Immediately, I go on high alert. I get a cup of milk for Bellamy and put her at the dining room table before I return to the kitchen. “What’s wrong?”
He lifts his eyebrows, maybe surprised that I clocked the situation so swiftly. But he treats me with enough respect not to bullshit me. Glancing past me to make sure Luna isn’t in the hallway, he lowers his voice to a serious rumble. “Got word of movement overnight. He’s moving your car under cover. He’ll be back soon.”
“And you’re my guard dog until he returns?”
Ridge shrugs. “Don’t mind.”
“You know, the first time I saw you out the window, I thought you were scary.”
He nods. “Good.”
I take a deep breath. “Movement?”
“Your ex loaded up his truck and headed to the ferry dock in the middle of the night. Cash’s guy says the homestead looks properly abandoned.” Ridge’s gaze is steely. Scary to the right people, for sure. “He doesn’t plan to return to it.”
I shiver. “Do you—” I take a deep breath. “Should I go to the police?”
It’s a question that’s been rolling through mymind for days. My one day at a shelter in Vancouver was terrible, and the stories I heard about police not being able to do enough put terror in my heart.
But maybe here…
Ridge’s gaze darkens to pure thunder. “Nothing they can do to protect you, unfortunately. And you run the risk of them not understanding if you protect yourself. Don’t give them any information they can use against you later.”
“Oh.”
The door opens and Zane comes in, hat still on.
He takes one look at my face, then swears at his brother. “What did you say to her?”
“Nothing she doesn’t already know. This girl’s heart is pure cowboy. She knows we were the original outlaws, don’t you, Hope?”
I stare at Ridge.Pure cowboy?
“News to this city girl,” I manage to say.
“You’re more than all that.” He heads to the door and pulls his boots on, then shoves his hat on as Zane takes his off.
Like they’re guards trading shifts. Inside, outside.
And maybe they are.
Zane glances at Bellamy, who is singing a soft song to herself. Then he crosses to me. “Sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up.”
“It’s okay. Your brother is growing on me.”
“Cash’s guy is going to try to get on the same ferry as Derek, but once he gets to Vancouver…”
“I don’t expect a stranger to follow him all over the country.” I reach for Zane, patting his chest, then tightening my grip in his shirt. “You’re doing so much.”
“We’ll know tonight or tomorrow if he was ableto track the car through here. If he goes to the garage…Cash will be ready for him. Will send him on his way, too.” Zane brushes his lips against my cheek.
I turn my face, wanting more.
He doesn’t hesitate. He gives me a proper good morning kiss, firm on the mouth.
Both of us are aware that Bellamy is right there, through the open arch to the dining room.
But I don’t mind her seeing me kiss Zane. Not like this. Not when my pulse is pounding like a drum and he’s keeping us safe.
