They stepped onto the porch and Eden raised a hand to her hair again.
He caught it in his and laced his fingers with hers. "Relax. It's going to be okay."
He wasn't sure how strongly she intended to sell their relationship, considering the Tristan threat was no longer an issue, but he liked having an excuse to touch her and hold her hand.
"Easy for you to say. You've only ever been around my dad for a few minutes at a time."
"Do we need a code word? That way if things get to be too much, you can say the code word, and I'll make an excuse to get you out of there. We could go with something like skunk."
"Anything but that!" Eden laughed like he'd hoped she would. "I never want to hear that word ever again, nor do I want to see another one of those vile little creatures for the rest of my life."
"Okay, we could go with something like wind chimes." He recalled the joy on her face as she admired Helen's handiwork. "Although that could be awkward to work into conversation."
"And skunk isn't?" She held up her hand when he opened his mouth to try again. "No need for a code word. When I decide I've had enough, I'll announce that we're leaving."
Her face didn't look as confident as her words sounded.
"When? Not if?" Still gripping her delicate hand in his, Rudy pressed the doorbell.
"Believe me, there's no doubt there will come a pointwhenwe're both ready to leave."
The door opened and Oliver DuPont aimed a frown at Eden. "You didn't need to ring the bell. This is still your home. You can just walk in."
"My fault, sir." Rudy held out his hand. "I guess I was a little eager."
Oliver took it in a solid handshake, and Rudy remembered the lesson his dad taught him before allowing him to go on his first date. Always look her dad in the eye and shake his hand like a man.
That's exactly what Rudy did, and when Oliver's gaze narrowed on him, he stared right back, unflinching.
When Oliver finally released his hand, Rudy smiled. "Thanks for having me, sir." If Oliver detected the hint of challenge in Rudy's voice, he hid it.
He refused to cower to this wealthy businessman. He'd stand up to Eden's father, and if she needed him to, he would defend her and back her up.
Oliver turned to Eden and hesitated with his arms half extended, as though unsure Eden would welcome a hug. Evidently Eden was determined to do her part to mend their relationship, because she stepped into his embrace.
"I'm glad you came. I've missed you." Oliver whispered in a husky voice.
"I've missed you too, Dad."
Oliver beckoned them in and waved them toward the sitting room.
Rudy sat on the loveseat and put his arm along the back, an invitation for Eden to sit beside him. The knot that took up residence in his stomach the moment he stepped out of the car loosened when she not only sat beside him, she leaned into him.
They would face her father together. As a team.
"How's your father doing?" Oliver asked him.
"He's still in a considerable amount of pain, but he's slowly improving, thank goodness."
They continued to discuss his dad's accident for a few minutes then Oliver said, "Such accidents are part of the job in construction, I suppose."
"They happen occasionally, but they really aren't all that common," Rudy said. "All jobs come with risks of one kind or another though."
"Blue collar jobs especially." Oliver’s chin lifted a little. "I meanyoustrap on a bullet-proof vest every day for work."
And there it was. Oliver's first dig. Subtle, but full of disdain all the same. Judging by the way Eden's hand gripped his thigh, she'd caught it too.
Rudy refused to be ruffled. For Eden's sake, he'd do his best to avoid conflict with her father. He grinned at the older man. "Isn't it great that there are people willing to take the risks, so others can sleep in their warm comfortable homes in peace at night?"
