Page 8 of Ryder (Heart River Valley: Montana Protectors #3)

Ryder

My truck isn’t actually smoking. Jake just has terrible timing and an even worse sense of humor. But watching Dana practically run back to the guest house, I have a feeling I’ve screwed up somehow.

“You look like a man who needs a drink,” Jake says, inviting himself onto my porch.

“I look like a man who needs better friends.” But I hold the door open. “One beer. Then you’re leaving.”

“Rough night?” He settles into my kitchen chair like he owns it.

I grab two beers from the fridge, trying not to think about how Dana looked in that sundress. Or how soft her lips were. Or the way she went quiet after I mentioned the competition…

“Earth to Ryder.” Jake waves a hand in front of my face. “You gonna share what’s got you looking like someone shot your dog, or do I have to guess?”

“I think…” I drop into the other chair. “I think I said something wrong. About the bake-off.”

“Wrong how?”

“Just… that it wasn’t a big deal. You know, trying to help her relax about it.”

Jake groans, eloquent. “You didn’t.”

“What?”

“Tell me you didn’t dismiss something she’s obviously passionate about as ‘not a big deal.’”

Put that way, it does sound bad.

“Shit.” I scrub a hand over my face. “I was trying to be supportive.”

“By telling her not to care about something she clearly cares about?”

“When you say it like that…”

“You’re an idiot.” But Jake’s voice is sympathetic. “You really like her, don’t you?”

The beer suddenly feels heavy in my hand. “Yeah. I do.”

“Then why are you sabotaging yourself?”

“I’m not sabotaging anything.” But the protest sounds weak even to my ears.

“Really?” Jake leans back, giving me that look that means I’m not going to like what comes next. “So you didn’t just minimize something she’s passionate about because you’re scared of how serious this is getting?”

“It’s not…” I stop, take a long pull of beer. “We’re just…”

“Just what? Having fun? Keeping it casual?” His voice goes sharp. “Because that kiss I accidentally interrupted earlier didn’t look casual.”

Heat creeps up my neck. “You saw that?”

“Through the window. Was coming to warn you about Elena’s plans for the bake-off, but you seemed… occupied.”

I groan, remembering how Dana felt in my arms, the little sounds she made…

“See?” Jake’s voice pulls me back. “That look right there. That’s not your usual ‘conquest’ face. That’s your ‘I’m terrified because I actually care’ face.”

“When did you become a relationship expert?”

“Around the time I stopped being an idiot and admitted I was in love with Elena.” He sets his beer down with a thunk. “Look, we both know what this is really about.”

“Jake—”

“Sarah abandoned you. It sucked. But Dana isn’t Sarah.”

The name hits like a punch to the gut, even after all this time. “I know that.”

“Do you? Because from where I’m sitting, you’re doing the same thing you always do—finding ways to keep people at arm’s length so they can’t hurt you.”

“That’s not—”

“You’ve been half in love with Dana for months. Everyone sees it. But the minute it starts getting real, you try to make her doubt herself. Make her think you don’t take her seriously.”

“I wasn’t—” But I stop, remembering Dana’s expression when I dismissed the competition. The way she pulled back, not just physically but emotionally. “Shit.”

“Yeah.” Jake’s voice softens. “Shit.”

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of truth settling between us like smoke.

“I don’t know how to do this,” I finally admit. “The real stuff. The… feelings stuff.”

“Nobody does, man. That’s kind of the point.”

“What if I mess it up? What if-”

“What if you let the best thing that’s ever happened to you slip away because you’re too scared to try?”

I stare at my beer, seeing instead Dana’s face when she talks about baking. The way her whole being lights up with passion and purpose. The way she makes everything brighter just by being near it.

The way I feel when she smiles at me like I’m something special.

“I need to fix this, don’t I?”

“Yeah.” Jake stands, clapping my shoulder. “You really do.”

“How?”

“Start by showing her you take her dreams seriously. That you see her. Not just as someone to flirt with, but as someone whose passion matters.”

He’s right. Damn him.

“When did you get so wise?”

“About the time I realized being afraid of losing something was a terrible reason not to try for it.” He heads for the door, then pauses. “And Ryder?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t screw this up. Because if you hurt her, you’ll have to answer to more than just me. The whole town loves that girl.”

As I watch him leave, his words echo in my head. The whole town loves that girl.

Yeah. They’re not the only ones.

The realization should terrify me. Instead, it feels like finally admitting something I’ve known all along.

Now I just have to figure out how to prove it to her.

The answer hits me like a bolt of lightning. I grab my phone and dial.

“It’s nearly midnight,” Rachel answers, “so this better be good.”

“I need Gram’s recipe box.”

A long pause. “The one in the attic? The one you wouldn’t even let me touch after she passed?”

“Yeah.” I start pacing. “And I need you to call that fancy kitchen supply place in Bozeman. The one that did your wedding registry.”

“Ryder Winston.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “Are you finally getting your head out of your ass about Dana?”

“The competition.” The idea is taking shape now. “She needs professional equipment, right? Not just my amateur kitchen stuff. And Gram’s old recipes… remember how she used to say baking was about passing down love through generations?”

“Go on.”

“Dana gave up her whole family’s expectations to follow her passion. Maybe… maybe she needs to know she’s got a new family now. One that believes in her.”

Rachel squeals, nearly deafening me. “Oh my god, you’re in love with her!”

“That’s not…” I stop. Run a hand through my hair. “Yeah. I think I am.”

“Finally! Okay, I’m calling Elena. We’ll handle the equipment. You get the recipe box. But Ryder?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t just show her the recipes. Tell her why they matter. Tell her about how Gram taught you to appreciate baking. How watching Dana in the kitchen reminds you of her.”

My throat goes tight. “How’d you know that?”

“Because I see how you look at Dana when she’s baking. Like you’re seeing something precious. Something worth protecting.”

“When did my baby sister get so smart?”

“Around the time my big brother got so dumb about love.” But her voice is gentle. “Go get the girl, Ryder. And don’t screw it up this time.”

I hang up and head for the attic stairs.

The recipe box will be dusty, but the memories inside are still fresh.

Gram teaching me to appreciate the precision of baking.

The way she’d say “Love isn’t just in the ingredients, boy.

It’s in the time you take to make something special for someone special. ”

Dana needs to know she’s special. Not just to me, but to this whole community.

And I know exactly how to show her.