Chapter 34
Ryder watched his girl tweak a bow she’d tied on the small arch Libby had made him carry in here. Her dress was fitted with a square neck and came to mid-thigh. It was deep green and was the perfect foil for her lovely hair.
She was now nothing like the scared, pale woman he’d met here the first day she came to town. He caught her hand, drawing her into his arms.
“I need to?—”
“Lib, it’s perfect,” Ryder said.
“I want that for them.”
“I know, baby, and it will be.”
She sighed and laid her head on his chest—a place she spent a lot of time. Ryder wondered, as he often did, how he’d gone through life without her in it.
“I love you,” he said to the top of her head.
“I love you too, but now I need to check my chocolates.”
He let her go with a kiss and started pouring champagne.
Today Sawyer and Birdie were getting married in the Swing Through Cafe after much debate by all members of the family. Finally, Uncle Asher had been the voice of reason and told the couple that they’d likely all catch a cold on their deck, and that having it in the cafe meant all the work would be done for them, and that was that.
With the help of the family, they’d spent yesterday setting everything up and were now ready for the big day. Downstairs had more room, so they’d transformed it by moving around tables and chairs and creating an aisle with the help of Linda and Frank’s strip of blue carpet.
Flowers, greenery, bows, and candles were dotted about the place, which Libby had spent hours moving around until they were situated just right. They combined to create a nice scent for the guests who would be arriving soon.
They’d woken to a bitterly cold day in Lyntacky that had a feeling of magic in the air, which Libby had said while burrowing into his chest and trying to warm her cold nose. He’d privately thought it felt like a blizzard threat but had wisely kept that to himself.
The last few weeks had been a whirlwind for Libby and Ryder—namely, for her. Her father had continued to try to bring her home, at first demanding, then coercing. In the end, Ryder had told her that to deal with this, they needed to fly to Piedmont.
She hadn’t wanted to but eventually relented. So Ryder had met her family and stayed at Libby’s side when she’d told them she was moving to Lyntacky to make chocolates, and she wanted her father to unfreeze her bank accounts.
He’d refused. Ryder had asked to have a word in private with the man and then told him exactly what he thought about that reaction. He had also laid out how he expected him to treat his daughter going forward, and that he had no right to withhold Libby’s money from her. He didn’t doubt that Phillip Caldwell loved her, but also knew things had to go his way. They’d never be on good terms, but at least they now understood each other. They’d then left with three suitcases of Libby’s things and the rest organized to be sent to her.
Three days later her father had released her money, and she’d withdrawn every cent and opened a new account.
Ryder understood her family’s concern that their relationship happened so quickly after Libby’s failed wedding, but like Sawyer had said to him a few days ago, “You know when you know.”
“Showtime,” he called to her as the door to the cafe opened and the guests started to arrive. Meadow and Hamish McAllister were first, wearing matching caftans in rainbow colors. Behind them came their three other children dressed normally.
“You didn’t get the caftan memo?” Ryder asked Finch. He wore dress trousers and a button-down shirt.
He shuddered. “Don’t, man. Seriously, you have no idea how hard they tried.”
They handed out drinks, and then Ryder sat next to Libby and his family and watched the oldest Duke sibling stumble through his wedding vows, looking at his future wife through the eyes of a man deeply in love.
Birdie wore a pale blue dress over her large belly and a floral circlet in her hair. The baby was due to arrive in a few weeks, but Ryder’s mom said it could be any day.
Ryder felt Libby’s hand slip into his as around them guests smiled and cried. Looking down, he saw she was crying too. He squeezed her fingers gently, and she gave him a watery smile.
“It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.
“It is,” he agreed.
She’d told him repeatedly she was going to get a place of her own here in Lyntacky, but so far that hadn’t happened. They were too small or too cold or some other reason that he thought was her being picky, because she didn’t want to move out of his house that was slowly filling up with her things.
“So much simpler than the production that was planned for my wedding,” Libby said.
“And cheaper,” he whispered in her ear.
“May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward,” Tripp said to Sawyer and Birdie.
“I like those words,” Libby said.
“Okay, so maybe when our time comes, we’ll use them too?”
She looked up at him with that beautiful smile on her face. “Maybe we will.”
And this, he thought, was happiness. For years he’d taken his time to sort out what he wanted in his life, but he hadn’t done that with Libby. He may have denied it briefly, but she was always meant to be his, as he was hers.
They congratulated the happy couple and then drank champagne and ate the finger foods Birdie had ordered. Libby decorated the cake because it turned out she had a flair for that kind of thing.
“You look happy, bro,” Dan said, wandering up.
“I am.”
“I was just talking to Linda, and she’s put in a big order for chocolates with Libby. Seems like your online business is taking off, Ry.”
“It’s not really online if a person physically puts in an order, Dan.”
His brother waved a hand about. “You know what I mean.”
“So now it’s your turn,” Ryder said.
“What?” Dan bit into one of the donut bites Sawyer had requested Ryder make.
“It means you’re next.”
“Next for what?”
“Finding the love of your life,” Ryder said.
Dan laughed, and then the smile fell from his lips. “You’re serious?”
“Of course I am. We’ve all fallen in order, and you’re the last male Duke.” He clapped his brother on the shoulder. “A little birdie actually just told me that Leah Reynolds is coming home. Didn’t you two have something before she left?”
“That she-devil,” Dan hissed. “Not likely, and she better keep her distance from me.”
“Hell of a protest, bud. What actually went down between you?”
“Nothing.” Dan walked away without another word.
“Why are you frowning?” Libby said, joining him.
“No reason. Have I told you today that you look hot? In fact, I’m thinking we should skip this and head home.” Ryder waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Ryder, dear, could you make me a coffee?” LouJean called to him.
“Go ask Klaus, LouJean, he’s making them today.”
She smiled. “I’m glad that Finny finally realized the error of his ways and stopped this nonsense with Klaus and Lea. At least now we can get our drive through coffee with a side of advice again.”
“Me too.” It had taken the full weight of the Dukes and especially Uncle Asher to make the man back off, but now he had, the town would go easier on him and his wife.
“You want some cake, Lib?” Ryder asked his girl.
“Yes please.”
He laughed as she slapped him on the ass. This, he thought, was what it meant when all the places inside of you were full. This, Ryder thought, was love.
***
Not ready to be done with the Duke Brothers just yet?
Would you like to what Ryder and Libby are up to years from now? Here is a bonus epilogue for you!
The Moment They Can Never Forgive , book #5 in the Duke Brothers series, is available for preorder now!
Her betrayal cut him deep, so when she comes home he’s ready to keep his distance.
When Deputy Dan Duke paused his patrol car to let a group of pedestrians cross the main street in his hometown, he never imagined that Leah Reynolds would be among them. Just one face in the crowd—and yet, the only one that made the breath catch in his chest. The woman he’d once believed he would love forever.
That hope had died the night she’d accused of something he didn’t do.
Leah returned to Lyntacky, bringing with her more baggage than just a suitcase. After the unexpected death of her sister, she became the sole guardian of her ten-year-old nephew, Cole. Raising a grieving child was something no one could ever be fully prepared for, and Leah knew she couldn’t do it alone. So she came home, to the place she swore she’d never set foot in again. What she hadn’t factored was still caring for the man who betrayed her.