Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Wait, what? Joey stared at Hendrix while Ryder launched into a dozen questions. What kind of cop? Did he wear a uniform? Did he use a siren? Did he arrest bad guys?
He answered yes to everything but the uniform, because he’d been a detective, which only made her – and her son – more curious about the different distinctions of the positions.
She had to admit, Hendrix had the look of a man in control. The confidence and awareness, too.
“Do you still have a gun?” Ryder asked.
“I do, but I don’t carry it every day now.” He went on to talk briefly about firearm safety.
Joey knew she needed to intervene before Ryder pressed him too far, but honestly, she had a million questions of her own. Mostly she wondered if his time with the police force had anything to do with his dislike of Christmas.
She hadn’t missed the fact that, other than Ryder’s card, there were no signs of the holiday in his home. Only the card – and Hendrix’s big heart.
“How come you’re not a cop no more?”
“Any more,” he corrected, while toying with the Legos. “I guess I was ready for a change.” His half-hearted smile wouldn’t fool anyone.
Seeing pain in his eyes, Joey wished she could hug him. They didn’t have that type of relationship, at least not yet. Given what he’d said in the kitchen, maybe that would change.
She hoped so, because Hendrix looked like a man fighting many battles alone. He could probably use a friend. Or someone more than a friend.
Kissing friends? Why not?
She’d been through a loveless, sexless marriage, so she knew anything was possible.
“Do you still have your badge? Can I see it?”
Hendrix grinned. “Sorry, Ryder, but badges are government property, so a cop has to surrender his when he retires.”
Disappointed, Ryder muttered, “That’s not fair.”
Belatedly, Joey offered a change of subject. “Whatever your reasons, Ryder and I are glad you bought the park because we love it here.”
“We do,” her son agreed. “But it’s more fun when everyone is here.”
“What?” Pretending great affront, Hendrix reached out to tickle his ribs. “I’m not entertaining enough, is that what you’re saying?”
“Ha!” Ryder threw his arms around Hendrix, and this time Hendrix dutifully fell back, taking Ryder with him.
She watched in amazement as they indulged an impromptu wrestling match with loud laughs from Ryder and a few exaggerated groans from Hendrix.
It was good for both of them, she decided, as she hastily moved the toys out of the way before one of them got hurt. She grinned the entire time.
It was another hour before she announced that it was past time for them to head home.
Knowing Hendrix, she wasn’t surprised that he insisted on walking with them.
When he opened the door and felt the gust of the stormy wind, he immediately stepped back inside and grabbed his coat for her to wear.
He even went so far as to help bundle her into it, turning up the lapels and then tugging her hat a little lower.
He looked down at Ryder. “To keep you warm, how about I offer to be your mule?” When her son gladly reached up, Hendrix lifted him against his chest, then wrapped his open jacket around him.
Held against the heat of Hendrix’s body, she was willing to bet Ryder was downright toasty. Sleepy from all the activity, he rested his head against Hendrix’s shoulder.
It was enough to make a mother melt with deep, unfamiliar emotions. She couldn’t remember a single time that her son had been so comfortable with a man, not even his own father.
They didn’t talk during the brief walk. Ocean-scented air buffeted them. Their feet crunched over the gravel of the silent lot. By Oregon design, her porch light illuminated only a tiny square in front of the cabin.
She was very, very glad that Hendrix was beside her.
A sudden chill skated over her skin, and it had nothing to do with the brisk evening weather. With tension gripping her, she searched everywhere, looking for signs of trouble but seeing only dark shadows.
Voice low, Hendrix asked, “What is it?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice. Oh, this wouldn’t do. She would not be the poor, incompetent and jittery woman who forced her way into his life via his campgrounds. She wanted to deny any issues, but what she said was, “I don’t know.”
He, too, looked around. “Ryder’s asleep. Are you able to hold him?”
Until he said it, she hadn’t realized that her son had dozed off. “Of course.” Automatically, she reached for him, but as his weight slumped against her, she wondered how she’d get the front door unlocked and get inside with her arms so full of sleepy boy.
Hendrix removed his jacket and tucked it around them, then took her arm and led her deeper into the shadows. “What are you doing?”
Near her ear, his voice a warm hush, he said, “Stay right here while I look around.”
Panic caught her breath. “What do you mean?”
“Shh.” Rough tipped fingers touched under her chin, lifting her face so she had no choice but to meet the glimmer of his eyes in the dark night. “Right here, Josephine. Understand?”
Nodding, she whispered, “What will you do?”
“You’re spooked, so I’m going to look around to see if anything is out of place.”
Now she felt self-conscious about it, but damn it, the worry remained. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“I’m not, so will you stay put?”
His obvious impatience had her agreeing.
“Yes, but please don’t be long.” She hefted Ryder a little higher.
If Hendrix had led her to a bench, she could sit down, but he’d deliberately moved her away from the few lit areas.
At least a couple of trees helped to shield her back and gave her something to lean on. “My son is not a lightweight.”
In the dim light, she saw the brief hitching of Hendrix’s lips, and then he moved away.
Seconds later, she couldn’t see him or hear him and that made her even more anxious.
Instinctively, she nuzzled her cheek against Ryder’s hair, then kissed his forehead.
“We’re okay,” she whispered to herself. Hendrix’s scent remained on his large jacket, a soothing mix of fresh air, pine, and potent male musk.
That, too, reassured her. She’d always felt safe with him.
They’d had such a wonderful day, and Hendrix had relieved her most immediate worry about rent.
No, they hadn’t yet discussed the particulars, and he’d barely glanced at her list. But he said she could stay, and that she didn’t need to pay rent, and that meant she’d be able to afford a few gifts for Ryder.
Sucked that things were ending like this, with her getting nervous, obliging Hendrix to do the whole protective bit. She closed her eyes, thinking of all the ways she’d imposed on him already.
Given the same circumstances, she’d do it again – for Ryder. For her son, she’d do anything and everything necessary to protect him.
Things had been so...sparse, this past year.
Ryder deserved a special gift or two for Christmas.
Her sister would also send a present, but she doubted he’d receive anything from his father or grandparents.
Truthfully, she’d rather not have any contact from them, anyway.
All her maternal instincts told her they’d only cause him grief, or worse.
With Ted, she never knew how bad things would get.
While she impatiently waited, she considered a few gifts for her son. More art supplies, definitely. Probably a book or two, so she could continue fostering his love of reading. She considered the remote-controlled dinosaur he’d spotted in the store, but she hadn’t even checked the price.
What was taking Hendrix so long? She tried to listen for him, but the only sound she detected was the wind through the trees and the distant sound of the Pacific rushing up to the shoreline. It was a sound she usually found peaceful, but now it began to ramp up her nervousness.
Her arms were getting tired when suddenly Hendrix whispered, “Joey,” and she nearly leaped out of her own skin.
As she gasped a breath, he stepped closer and she could finally make out the shape of him. Without thinking, she said, “You just startled a year off my life.”
“I’m sorry. Here, I’ll take him now.” He easily shifted Ryder back to his own arms, taking the time to ensure he was kept covered and warm. “Why don’t you get out your keys to unlock the door?”
Right. She’d held him up long enough.
As she started off, he murmured, “Stay near me.”
Fresh fear bit into her. “Why? Did you see something? What was it?” The fact that they both whispered added to the atmosphere of danger.
“Nothing.” He nudged her along. “We’ll talk inside.”
Right. Inside would definitely be better. Tonight, the park felt eerily big and empty. Having Hendrix near helped her a lot, even though he’d be heading to his own home after he got them safely settled inside.
He’d still be nearby, relatively speaking, and that mattered.
Once under the porch light, she fumbled with her keys, each clink and clank of metal sounding absurdly loud until finally she got the lock to open. Reaching inside, she flipped the switch that turned on the lamps, then stepped in to make room for Hendrix to enter.
Being such a big man, he had to turn sideways to squeeze in without disturbing Ryder. “Where do you want him?”
She secured the door again, even closing the deadbolt, before saying, “I may as well put him straight to bed. If I wake him up to clean his teeth, he’ll be up half the night.”
Hendrix followed her, and then waited while she turned down the quilt so he could ease Ryder into bed. He even stayed in the room as she removed Ryder’s jacket and shoes, then covered him up.
After she’d pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, she straightened and found Hendrix wearing a gentle smile. Why she blushed, she didn’t know, except that it all felt so...homey.
“You’re a great mom.” He smoothed her hair away from her face. “Don’t ever doubt yourself, okay?”