Derek was already moving toward her.
Ryleigh’s heart kicked in her chest like a trapped bird, and she instinctively took a step back, turning as if she could disappear into the hedges behind her. But before she could escape, he was there—close enough to make the rest of the world blur at the edges.
“Ryleigh,” he said softly, stopping her retreat. “Hey.”
She hesitated, trying to smile, but her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.
“How’s your week been?” he asked, his warm brown eyes watching her with quiet concern.
She shrugged. “Same old stuff. Chores. Schedules. More chores.”
He smiled, a soft curve of his lips that made her stomach flutter. “I’m sorry I haven’t been by the pack house. I’ve been in the city, doing some work for the hospital.”
Just as Ryleigh opened her mout
