Page 45 of Head Over Heels
As far as Ryder could tell, Charlie did not get emotionally involved with women and only did friends with benefits. Felicia Hayes being the current friend of choice. It was before his time, but from what he understood, Charlie had been with Gracie Donovan for years, and when she’d broken it off, he’d moved on to Felicia and stayed.
Charlie shrugged. “She’s getting restless.”
That caught Ryder’s attention. “Oh?”
Another shrug from across the table. “She’s starting to hint she wants more.”
The only person this surprised was Charlie. Everyone in town knew Felicia was in love with him, and Ryder couldn’t help feeling a little bad for her. He wasn’t sure what made Charlie so leery of emotional entanglements, but he knew enough to know that wanting a commitment from the guy was the kiss of death for their non-relationship.
Ryder glanced back at the table of women, his eyes on Sophie. Earlier, she’d been upset. And that made him stop thinking about her naked and start wondering why. Had something happened? He shouldn’t care. She’d made herself clear last night that she was off-limits. That they were going to be strictly neighbors.
Still, he wanted to know why she’d had tears in her eyes, because Sophie didn’t strike him as a crier. He liked her sassy, not weeping.
“You’re staring again.” Charlie’s voice was wry.
Ryder yanked his focus back to the table and took a sip of coffee. Time to stop thinking about her. Time to get back to work. He and Charlie often met at Earl’s Diner before the start of the week to discuss priorities before the craziness of the office distracted them.
“How do you think Harold is doing?” Ryder named their newest deputy, who’d interrupted him that day with Sophie and was just barely out of the academy.
Charlie grimaced. “Green, overeager, and a pleaser.”
Ryder laughed. “In other words, he bugs the shit out of you.”
“Pretty much.”
Once upon a time Charlie had been a field agent for the FBI before he left city life for small-town law enforcement. He didn’t have a lot of tolerance or patience for wide-eyed innocence.
That’s where Ryder came in. He was the oldest child, with two younger sisters. Growing up, he’d helped them with their schoolwork, taught them how to throw a baseball and ride their bikes. He had patience to spare and an easy nature that complemented Charlie’s more hard-assed demeanor.
Charlie was who the deputies cowered before.
Ryder was who they talked to about their problems and if they wanted their birthday off.
They made a good team, and Ryder didn’t regret making the move to Revival one bit. Not only had he needed a change in his life, he’d been stuck in his old department. The establishment guard hadn’t been inclined to move on or make changes to modernize the department.
The opportunity for Chief Deputy Sheriff had come along, Charlie and he had met over beers and hit it off, and the rest was history.
In his mind he had the best of both worlds: His family was close enough to see for dinner whenever he wanted, but now he didn’t have to worry about arresting any of them. Not that his sisters were troublemakers.
They were good girls. Or so he liked to believe.
There was a chorus of female laughter, and Ryder looked over at the table where Sophie sat. She appeared happier. And that made him happy.
He grinned at her.
She wrinkled her nose.
It was bad enough he was attracted to her, but why did she have to go and be so much fun?
“Did you tell her yet?” Charlie asked, once again pulling Ryder’s gaze from Sophie.
Ryder didn’t have to ask what Charlie referred to, because he already knew. “Nope. I thought it would be more fun to surprise her.”
“That’s a stupid idea.”
“Probably, but it hasn’t exactly come up in conversation.” He’d been too busy thinking other, more ... interesting things.
“I’ve never seen it, but it’s rumored Sophie has quite the temper.”