Page 70 of Rescuing Ryder

She didn’t feel like the professional woman who kept everything together. Claire noticed the disappointment on the team’s faces when Matthew confronted her about forgetting to arm the house. Then Ryder thought she went on some power trip about her position, and his switching physicians meant she didn’t get credit for rescuing him. He didn’t understand; he stillmissed the crucial part of his puzzle. And the rub was, Claire couldn’t tell him.

Ryder paced the hallway,waiting for Claire to exit the bathroom. She took longer than usual and considering the bags under her eyes, he thought she’d rush to crawl into bed.

Another five minutes went by, and the door remained closed. His jaw clenched and he stared at the barrier between them, willing her to open it.

Pressing his ear to the wood, Ryder listened for any movement or some sign she dressed. A dead silence came from the other side.

He slightly knocked and called through the door. “Claire? Do you need anything?” Ryder frowned when she didn’t respond. Turning the knob, he found Claire sunk to the floor, sobbing into a towel. It didn’t appear she even heard him.

“Hey.” Ryder rubbed her back soothingly. “You’ve experienced a long day. Things always appear darkest before dawn. Let’s get you into bed and things will feel brighter in the morning.”

“Will it? You believed me to feel cheated for not rescuing you. I’m more concerned about hurting you by making the wrong judgment call. You’re right. I think highly of myself and my career. Where did it get me? I showed up and argued a man deserved to stay in a mental institution because I felt he deserved it. He broke into my home and brutalized me and now he’s dead. Then, I forgot to set the alarm, and now someone wrecked my whole house.”

Ryder picked her up like a child under her arms and boosted her on his hips. Carrying her into the bedroom, he sat on theedge of the bed. Grabbing tissues, he held it as Claire blew her nose and he wiped away her tears.

“You hold yourself to a high standard and the patients you’ve treated benefited from it. A mental patient escaped an institution and went after one of the people he felt responsible for keeping him there because she spoke up for two women who didn’t have a voice. I know this feels like a far stretch, but believe it or not, you’re human and you forget things like the other mortals of this world.” Ryder soothed her.

Claire sniffed and smiled through her tears and reddened cheeks. Her damaged eye appeared even more bloodshot than it had earlier, and he worried she stressed herself beyond reason.

“Come on. You need some rest.” He coaxed her into bed and covered her. Switching off the light on the bedside table, he turned to leave. He made it to the entryway of her door when he heard her.

“Ryder?”

“Yes, Claire Bear?”

“Can you sleep in here with me tonight?” Claire’s voice sounded unsure and scared. “I don’t want to stay in here alone.”

“Sure, sweetheart. Give me a minute to change.” Ryder walked into the bathroom and came out wearing boxers. She lay stiffly on her side as he climbed into bed.

A few minutes went by, and he knew Claire fought sleep. Sighing, he rolled to his side and pulled her onto his chest. Her body instantly relaxed against him. Ryder kissed her head as he murmured, “Sleep, Claire Bear; I’ll chase the monsters away.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Ryder was pouring a cup of coffee when someone knocked on the door. Making a mental note to remind her to contact an electrician, he went to answer it. Claire took a shower and he didn’t know if she expected anyone.

His brows arched in surprise as he met the group of Serenity women. One held a basket of cleaning supplies, and another a mop and bucket. The aroma of freshly made pastries made his stomach growl. Kassie carried a broom and a big box in her arms, and her best friend, Catherine, held another.

“May we come in?” Kassie inquired.

Ryder stepped to the side as the women headed straight for the kitchen. Bryanna pulled paper plates from the basket, distributed them among them, and handed him one. Kassie pulled out a list, and Catherine called out items needed as she opened the cabinets.

“Kitchen glasses need replacing. I found one intact plate. Maybe we can find replacements. We need a painter to repair the damage to the cabinets,” Catherine informed the women.

“Whiskey and Taco will pick up the living room table and side tables. Whiskey will inspect the damage and see if it can be repaired,” Samantha chimed in.

“Saint and Matthew picked up supplies in Seattle to add to the video feed. Chase called an electrician to inspect the entryway light and check the doorbell. They need to ensure the wiring works before installing the video cameras,” Bryanna added.

“Maddie and Carol will pick up the rug from the living room to replace it and the new couch and chairs will arrive later this afternoon, giving us time to clean up the mess.” Kassie turned to Ryder. “What about the books? Did they get destroyed, too?

“Which books?” he asked, feeling confused as the women took over the entire house.

“Claire collected first editions in her office. She’s collected some rare ones, and I imagine it hurts to see the office ransacked. I found a book restorer in Seattle. I can’t promise anything, but it’s worth a shot,” she explained.

Ryder collected a few of his own. If her copies appeared damaged beyond repair, he’d replace them with his own. They stayed in a storage locker with a note gifting them to Patty. The key lay on his counter, waiting for the reason for someone to use it. Ryder excused himself from the room and went into her study. Claire’s precious books sat on her desk, stacked with the ones destroyed and others unharmed. His fingers traced the spines as Ryder picked them up and put them back on the built-in bookshelves, noting which ones appeared beyond repair.

He returned to the kitchen to face the women. “What can I do?”

Kassie smiled. “You’ll continue your appointments with Dr. Hill. The team adjusted their schedule to handle this. I’m sure Leo will give you direction. Until you hear from him, please take care of yourself. We’ll support Claire.”

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