Meant to Be (Twist of Fate) by Jennifer Probst

Author:Jennifer Probst [Probst, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Montlake
Published: 2022-04-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The next few weeks rolled by, and Ryder sensed he and Chiara had begun to create a tentative routine. They ate dinner together one night a week, usually at an out-of-the-way pub where no one knew them. Conversation flowed, and slowly, they began to learn about each other again.

The bill was always split evenly.

As the weather warmed, Ryder learned she liked to take Dex for a run on Saturdays, so he began coincidentally meeting them at the park. At first she balked and tried to ditch him, but Dex had taken a shine to him. Ryder brought him treats, and soon the canine was solidly on his side. Chiara finally softened, and he got his first hint of how she’d be as a mom.

Her dog was well disciplined and well loved. Ryder liked to watch her eyes grow warm when she glanced at Dex and hear her throaty laugh when the lab completed one of his antics. She kept a close watch when he was in the dog park, over both his behavior and any other dog who might be trouble. Ryder realized he craved more time with her. Time to become comfortable in her world and vice versa.

So when he discovered she was speaking at a popular health center regarding happiness in the here and now, Ryder was curious. He’d seen her talk to the high school students, but that had been on short notice. He wanted to see Chiara in her element. He also wondered how she’d address the topic, since stress seemed to be climbing to an all-time high for everyone. Ryder had found out she wrote a lot, that she was excited about diving into features to bring to the Quench audience. The article she’d published on date-rape culture impressed the hell out of him, and it had been picked up by social media outlets and blew up, citing her as a new leader among women. She had a way with words that served her audience well—simple, clean, and raw.

He was looking forward to seeing her in action.

Thankfully, there were still tickets available, so he donned a Mets baseball cap, jeans and a T-shirt, and his favorite Jordan sneakers and headed out to the Hilton. He made his way to the Grand Ballroom, stopping by to check out the displays for Wellness Weekend. It was packed with women, but organized, so he didn’t feel like he was bumping or squeezing his way through. Ryder nodded to the men accompanying their partners, grabbed an agenda, and seated himself in the back.

Chiara was one of the keynote speakers, and the space held a good one thousand people. The lights dimmed in warning, and soon the place was jammed. Her intro was packed with all the accolades audiences expect from a keynote. He’d watched Rory many times easily command a room, the fire of her personality a natural motivator to the crowds. When Chiara came to the stage, he was hit by a completely different sort of energy.

Quiet. Capable.

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