Rudy had only met Eden's dad once before, at Scott and Kennedy's wedding. Even though he'd seemed like a nice enough man, there had been an air of disdain and condescension about the polished man. Today was no different.
So he's the owner of the stingray.
Rudy wished he'd lingered outside a little longer. Or better yet, loitered at work.
Eden remained tense as she released Rudy and stepped to his side. The closer her father got, the more her shoulders rounded, and she shrank against Rudy.
Oliver stood directly in front of them now, his face hard and his gaze probing. "How long has this been going on?" He pinned Rudy with his glare.
Rudy had no idea how to respond, so he didn't. He simply held the other man's gaze, unflinching—even though that's exactly what he felt like doing.
When Oliver shifted his glare to Eden, she leaned closer and fisted a hand in the back of his shirt.
Whether as a plea or an anchor, Rudy wasn't sure. He didn't know what was going on between Eden and her father, but he didn't like how she shied away from him.
She shot him another pleading look before leaning her head against his shoulder, giving him another whiff of her coconut shampoo. The same scent that drove him crazy every time he walked into the bathroom. It made him imagine things he had no business thinking about.
It didn't help that his mom kept pushing them together.
Rudy slipped an arm around Eden, pulling her a little closer to his side. Squaring his shoulders, he looked Oliver in the eye. "A while now."
Even if Oliver believed him, which judging by his furrowed eyebrows, he didn't, Rudy had only met Eden two months ago, right before the wedding. There's no way the two of them could be serious.
Oliver's heavy brows lowered, and his eyes narrowed. "How serious are you two?"
Not. Not serious at all.
Eden wrapped her other arm around his waist. "I like Rudy, Dad."
Rudy's heart beat a furious staccato against his ribcage.
She doesn't mean it, of course. She's just trying to get her dad off her case.
That knowledge did nothing to dispel the strain between his shoulder blades. Ever since Eden moved in last week, a tension he couldn’t shake had consumed him. Even the late-night workouts he’d done after working side by side on the website with her hadn’t eased the tension that permeated the air any time he was near her.
Eden loosened her hold, and sidestepping her dad, she led Rudy to the loveseat.
He usually went to his room and took off his gun before relaxing at home. It was a mental exercise he'd learned to do, like shaking off all the bad things that happened that day and letting them go. Today, looking at Oliver's lowered brow and pinched lips, he appreciated the extra confidence the gun and badge gave him as he settled in beside Eden.
When he put his arm along the back of the sofa, she leaned into him, but her posture remained stiff. He lowered his arm to rest on her shoulders and pulled her a little closer, hoping to make her appear less tense. The position felt strange, yet perfect.
Wouldn't mom love to see me snuggling with Eden already?
Was it considered snuggling with her dad staring at him like he'd love to filet him?
Oliver shook his head as he sat on the couch again. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
Eden was quiet for so long Rudy wondered if she intended to ignore her father's question.
Finally, in a quiet voice, she said, "I want to see where this goes."
A surge of electricity sparked in Rudy's chest and spread outward, making him suck in a deep breath.
She doesn't mean it. She's only saying it for her father's benefit.
Oliver shook his head again. This time, the look he gave Rudy was one of disgust rather than disbelief. His gaze shifted back to Eden. "You really intend to turn your back on everything you've worked so hard for... for this? For a mediocre life in an inconsequential town."
Heat filled Rudy's chest at the way Oliver talked down to them.
