Page 36 of Ryder

I’m pleased and can’t keep from smiling as I look at Joyce.

“It’s the truth.” Joyce shrugs and shifts her gaze to mine. “You seem like a nice man, and you obviously adore my daughter. Promise me you’ll protect her.”

“With my life.”

“She’ll fight you,” Joyce says.

I grin. “She won’t win a fight regarding her safety, Joyce. I promise.”

Roy gives a sharp nod. “It’s settled then. Go pack your things.” He turns and marches back into the shop.

Chapter14

Claire

I can’t believe this is happening. I’ve been railroaded by my own parents and a man I met two days ago, and now I’m in his car riding up to the mansion.

“Stop smirking,” I grumble.

He chuckles and reaches over to set a hand on my thigh. “I’m feeling pretty smug. Sorry.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you orchestrated an elaborate charade to get me in your bed.”

He shoots me a narrowed glance. “Baby, this all might have worked out in my favor, but I assure you it wasn’t worth you getting manhandled so hard that you have bruises on your arms. I certainly didn’t send your ex-boyfriend to attack you to get you to move in with me.”

I sigh. He’s right, of course. He didn’t even know who Smith was.

“Do you think the sheriff will keep this secret?” he asks me.

“I’m not sure. Maybe.”

Sheriff Johnston secretly met me in the kitchen like my father organized. He was shocked, but he took my statement and several pictures. He said I don’t have to press charges, but he will leave the file open in case I change my mind.

Ryder gives my thigh a squeeze. “If not, we’ll deal with it.”

I stare out the side window and mumble, “I should’ve stayed and helped my parents today. That’s two days in a row I’ve left in the middle of the morning and not returned.”

“They said they could handle it, baby. They care about your safety as much as I do. They won’t be taking any risks.”

I sigh. “I could’ve driven to your place after we closed.”

“That would’ve put you in the same dangerous situation you were in last night. Until I’m certain this Smith guy isn’t going to ambush you again, you’re not going anywhere alone.”

I have mixed emotions about that. On the one hand, Ryder can take his high-handedness and shove it up his ass. On the other hand, I like the fact that he’s intensely overprotective. It makes my heart race when he gets all growly and demanding.

It’s not as though he’s ordered me to strip, kneel before him, and suck him off. His demands revolve around my safety. Besides…I might not mind if he ordered me to strip, kneel, and suck, either.

“Has he ever behaved this aggressively before, Claire?”

I shake my head. “Never. A part of me knew he harbored the idea that we might get back together someday, but I always blew it off. It’s not my fault he pines over me. We broke up two years ago, and I’ve never led him on since then.”

Ryder pulls around to the back of the mansion, parks, and turns off the engine. He jumps out and rounds the car so fast I don’t even have a chance to get out before he opens my door and holds out a hand.

As I exit, I look back at the car. “I have to say, I didn’t imagine you being the sort to drive a thirty-year-old Cadillac.”

Ryder chuckles as he opens the trunk to grab my bags. “I found this in the garage. I’m just glad the keys were in the ignition and it runs. I don’t own a car at all. Neither does Tiago. No need for me to own a car in the city, and Tiago travels in his RV.” Ryder nods toward the truck I first saw him arrive in and the RV. “I’m going to need to get reliable transportation soon. I’ll have Tiago take us back down to get your car at some point if that’s okay.”

“Mine’s not particularly reliable either. It needs some work,” I murmur.

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