“I’m not alone.There are people around I can rely on and who will help out so I don’t have to take care of everything myself.And I haven’t looked over my shoulder in probably longer than is wise.”She frowned.“They are being careful with her there, right?They know about Wildfire?”
“Angus himself would have a hard time making it past the guys at the garage.”Walker squeezed her.“They’re taking shifts coming over to the hospital.I promise, Arden is safe with them.”
“Okay.”She relaxed, letting her head loll against his shoulder as they approached her car.How did she still have faith in him and his word after all this time?
Probably it was only because she was somewhere between barely awake and passed out.Bleary and punch drunk.Also probably why she started rambling.“If you think I’m tired now, you should have seen me in the first few weeks after Arden was born.I cried every day.I had no idea what I was doing or if she would be okay stuck with me and only me.I was a mess.”
Walker opened the passenger door and tucked her inside, fastening her seatbelt for her when she sat there, her arms limp at her sides.“You did so good, Joy.With Arden, coming to find us, and supporting Amber yesterday and today.I’ve always been impressed by how you take care of everyone around you, even though others haven’t always done the same for you.”
“I guess I know how shitty it feels and I don’t ever care to let someone else be that disappointed if I can help it.”Her eyes were already closed, so she didn’t see how her unintentional barbs slashed him to the core.
Walker couldn’t say what made him do it—stupidity, most likely—but leaning over her, smelling her baby powder scent, and being reminded of the wounds he’d inflicted on her, he couldn’t help but kiss her temple before he retreated and shut the door, maybe harder than he should have.
He rounded her car and stood there for a few seconds, bracing his palms against the frame above the window while he got himself under control.By the time he slid behind the wheel, her head had tipped forward.He wouldn’t be surprised if she dozed off before they’d even left the parking lot.
When he started the engine, she jerked, her hand flying out to grab the door and splay across the console simultaneously.“What’s that?Who’s there?”
“Hey, it’s me,” Walker murmured.“We’re going home now.To Hot Rides.Where you can get some proper rest.”
After her wide-eyed stare pinged wildly around the interior of the car, she slumped against the seat once more.“I’ve been on edge.Was so afraid Angus was going to find us or try to take Arden from me.”
“I know.And I’m sorry.I wish you’d got in touch with us sooner.”He cursed himself silently for bailing on her, even if they hadn’t known she was pregnant.They’d taken precautions but apparently that didn’t always matter.
“How the hell was I supposed to do that?”She shot him a glare.“Fuck, I wouldn’t even have known where to find you if it hadn’t been for Clive accidentally giving me a clue.”
“At least he’s finally been good for something, that fucker.”Walker gnashed his teeth as he always did when he thought of Angus’s chief thug.
“Don’t tell Dane.”Joy blew out a mirthless laugh.
“Wouldn’t dare.He has every right to hate Clive.So do you.I wouldn’t take that from either of you.”Walker understood exactly how much Dane had suffered because of the other man.Both indirectly because of what he’d done to Joy and more profoundly because of what that one night had cost them both.
“I won’t forgive him—ever—for what he did to me.But over time I came to understand that in his own warped way, he really did think he was protecting me.”Joy’s face crumpled, and for a moment Walker was terrified she was going to bawl.Because then he really would have to hunt the bastard down and kill him.“I think in the end, he hurt Dane worse than me.He’s not the same as he used to be, is he?”
“Lately he seems more like the guy I knew.”Walker could be honest about that at least.“You’re good for him, Joy.Always have been.And Arden, well, she’s good for everyone.”
“You included?”Of course she would ask.
“Of course.”Even if he was scared shitless about how much he loved having the baby around.
“Then why don’t you hold her?”Joy wondered, suddenly seeming more alert.
He wished she’d go back to sleep so they didn’t have to discuss difficult topics.“I do.”
“Not really.You pick her up if she’s crying or when it’s time to feed her if Dane isn’t around to do it for you.But as soon as you’re not obligated, you put her down.Does it bother you that she could be Dane’s?”Joy stared out the window when she asked, as if the answer might be more than she could bear.
“Look at me.”
She didn’t.
“Joy…”
Slowly, she turned her head.
“I already love Arden so much it terrifies me.What if she’s not mine?What if you and Dane take off with her and leave me behind this time?”
She stammered, “I wouldn’t.Wewould never.”
“Why not?That’s exactly what you should do.”Walker’s heart pounded in his chest so hard he thought he could hear it over the purr of the car’s engine as he merged onto the highway.“Without ties to me, Angus will probably leave you alone.You can live together, in peace, and forget about all the bullshit Wildfire put you through.You can heal and grow.As a family.”