Page 71 of Joy Ride

Joy rushed to Dane’s side and hugged him tight.They clung to each other as Clive was hauled away, struggling and cursing them.His two goons went next, with significantly fewer objections.

Walker sagged against the wall and stared at Dane and Joy, huddled together.

Dane watched right back, willing him to come closer, sure this was the moment that would decide their fate.Joy looked up too, and the unshed tears in her eyes overflowed, rolling down her cheeks.“Thank you for coming.I should have trusted your judgment but…”

“You couldn’t leave Sevan to face them alone.”Walker crossed to them and fell onto his knees at their feet.“I wouldn’t love you so damn much if you had it in you to do that, Joy.”

She began to tremble in Dane’s embrace.He rubbed her arms, trying to erase the goose bumps there even if he wasn’t sure of the outcome himself yet.No matter what, he would always be there for Joy.He only hoped that Walker would be there for them both, too.

“What are you saying?”she asked Walker point blank.

“I’m begging you to come home with me—with us—to Hot Rides so we can figure out how to make things work between Dane, you, and me.I want us to be the family we were always meant to be.Especially now that we haveourdaughter to worry about too.”

Joy took an enormous breath, then let it out in a mixture of tears and laughter that only encouraged Dane to cling tighter to her and the pure sunshine she brought to even their darkest days.If he had his way, he’d never let go of her again.

Joy looked over her shoulder and said, “Sevan, you coming?”

“Oh hell yes.I can’t wait to meet my…I mean, your daughter.”The woman’s smile faltered for a moment before she spent an inordinate amount of time straightening her already perfect hair.

If there was something off about Sevan, they’d deal with it together.

Much later.

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