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Thirty

Ryker had never seen Leslie so at peace. Not that she’d been a conflicted mess before, but the conversation with her parents seemed to have filled her with an ocean of settled confidence. He loved to see it. He loved to see her—his true love, his beautiful artist—thriving and happy. Friday’s early morning hours and the entirety of Saturday flew by. They trekked up into the foothills outside town and spent hours talking, kissing, and chasing each other from tree to tree in leaps and bounds, their laughter startling birds and squirrels.

On Sunday morning, breakfast at the diner was an unspoken default. Traditions were easy to build in Harmony Ridge. It was one of the things Ryker loved about Leslie’s home. The flurry of his city was energizing; Harmony Ridge was restful. And at his best, he could admit now that both energy and rest were valuable.

A tradition didn’t have to become a rut, however. Ryker scanned the menu for something he hadn’t tried yet. “I’d like the eggs-and-cheese scramble with bacon and green peppers. Oh, and a side of cinnamon roll French toast.”

“Got it,” their server said. “And for you, Leslie?”

Leslie hadn’t opened her menu, of course. “Farmer’s market omelet and a side of blueberry ricotta pancakes.”

“Got it. Coming right up.”

As the server moved away, Ryker shook his head. “Do you evernotorder those two things?”

“No.” She folded her hands on the table in a serene gesture that was ruined by her smirk. “I might occasionally order additional things. But I never don’t order those two things.”

From outside, two people got out of a recently parked vehicle and headed toward the door. Based on their scents, one of them was human; the other was a wolf. When the little bell chimed above the door, Ryker looked over his shoulder. He couldn’t help needing to track a wolf’s entrance to a location with only one door.

The wolf in question was Rhett, the pack beta. He met Ryker’s eyes as he entered the diner ahead of his companion, then gave a brief nod of acknowledgment, which Ryker returned. The human who followed Rhett was a woman with short black hair. She wore a flattering black skirt, a royal-blue top, and low heels. Ryker might not have noticed her wardrobe if it hadn’t contrasted so much with the wolf’s clothes: practical trail pants and a camo T-shirt with the arms cut off.

The dude had some arms on him. As if Ryker needed the reminder of brute wolf strength while he was trying to be chill sharing a thousand-square-foot restaurant with the beta who had growled at him out on Lunar Lane.

“Ryker?” Leslie stage-whispered.

“It’s all good,” he said.

“Neighbors, remember?”

“Yeah. It’s fine.”

He gave himself a moment of self-check-in and realized…he was actually fine. Instinct kept him watching as Rhett and thewoman made their way to a booth on the far side of the diner, but Ryker didn’t feel the need to pummel the guy or even to beat him at chess. Yes, he was a vampire. Yes, Rhett was a wolf. But as long as any wolf proved himself a good guy…did his gamey scent or his ability to growl from his chest really matter?

“Would you mind if I talked to them for a minute?” Ryker said.

Leslie looked as surprised by his words as he was. “Want me to come with?”

“Nah. I just want to clear the air.”

“Ah, okay. I approve.”

Of course, the wolf had heard every word. As Ryker approached, Rhett leaned across the table with a stage whisper of his own. “Vampire incoming. He wants to clear the air.”

“Oh?” the woman said. “What did you do to him?”

“You know, you could try having a little faith in me sometimes.”

“Sure, but there’s you, and then there’s your diplomacy skills.”

Ryker halted next to their table, and Rhett’s date smiled up at him, snark replaced instantly with sincerity. “You’re Ryker Maddox, aren’t you? I’m Vivian Jones, Rhett’s mate.”

“Pleased to meet you, Vivian.”

“Same.”

“I won’t take much of your time,” Ryker said. “But you’ll be seeing me around all the time now, and I’m hoping we can be…” What did he hope for? They’d never been at war, so calling a truce seemed dramatic.

“Civil?” Rhett’s mouth twisted in a smirk. “Sure, why not.”