Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,46

Dad said I needed to and make myself at home, diving into my muffin I brought from the house. It’s so calm and peaceful here. I hate that they’re selling it, but I understand; they need something low maintenance like a condo that will allow them to travel back and forth with limited worry.

At seven thirty on the dot, I hear the sound of a diesel engine. Right on time.

I step out onto the front porch to greet them and stop in my tracks. In the driveway sits two trucks adorned with the Beckett Construction logo on each side.

Ridge.

The man of my dreams—literally—climbs out of the driver’s seat, clipboard in hand. Tyler, following behind him, glances up and notices me.

“Kendall!” he yells out my name.

This causes Ridge to stop walking and look up. Tyler steps around him and continues toward me. “You live here?” Tyler asks, leaning down to kiss my cheek.

“Uh . . . no. My . . . my grandparents live here.”

“Kendall,” Ridge’s deep voice greets me.

Looking up, I see those dark eyes of his trained on me. Tyler throws his arm over my shoulders.

“This is her grandparents’ place. Small world, huh?” he says to Ridge.

“Tyler,” Ridge growls. He doesn’t seem too happy with him at the moment.

Tyler just chuckles and drops his arm.

“Morning.” I wave awkwardly at Ridge, and a small smile tips his lips. It really is too early to be subjected to this man and that dimple. The rest of the guys are now gathered around, so I smile and wave to them as well. “So, my grandparents are out of town, as are my parents.’ My dad sent me—not that I can be of much help,” I explain quickly.

“No problem, we know what he wants done. Your grandfather, I mean. We do need a set of keys though,” Ridge says.

“Right. Sorry, I have them. Come on in.” I open the door and go inside. Grabbing the envelope on the table with the keys, I hand it to Ridge, who’s now standing right next to me. “Here you go.”

“Thank you. So, if something does come up, should we call you?” he asks.

“Yeah, for the next couple weeks anyway. My grandparents will be gone longer, but my dad will be back in town after that.”

Ridge pulls out his phone. “Number?” he asks.

He’s not asking because he’s interested in you, it’s for work purposes. I rattle off my number and he types it in his phone.

“Thanks, beautiful,” Tyler says, shoving his phone into his pocket.

I just smile and laugh at his antics. Ridge, however, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “I’m not paying you to stand around,” he says, irritation lacing his voice.

Tyler smacks him on the shoulder, laughing as he and the rest of the guys—who were oddly silent—head back outside.

Chapter 17

I spent the remainder of my weekend trying to work out my reaction to Kendall in my head. Why all of a sudden do I feel this pull to her? She’s beautiful, with long dark hair, and big blue eyes. There’s something about her, something I can’t quite figure out, but whatever it is, it pulls me to her.

Now here she is.

“Small world,” I say once the guys are out of earshot.

“Yeah.” She tucks a curl behind her ear. “How’s Knox?”

I can feel the smile as my lips tip up. “He’s good. He’s with my mom. She’s going to be watching him for me.” I’m rambling now.

“You’re lucky he’s with family. Most are not that fortunate.”

“Yeah, I feel bad, though. Dad’s only been retired a couple of years, and I feel like I’m tying them down again.”

“Doubtful. First of all, he’s adorable, and from how your mom was talking this weekend, she’s flying high being Grandma. Seems like your dad is as well.”

“You talked to my mom?” When was that? How did I not know this?

“Yeah, Dawn and I had lunch with her and Reagan at the mall. I thought we told you that.”

Well, shit. Reagan said she ran into them, but she didn’t mention Mom being with her. Why do I hate the fact that she got to see Mom, but I wasn’t there? It’s not like Mom never met her—she and Reagan graduated together, and this is a small town—but still, I feel like I should have been there with her, like I should have been the one introducing her, not Reagan.

“Yeah, that’s what they tell me.”

“Well, if you ask my parents,’ that’s the point of retirement. However, I seem to

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