Solemn, Tanner reached over to clap him on the shoulder. “You’re a good man, Kam.”
Christ, he hated it when Tanner read his mind. The grin cracked, and he shook his head. Yes, it bugged him, but at the same time, he appreciated it. “I’ll still be around helping withthe tree farm, and you know you can count on me to stay involved with the kids.”
A new type of peace showed in Tanner’s smile. “Callie’s ready to pitch in, too. She’s actually looking forward to it.”
See? How could he not love Callie? Not only did she embrace Tanner’s work with at-risk kids, she wanted to do her own share.
“I have some welding classes set up with them, and a few field trips planned to visit the shop. A couple of the boys, and one of the girls, have shown interest.” As a welder, Kam worked on everything from farm equipment to artistic sculptures, and a lot of stuff in between.
“You need to be close to Glory.”
“And I will be.” He could multitask as well as Tanner. “That is, if she’ll let me. I’m working on that.”
“Work harder. If you can’t convince her to let you stick around, then Callie is going to insist that she comes to stay with us.”
Ha!“Won’t happen,” Kam warned. “She wants you two to have some privacy since you didn’t take an official honeymoon.”
“I was willing, but Callie wanted to stick close to home as much as I did.”
She wassoperfect for Tanner.
“If it doesn’t work out, you know Addie is going to ask to stay with Glory, and I’ll be damned before I let that happen. Until we sort out if this Mike creep is plaguing her, I don’t want Addie involved.”
“I’ll figure it out,” Kam promised. And somehow, he’d make that come true.
Electrified by his plan, Mike rode beside Jones, the tow truck driver who would earn a small fortune today. OnceGlory’s car was loaded up, Mike would give her a call and ask her where she wanted it delivered. He’d not only be her savior, he’d get to spend quality time with her.
Burning contempt filled him when he thought of how she’d dismissed him last night. After all the trouble he’d gone through, she should have been grateful. Then again, he’d known from the start that Glory McCallahan was different. Too often she looked down her pert nose at him, only sparingly doling out scraps of affection. Goddesses were like that.
Her resistance only made the rewards sweeter, especially since he knew how it would end. For now, she could pretend she didn’t want him. He’d play along until the time was right.
And then he’d end the games.
The memory of her surprise curled the corners of his mouth. She’d jumped when he’d first spoken to her in the dark parking lot, the two of them all alone. Her obvious anxiety had excited him. He could have given her a taste of their inevitability—but the other guy had intruded, all cavalier, as if he had the right to interrupt when he absolutely did not.Hedidn’t matter.
Unless he got in the way one too many times. Then Mike would have to deal with him.
“Turn here,” he told Jones.
Silently, the driver did as he was told.
Mike knew that when you paid enough, there were no questions.
The hall was empty right now; he’d already checked their online schedule of events. Nothing was happening until tomorrow afternoon.
“Her car is in the back lot.”
The driver whistled as he pulled in. “Slick ride.”
“Yes. For such a sedate woman, she has a flashy side.” The red Mustang felt like a show of rebellion. Most in her position would have driven something less sporty. Something classic that showed off her station in life.
Not his Glory.
It thrilled him, that wild streak she tried so hard to hide. It was something they could work on together, once he’d cemented their relationship. With his guidance, she’d be as perfect as she always tried to be.
In ways Glory couldn’t yet understand, they were made for each other. He felt it down to his soul and eventually she’d feel it, too.
One way or another, he’d make sure she did.
