Yeah, Polly knew, because his mother had called numerous times while she was around. So had his father. He wasn’t ready to share why yet. They’re relationship was too new, and she was too unsure of it for Joel to reveal all the details of his messed-up family.
“She does.”
“Why?”
“Because she wants to control my life and can’t handle that I’m not letting her.”
Polly nodded, but she was still looking at his phone.
“Come on.” He took her hand. “Let’s get out of this room and go for a walk in the woods.”
She frowned. “Is that safe?”
“Didn’t you hear? I’m a former SEAL. I’m elite. I’m like the Rolls Royce of bodyguards.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Okay, but I’m not sure how that big head’s going to fit out the door.”
“I’ll make it work.”
She was still laughing as they headed down the hall and outside. Joel was pulling the door closed after him when his phone rang again, but this time it was an unknown number.
He answered. “Joel speaking.”
“Hi, Joel. It’s Bronte.”
Every muscle in his body pulled so fucking tight, he thought one might snap.
If Polly wasn’t here, he’d talk to her. Tell herexactlywhat he thought of her calling his number. But Pollywashere.
“I’m busy.” Two words. Then he hung up.
Polly frowned. “Everything okay?”
“It’s fine.”
It wasn’t fine. But now wasn’t the time to tell Polly the truth. Soon though, if he got his way, things would change, theirsituation would actually be labeled arelationship, and he could tell her everything.
14
Polly leaned back in the deck chair, the cool Montana air a tingle against her skin.
Her mother stepped out the back door and handed her a blanket. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” She spread the blanket over her legs before sipping her beer.
God, it was beautiful out here. The mountains just tipped over the fence at the back of her mother’s property, and all they had were the sounds of wind through the trees for company.
Her mother sat beside her, gaze going straight to Jonah at the back of the yard as he built a woodshed.
“He looks handy,” Polly commented.
“He is. And very house proud. I never have to ask him to do a single thing. If there’s work to do, he just does it.”
Polly studied her mother’s face. The softness in her eyes. The love. “You really care about him.”
“No, I am head over heels in love with that man. He’s my husband.”
“I know, but…” What was a nice way of saying “You’ve had many of those”?
