“Why would you...why would we...you want us here?” She looked around the house as if she’d never seen it before. “Withyou?”
“Definitely with me.”
Joey blinked several times.
It amused him to see her so rattled by the idea. “Take a breath, babe.”
Audibly, she sucked in air.
“Now, let me state my case, okay?”
Her quick nods proved she was anxious to hear his reasoning. Maybe, deep down, she knew it was the right answer, too. If so, it’d make convincing her a little easier.
“Eating pancakes,” he said, just to get things started. “Sharing the hot tub. A walk on the beach. Hot dogs off the grill. Playing with Ryder.” He lowered his voice. “Seeing you in my house.” He loved seeing her in his house. “So many simple, routine things, but with you, it was perfect.”
Her gaze softened, and those magical dimples appeared. “It was perfect for me, too.”
They’d shared the entire day, and Hendrix knew it was the life he wanted. A life with Joey. With Ryder.
Thinking of Ryder, he went to check on him and wasn’t surprised that he was sound asleep. Joey stepped up beside him. “He adores you,” she whispered.
“The feeling is mutual.” Hendrix checked that the front door was bolted, then took her hand and led her to the back deck. Leaving the sliding doors slightly open so they’d hear Ryder if he woke up, he urged Joey to one of the chairs.
The setting sun had painted the shoreline a brilliant orange hue that faded into an endless dusky blue sky. Soon it would be completely dark. Night came early this time of year.
Hendrix sat out his phone and got right to the point. “If anyone comes into the park, I’ll hear an alert, but you and Ryder are nearer to the entrance than I am. If it was the middle of the night, if the intruder knows where you’re staying...”
Worry etched her features.
Taking her hands, Hendrix said, “You need to know that you and Ryder aren’t alone anymore. You have me and I plan to keep you safe.”
“But Ted could grab Ryder before you ever reached us.” Trembling, she looked out at the ocean.
His heart skipped a beat. “Is that something he’d do, Joey?”
“To punish me, he would do just about anything.”
Ice ran down Hendrix’s spine, and a second later fire burned through his blood. “He’s hurt you before?”
The harsh words brought her attention back to him. She freed one of her hands and put it to his jaw. “He’s been rough, and he’s threatened. I don’t want Ryder alone with him.”
“No, of course not.”
Joey whispered, “It’s hard for me. I’m so glad of the extra protection for Ryder, but the thought of you getting hurt scares me, too.”
Trying to ignore that insult, Hendrix pointed out, “I’m a hell of a lot better at defending myself than you or Ryder would be.”
“Not against a knife. Or a gun.”
He caught her shoulders. “Even against those. But so we’re clear here, why don’t you give me the nitty gritty on what your asshole ex did, and why you’re worried about weapons?”
After staring up at him for long seconds, Joey gave in. He felt it in how the resistant tension left her body, and how she leaned into his arms.
Keeping her face tucked against his neck, she said, “I was a virgin when I met Ted. He’s the only man I’ve been with. For him, that meant ownership. At least that’s what he’s often said. I’m his, and he’ll never let me go.”
Holding her closer, letting her know she was safe, Hendrix waited.
“He said he should always be my top priority, not Ryder.”
