Harlequin Special Edition October 2016, Box Set 2 of 2 by Shirley Jump

Author:Shirley Jump
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488025198
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ryder’s morning didn’t start out too badly. After a meeting with the production team, he went for breakfast with Owen and Virginia. The waitress at the Morning Glory Café brought his breakfast platter with a candle in it, undoubtedly Virginia’s idea. The show’s producer never missed a detail.

As he was driving away from the restaurant, his phone rang. When he connected the call, he was greeted by his sister singing “Happy Birthday,” loudly and off-key.

“I’m on my way to the airport,” he said when Avery paused to take a breath. “Isn’t that punishment enough without adding your singing to the mix?”

“Actually, that’s the other reason I called,” his sister said. “To tell you that your chauffeur services aren’t required.”

It was possible that Justin had changed his shift at the hospital and was available to meet his mother-in-law’s flight, but Ryder suspected otherwise. “She’s not coming, is she?”

“No,” Avery admitted.

He shook his head. Just when he thought his mother couldn’t disappoint him anymore, she proved otherwise. Her last-minute cancellation didn’t bother him—meetings with his mother were inevitably awkward and strained—but he knew that Avery had been looking forward to her visit. More importantly, she’d been looking forward to Vanessa meeting her maternal grandmother.

“Did she say why?”

“The usual.”

Which, of course, meant work. Nothing mattered more to Dr. Cristina Tobin—not even her children. Ryder used to admire her dedication—he’d certainly been told often enough that her research was important, that what she did saved lives. Now it just made him sad. Maybe she did save lives, but she did so at the cost of living her own.

“Are you okay?” he asked his sister now.

“Of course, I’m okay,” she said, her tone just a little too bright. “It’s not as if I didn’t know this might happen.”

“Just because you’re not surprised doesn’t mean you’re not disappointed.”

“You’re right,” she admitted. “And I was a little disappointed at first. Then I called Justin’s mom and dad and invited them to come for dinner tonight because I’d already bought the groceries to make chicken piccata, and Ellen was absolutely thrilled by the invitation because they haven’t seen their granddaughter in three whole days.”

“Three whole days, huh?”

Avery chuckled. “Are you feeling guilty now that it’s been seven days since you stopped by?”

“I’ll see you soon,” he promised.

“You could come tonight, too,” she offered. “There’s going to be plenty of food.”

“I told you—I have plans for tonight.”

“I remember that’s what you said,” she acknowledged. “I just wasn’t sure you were sticking with that story now that our mother isn’t going to be in town.”

“I’m sticking with that story,” he told her.

“Well, I hope you have a wonderful birthday, little brother.”

“Thanks, big sis.” He disconnected the call and turned his vehicle around.

He hadn’t been completely honest when he told his sister he had plans, but he was optimistic. He knew any number of women who would happily make themselves available to celebrate his birthday, but he didn’t want to celebrate with any of them. Instead he drove

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