Unexpectedly Hers(15)

He smacked his palm against his forehead and then stormed toward the dining room to figure out what the hell had gotten into Ryder. He found Emma instead, carefully setting out napkins and silverware.

“Where’s my brother?” Wyatt snapped a bit more harshly than intended.

Emma barely looked up. “In the kitchen.”

Wyatt started toward the door, but Emma spoke again. “He’s relaxed now and feeling productive. Before you start in on him, consider that maybe these days he needs more time to adapt to change than you do.”

Wyatt glanced over his shoulder, but Emma continued working, having said her peace in that quiet but firm way that she seemed to do everything. It unnerved him even though he respected it. He couldn’t decide whether she was truly stoic or if, like a glacier, bottomless layers lay waiting to be explored beneath her icy surface.

Jumbled thoughts tossed around his brain, so he kept quiet and proceeded to the kitchen without responding. Emma didn’t understand his mission regarding his brother’s recovery and their future.

In Vermont, Ryder had expressed interest in this project. Wyatt didn’t need Emma to misread his brother’s temper tantrums this month. He also didn’t need Ryder to start casting doubts like darts. His pulse raced, but when he burst into the kitchen, he stopped and watched.

His brother stood in front of a cutting board loaded with apples, peeled carrots, fresh ginger, and grapefruits. With utter concentration, he grouped the items together into handful-size clusters beside the industrial juicer to his left.

“You know, you’re a guest here, not an employee.” Wyatt joked while sauntering over to his brother’s side.

“You think I can’t do it?” Ryder pulled his shoulders back.

“No, but this isn’t why we’re here.” Wyatt watched him study the equipment, as if he’d forgotten Emma’s instructions. Hell, the thing did look as complicated as one of those fancy cappuccino makers.

“I can’t concentrate with you s-staring at me.” Ryder’s rubber-gloved palm slapped the counter just as Emma walked in.

Without skipping a beat, she came over, ignored Wyatt, and patted Ryder’s arm. “I know; it’s super confusing, huh? Let’s go through the steps again, this time you do each step as I talk you through it.”

The contrast between her warmth and physical contact with Ryder and her disinterest in him only provided more proof of her apparent disapproval.

With the patience and heart of a saint, Emma leaned in and reminded Ryder of the various steps and switches. Wyatt found himself somewhat captivated by her calm voice, her deliberate movements. Ryder nodded, listening intently, seeming oblivious to their body contact. He then placed a batch of fruit in the top thingy, pressed it down, and yelled, “Oh, sh-shit,” as pulp landed on the floor by his foot.

Emma laughed, putting Ryder at ease. “That’s my fault. I forgot to set the garbage can under the pulp tube. But look, there’s a bit of juice in the pitcher.”

After cleaning the mess on the floor, she grabbed a nearby garbage can and set it beneath the plastic pulp tube. “Now keep going. We need all of that, and we need it fast.” Sparing Wyatt a brief glance, she said, “Wyatt, Mari and the crew were getting seated when I came in here. You probably should join them. We’ll be out in two minutes.”

Just like that, she’d dismissed him with a bored smile. Ryder didn’t even look up. He kept scooping food into the processor and, wearing a satisfied grin, watching it turn into liquid. Unaccustomed to being ignored, Wyatt bit his tongue and left the kitchen, but he wasn’t done with Ryder, or Emma.




Wyatt tossed his napkin on the table and laid one hand over his stomach, unable to decide whether the omelet, the fruit salad with mint, or that damn juice had been the best part of the meal.

Emma appeared for the third time, checking on their needs and stacking dirty dishes. Ryder’s gaze followed her as she moved around the table. Did his brother have a crush now? Could his sudden change in attitude be the result of pent-up sexual frustration? And hell, would Emma be the right woman to change that for Ryder? For some unknown reason, Wyatt’s mind recoiled at the thought.

“Wyatt,” Mari said, thankfully interrupting his thoughts. “When we get to the mountain, Jim will stay below with me and operate the drone camera. Buddy will hike partway up with you and get on-the-ground action shots, too. Sound good?”

“Sure.” Wyatt said. “I need thirty minutes to digest and change, then we can head out and start the ascent.”

Ryder pushed his dish away and abruptly stood. “I’m staying here.”