“Yeah. Mom has some friends who will fill in for me at the park. See you soon.”
He spotted Paradise in the wheelchair with the nurse and guard and drove toward them. He parked and went around to help her into the truck.
It was a big step up, but her jaw was tight when she waved away his help. “I can do it.”
He ignored her comment and took her arm to steady her. Sheclimbed into the truck and flashed a triumphant smile. “Let’s get home. I want to see the boys.”
He thanked the nurse and climbed under the wheel. “We’re not going home. Hez and Savannah have a room all ready for you. I’ll stay too until Drew gets here and we figure out how to keep you safe.”
The smile fell off her face, and he saw the wheels turning. He braced for the argument.
“I can’t say I’m happy about it since I wanted to go home. The boys need to see me, and I need to see them.”
That was a much milder reaction than he’d expected. “I asked Abby to bring them over. No one would likely follow her.” Her best friend since childhood could keep a secret too. Abby was Roger Dillard’s daughter and had helped them every step of the way the last few months.
Paradise sighed. “I’ve been figuring out that allowing other people to help me isn’t being weak—it’s being prudent when the situation warrants it.”
He brushed her lips with his. “I’m proud of you for realizing that.”
“And it’s only for two days. Then we can get back to work.”
“It’s actually about three hours.”
“You called Drew?” she asked, her voice incredulous.
“Wouldn’t you want to know if something like this happened to him? He offered to come immediately. He’s your family.”
She absorbed the news and gave a reluctant nod. “You’re right. I don’t have to like it, but I would have immediately called your mom if you were injured and she was out of town.”
He saw the way she absently rubbed her forehead. “You have a concussion, Paradise. If I hadn’t found you, you likely would have died when the truck picked up the dumpster. This was no casual attack. I’m glad you’re taking this seriously.”
“I’d thought about telling Drew not to come at all. I don’t want him in danger. But our brief relationship so far has shown me he wouldn’t listen. He wants the truth as much as I do, and no threat will make me stop digging.” She closed her eyes for a moment and pressed her fingers to her head. “Would you get the boys right away? I want them to see I’m all right.”
“Abby’s on her way to pick them up. Little-boy hugs will make you feel much better. They’re going to bring your kittens too.”
But those comforts wouldn’t ease his worry at all. At least he’d have Hez to help out until Drew arrived.
Chapter 4
This was the first time Paradise had been inside the Websters’ home. She wandered the inlaid wood floors and admired the stained-glass windows before following Blake and his cousin out to the back deck overlooking Mobile Bay. Waves lapped at the pier, and she smiled at ten-year-old Simon shooing away gulls trying to get his bait as he walked toward the water to fish from the shore. Hez and Savannah had recently adopted him after the death of his mother.
The salty breeze lifted Paradise’s hair and she batted strands out of her eyes. She and Blake dropped into Adirondack chairs. The sun made her head pound, and she dug sunglasses out of her purse.
Blake noticed. “You want to go back inside? Is your head hurting more?”
“I’m all right. I’d rather be out here smelling the bay and listening to the gulls.” She smiled at Hez. “Thanks for letting us barge in like this. Blake is a worrywart.”
The smile in Hez’s blue eyes vanished. “He’s not, you know.Things could have turned out much worse, and he can’t be everywhere at once. A little help was all he needed, and it’s what family is all about.”
Her chest warmed at how accepting he was that she was family. “Well, thank you. There’s something about the sound of the waves that sapped the tension right out of me.”
“It’s a special place.” Hez nodded.
Blake checked his phone. “Drew is about two hours away.”
“I really should be at my apartment getting things ready for him.” She winced at the thought of old leftovers in her fridge and the sheets that needed changing in the guest room. The boys had likely left crumbs in the bed from their last sleepover.
“Mom is taking care of it. She’s doing it right now while Abby has the boys.”
