Page 146 of The Fixer

They came to a stop by the parked vehicles. “Where’s Weatherly now?”

“Out on bail. He’s facing theft, along with a slew of other felonies. His projects have come to a grinding halt, including the renovation of Dell’s.”

“Is Keating involved?”

“If he is, they haven’t found a connection yet. He’s slick, but the sheriffs are turning over every stone. I wouldn’t bet against those guys.”

“Ididmiss all the action. I was busy driving cross-country.”

“You didn’thaveto turn off all communication.”

“No, but I wanted a clear head. I wanted to be sure this was right.”

“And?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” The smile she gave him did crazy things to his heart.

“Is thisyourSUV? A Chevy Equinox?”

She shrugged. “It’s a rental. I needed something practical that could haul my stuff and get me here. I’m trying to change my ways.”

He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her softly. “Don’t change too much. I like you the way you are.”

“Hmm. Maybe I should swap it for a Porsche Cayenne S.”

“As long as I’m not riding shotgun when you decide to see what it can do on the Million Dollar Highway, then go for it, princess.”

“Okay. I’ll leave you at home.”

“So you can rev up other men’s engines without me around? I don’t think so.”

“You can’t have it both ways, Charlie Hunnicutt.”

“I say I can.” He picked her up and twirled her around, making her shriek.

As they lay togetherhours later, their bare limbs comfortably tangled together, emotions brewed inside him. He was raw, exposed, but he was safe. Joy would handle his love with care because it was precious to her. The fact that this woman who had hidden herself from everyone trustedhimwith herheart made him surge with pride; it completed him. She had chosen him as her refuge, and she was his. Yes, she wanted him, but it was more than that. She wantedthem.

He combed his fingers through her hair, marveling at how it sifted through them like silken waterfalls. He had never felt more desired than he did with her, and not for the pleasure his body could provide, but for what his heart and his soul offered. Shesawpast the ridiculous cover-model exterior to the man beating inside of him, and she challenged him to be the best he could be. She drew that man out and loved him as he was.

With her, he had a chance at the happiness his parents had, that Hailey and Noah had. The opportunity would never come again in his lifetime, and he wasn’t going to let it slip through his fingers.

Yeah, he could stay here like this, suspended in contentment, for the rest of his life.

Charlie toyed with Joy’shair, making her scalp tingle. She loved when he did that. “Are you going to try and find your people?”

She let out a satisfied sigh. “Maybe in the future. I’m not ready for that step yet. I mean, what if I find them and I don’t like them?Somebodyleft me behind and never came looking for me.”

Besides, I have all the family I need right here.

“Well, we’ll cross that bridge together when we get there, how about that?”

“I like that idea.” Joy snuggled into his solid warmth.

She couldn’t remember feeling so exquisitely peaceful. And it wasn’t only that she was back in Charlie’s arms, but it was the future—her future, their future—that she was seizing and making hers. At last, she had an ally, atruepartner in every sense of the word. Someone who would be there, who loved her for who she was, warts and all. That she could lavish with love of her own in return.

And these days she felt like a fountain bubbling over with the stuff. She had an abundance to spread around.

“Hey, I’ve been thinking about Crystal Harmony Haven.”

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