Walker crossed his arms and spread his booted feet.Sometimes he was more like Angus than he would appreciate.
Joy rolled her eyes at him.“Settle down.I’ll stay.But not because you bullied me into it.”
It was obvious she didn’t have many other options.Neither had they when they’d stumbled across the help-wanted ad for Hot Rides and practically begged for a job.
“No pressure.”Dane said, despite every instinct that screamed at him to throw her over his shoulder and bolt her inside their house where they could keep an eye on her and her baby.
“Fine.Whatever.Let’s go.As long as you have a bed, I’m in.”
Both he and Walker went silent at that.Had it been anyone else at all, or any other time, Dane was sure one of them would have made a wisecrack about having a pretty woman in their bed.Thankfully, Walker kept his comments to himself and so did Dane.
The direction of their thoughts must have been apparent anyway.Or maybe Joy had the same idea.She blushed, then stammered, “I mean, for sleeping.By myself.Well, with Arden.No one is going to take her from me.Do you understand that?”
She stood tall then, turning her shoulder slightly as if to come between them and her daughter more quickly if needed.
Dane held his hands up, palms facing her.“That’s not even a possibility.No one is thinking that.”
“She’s yours,” Walker agreed, keeping Dane from having to deck him.
And finally, Joy relented.She wilted, sinking into a chair at the table and nodding.“Okay.We’ll stay.But only until I can get on my feet and provide for Arden on my own.That’s all we need.That’s all I’m asking of you.”
Dane couldn’t deny the knife that stabbed his heart then.Because he wanted to give her so much more.Always had.And just like before, he would never be able to.Too much had happened between them.Even the best mechanic had to admit when something was broken beyond repair.
Their New Year’s resolution went up in smoke.It hadn’t even lasted an hour.
Because if he couldn’t have Joy, he didn’t want anyone.