Page 34 of Redemption

“Rocks. Definitely rocks.” He walked over to Winters. “I believe these rock-eaters belong to you.”

Ace launched onto his father, and Clara climbed over to her father in a manner much befitting a serious five-year-old, making both men chuckle. He glanced at the table, and Mia and Victoria had grins reaching both their ears too. Not that he put on a show for Victoria.But wasn’t that a reaction to see?

She picked up her mug of coffee as he stared and held it against her face as though maybe she wanted to hide behind the few inches of ceramic. Prior to last night, she hadn’t seemed shy. But under the cover of the dark, they’d shared secrets, maybe the kind that a person didn’t tell a stranger. Was he that to her? No. They’d had a few deep moments. This morning was the first time they weren’t in some kind of crisis—no gun in hand nor lack of sleep. He wondered if she had been talking much before he walked in.

“These rock-eaters need to put their clothes on,” Winters announced. “And brush their teeth.”

“My tfeef are cwean.” Ace peered down from his dad’s shoulder and opened his mouth. “Cwean.”

“You shared a sausage with the dog. Clean them again. Let’s go.” With both kids climbing him like a jungle gym, Winters grabbed a pancake and headed down the hall.

“Are you good, Ryder? You know where everything is? Coffee, juice, whatever?” Mia stood up.

“I could map your kitchen in my sleep.”

“Think you did, darlin’.”

“Right,” he admitted. “But I cleaned up.”

“Except the socks,” Winters called from down the hall.

“Jeez.” Ryder forked pancakes onto his plate and grabbed a small bowl for grits. “Who knew you were such a neat freak?”

Winters didn’t answer, and the sound of galloping feet upstairs suggested he was out of hearing range.

“If you need anything, look for it or find me.” Mia topped off her coffee from the pot labeled decaf and turned to Victoria. “Good chatting with you. I’ll catch up with you later this morning.”

With a full plate, Ryder joined Victoria at the table. “Who knew my socks would be such a scandal?”

She raised her eyebrows and sipped her coffee. “One of the dogs brought them in. The kids thought it was hysterical.”

Ryder laughed and went for coffee, returning quickly. “Only because Winters probably had to force the dog to spit them out.”

“How’d you know?”

“Not my first time here.”

“I gathered that when the kids brought you to the ground.”

“Brutal, those little buggers. Tough as they come.” He winked. “Their daddy’s taught them a lot of good moves. But it’s their mama who’s taught them the ones to look out for.”

“I like Mia.”

“She’s impossible not to like.” Ryder downed a syrupy bite of pancake. “I don’t get here nearly enough. But even when we’re not brought into HQ, we work with her sometimes. She has a good relationship with Boss Man—”

“Who’s that?”

“Jared Westin. He owns Titan, which runs my team. They’re kind of buds. Jared and Mia.”

Victoria nodded. “She said she’s a therapist.”

Now it was his turn to nod.Why had Mia said that?Feelings and therapy were like a minefield, and Ryder didn’t know which direction to take that conversation. He took a too-large bite of pancake instead of conversing, figuring that was the safest bet. Choke and die: better than talking.

But Victoria didn’t follow up.

He swallowed a scalding sip of black coffee. “Just passing talk? Or she do what she does best?”

“I don’t know.” Victoria let the coffee mug rest against her lips. “Maybe what she does best. But more than that, she’s a gracious hostess. Said I could stay as long as I wanted.”

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