“Sounds like the best idea to me.” He climbed in and slammed the door, leaned his arm out the window, and sent her a winning smile. “Relax, Ryder. There’s no strings attached or expectations, I promise. A quick dinner with a friend to see Milo settled in and I’ll head for home.”
“Great. So long as we understand each other, Jake. I’m not looking for more than friendship and an easy life. Good friends tend to last longer than some relationships and I have my daughter to think of.”
“You’ll get no argument from me. I’m happy with the way my life is, but I wont say no to having a good friend either.” He looked out the window and with that, she put the truck in gear and headed for the station.
When they got home, Milo followed Ebony into the yard, stopping to sniff everything and leave his mark on the occasional fence post or tree. Ryder glanced around to make sure things were as they had left them this morning. It pissed her off that she should feel the need to be wary in her own home, but Ryder more than anyone had seen what the depraved members of society could do to another human being. After what her visitor had done to the cat and the calling card she didn’t want to think about that he’d left on her pillow, she was no longer taking any chances.
“Eb, we need to introduce Milo to the kittens before he goes charging into the house. You get him to lay down on the grass and I’ll bring them out, okay?”
“Okay. Milo. Here boy.” Eb brought him around to the back door and settled him on the grass while Ryder unlocked the door. She thought about waiting for Jake but mentally kicked herself and had a quick look inside deeming it clear before looking for the kittens. She found them both curled up on Ebony’s bed. She scooped them up into her arms and carried them outside. Ryder handed one to her daughter and sank down onto the grass with the other one against her chest as Jake’s car cruised into her driveway.
Milo sniffed them and yawned before rolling over on the grass and kicking his feet in the air. Then he heaved a great sigh and closed his eyes, relaxing.
“He’s asleep.” Ebony leaned over and rested her head on his chest, snuggling in the grass with her new companion. The kittens stretched and casually strolled over to the dog’s head, sniffing and looking at the newcomer. Seemingly satisfied the large animal posed no threat, they snuggled up and settled down for a nap too.
“Looks like you all have a friend for life.” Jake stood at the gate and watched them relaxing.
“Thank you for setting it up. I’m going to feel so much more relaxed with Milo around.” She stood up and brushed the grass from her butt. “Come on in and I’ll shout you a drink while I heat up the pizza.”
Jake sauntered in the gate and up the path and Ryder couldn’t help wondering why he was still single. He certainly had charm, personality, and good looks. Plus, as the head policeman in town, you’d think he’d attract his fair share of interested females. And no, she reminded herself, she wasn’t one of them.
Ryder opened the fridge and looked at her meager alcohol offerings. “I can give you a glass of white wine or a mid strength beer. What’ll it be?”
“I’ll take the beer thanks.” He leaned against the kitchen counter and watched her. “So, everything settled down here now?”
“Yes. I think getting Milo was the best idea for Ebony. She was gutted yesterday and I don’t blame her. It rattled me more than I thought it would. That poor cat did nothing to deserve that treatment.”
“Talking of rattled, you’ve got Mick worried. He’s never had the opportunity to see what happens on those chat rooms before. Even though we all know it’s out there, it’s a different thing to actually seeing it in person.”
Ryder took a sip of her wine and wished it wasn’t so too. “I got heavily involved solving these kind of cases in the States. Seems I had a knack for it, worming my way into the inner sanctum and wheedling information out of them.” She rubbed at a spot behind her left knee; an old injury from a stake out that went wrong.
“Do you miss it, the States I mean?”
Ryder looked at him, noting the warm smile and open face. She needed a friend right now and Jake seemed the likely person considering his help and statement about not wanting more. “Yeah, I miss my Mom more than anything. It’s hard starting over again but the way things were I didn’t think I had much choice.”
“Want to talk about it? I’m pretty good at listening. Just ask my sisters.” He laughed and put his beer down on the table. “I remember when they were walking out with their first boyfriends. There was always some drama happening with one of them. Teenage girls for you.” He ran his finger down the condensation on the glass and wiped it on his jeans. “For some reason they decided I was the person to listen to their problems so I can honestly say I have experience.”
Ryder smiled. “No big secret really. I decided I needed a change after my husband Gabe died.” She took a sip of wine, letting the cool liquid slide down her throat while she paused for breath. The spoken words no longer choked her up, but the hurt still dug at her every time she mentioned his name.
In a way, that scared her more because it meant she was letting him go. His touch, his smell, and the way he made her smile. The FBI shirt she slept with no longer smelled of him, no longer gave her comfort like it did in the beginning. Something she knew would happen over time, especially
