Along for the Ride Read Online Free

them all, Diederick was probably the loneliest.
    ‘You and Mr Meier both should have settled down. Got me some grandkids.’ Mrs Hartman followed him up the stairs and Ryan automatically slowed his steps so she could keep pace. Without an elevator, they had no choice but to use the stairs.
    ‘If I marry Diederick, how will we give you grandkids?’ Ryan grinned, keeping his back to her.
    It took a moment for her to process, but after a short pause she laughed and scolded, ‘Oh, you naughty boy!’
    ‘I’ll have you know, I had lunch with a very pretty young woman today,’ Ryan said, thinking of Kat.
    ‘The married one?’ Mrs Hartman asked knowingly. ‘The cop’s sister?’
    ‘That’s the one.’ He reached the top of the stairwell and stopped.
    ‘I have news for you, buckaroo, you need to actually date the woman, not the sister.’ She reached out, grabbing his arm lightly and taking a deep shaky breath.
    ‘Oh, so that’s what I’m doing wrong.’ He laughed.
    Mrs Hartman smiled, then turned back to the stairs to head down again. ‘Go get some sleep. I know you haven’t been home all night. William already gave me the full report of last night’s activity. I hope it wasn’t anything too bad that kept you away?’
    ‘Just a robbery. No one hurt,’ he assured her.
    ‘Thank goodness for that.’ She took a slow step, holding on to the rail. ‘I’ll make sure Margie or Harry brings you something to eat later.’
    ‘See, now why do I need a wife when I have all of you taking care of me?’
    ‘If you have to ask, young man, you need more help than I can give. Ask Diederick, he seems the type to explain it to you.’ Mrs Hartman giggled, sounding very young for her obvious age.
    ‘You know, I could just stand in the entryway and talk to you.’ Ryan watched her as she continued to make her way slowly down, keeping an eye out to make sure she didn’t lose her balance.
    ‘Ah –’ she waved her hand in dismissal without turning around ‘– it’s my exercise for the day. It’s what keeps me in such fine shape.’ She patted her plump side and gave a small chuckle.
    ‘It’s impossible to improve upon such beauty, Mrs Hartman,’ Diederick’s sharply accented voice said from below the white stairwell.
    Ryan saw the man’s shadow before the man.
    ‘Like I told the other one, you need to focus your attention on the girls,’ Mrs Hartman answered.
    ‘That’s not what you said, sweet lady. In fact, I think you implied I focus my attention too readily on girls.’
    When Mrs Hartman giggled again, it was a cute, almost blushing sound. ‘A suave man with your European accent should have no problem setting the ladies aflutter. I might be old, but I know a rogue when I see one.’
    ‘Then I must find a woman to put me in my place,’ Diederick agreed with her.
    Diederick met his gaze and Ryan nodded once. The man understood as he stayed downstairs to wait for the elderly Mrs Hartman. ‘Please, mademoiselle, allow me.’
    To hear the Swiss-born man speak with a French accent was slightly comical, but apparently the man had learnt English from his French nanny as a boy. It made for some interesting turns of phrase when he spoke. Ryan didn’t wait for Diederick to join him before continuing to lug his camera bags to his apartment. It felt heavier than it should have, but he knew it was mostly due to tiredness.
    Diederick’s footsteps sounded on the wooden stairs as he took them two at a time. ‘Mm, I’ve eaten at some of the finest restaurants in all the world and still nothing compares to Mrs Hartman’s chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven. If I wasn’t worried about her overdoing it, I’d make her market them.’
    ‘Did you bring me one?’ Ryan asked, glancing over as he unlocked his apartment door.
    ‘She sent you one.’ Diederick laughed harder, passing the stairwell that would lead him up to his home and entering the hallway instead.
    Ryan arched a brow.
    Diederick lifted a half-eaten