up to. He and his father might not see eye to eye on some things, but they both wanted to help Annabeth any way they could.
“Annabeth, you remember Mack?”