Danger Next Door by Donna Alward

Author:Donna Alward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-09-27T15:42:17+00:00

Chapter Ten

It was dark by the time they finished their meal and went back outside to Ryan’s truck. They stopped a moment to talk to Tyson and Clara Diamond, who were just leaving the nearby bakery and café. Andi had always liked Clara. She ran the women’s shelter in town, and she and Ty were such a cute couple. When Chelsea had gone missing, Clara and her sister-in-law Angela had been among the first to offer their support.

Andi also saw Clara’s gaze flicker between Andi and Ryan, surreptitiously assessing. If Andi were being honest with herself, she liked being treated as part of a couple, even if it wasn’t real. What might it be like if all this had never happened, and Ryan had asked her out on a date?

“You should both come to the pre-Thanksgiving get-together we’re having at the ranch on Thursday,” Clara suggested, digging slightly.

Ryan’s gaze landed on Andi and she sensed his discomfort. “Oh, us?” She kept her voice light. “We’re not a thing, Clara. Just friends. Ryan helped me out of a tight spot earlier today and I paid him back with supper.”

Clara’s cheeks pinkened. “Oh, I’m sorry.” Ty nudged her arm and she sighed. “I know. I need to stop sticking my nose in.”

Andi couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s perfectly okay, isn’t it, Ryan?”

“No worries at all,” he said, but the question had caused another one of those awkward vibes between them. After tonight, she couldn’t be calling him for every little thing. She was certain that while she was developing feelings for him, he didn’t feel the same. Instead, it felt as if lines were being blurred. She’d taken advantage of his friendship.

“Well, we should be going. We only have a sitter until eight thirty, since it’s a school night.” Clara provided a graceful exit, and within moments they’d said their goodbyes and Ryan was once again holding the truck door open for her.

“All set?” he asked, starting the engine.

“I am. It was a nice time, especially seeing Leslie. Though I’m so full you could just give me a nudge and I could roll home.”

He laughed. “Naw. It’s a short drive. Which reminds me.” He dug into his jacket pocket and took out two keys. “Keys for your new locks.”

She took them from his fingers and dug in her purse for her key chain... Then realized her keys were with her car at the garage. She dropped them in her purse instead. “Thanks again for doing all that.”

“I don’t mind.” He pulled out of the parking spot and headed down the street, then turned right at the stop sign. She lived within the town limits, but a little closer to the edge, where the lots were slightly bigger with more privacy. These days she kind of wished she didn’t have so much privacy. Otherwise, a neighbor might have seen something.

Ryan kept glancing in his rearview mirror, his lips in a set line.

“Something wrong?”

“What? Oh, no. Just thinking out my plan for tomorrow.”

But his gaze kept shifting to the mirror.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.