Page 49 of Her Righteous Protector

“Yeah, I think that might be a good idea,” Julie said drily.

Hannah picked up her spoon and took a bite. “This is good.”

“I’m glad. Now, do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Not really.” Hannah took three more bites while her mother watched her with a half-smile on her face.

“Did you come for advice?” Julie asked.

Hannah put down her spoon. “I think Max is a dumbass,” she said.

Julie shrugged. “He has a penis, it goes with the territory.”

Hannah snorted.

“Have you seen his penis?”

“Mom!” Hannah knew her face was the color of a tomato.

“I’d have to be blind if I didn’t notice the sparks flying between the two of you last week.”

Hannah picked up her spoon again and shoveled down another five hundred calories.

“Why is he a dumbass?” Julie asked.

“Actually, he might be really smart, and trying to use me.” Hannah took another bite then swallowed. “But I don’t think so, he’s just too damn honorable. I really think he’s scared, so he’s glomming onto me.”

“With his penis?” Julie deadpanned.

“Jesus, Mom!”

“What can I say, I might have noticed he’s hot.” Julie pulled the bowl away from Hannah and grabbed both of her hands. “Are you falling for him?”

“I think I really am, and it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my whole life. Even stupider than monkey sex with Clive.” Hannah groaned. “Wait, even stupider then telling you about monkey sex with Clive.”

“What about him? What is he feeling?” her mother asked her gently.

“That’s what I was saying. I think he’s a dumbass and can’t figure things out about his feelings because he just needs me for Zephyr. But, Mom, I want him to want me for me,” Hannah’s voice trickled off.

“Of course you do, Honey. Do you know how much your father and I like this man?”

Hannah shook her head.

“We like him a lot. We couldn’t ask for a better man for our quasi-grandson.” She gripped her daughter’s hands tighter before releasing them and then taking a dainty bite out of the bowl and swallowing. “He’s a good man, Hannah,” she whispered.

“What do I do?” Hannah begged to know.

Julie opened her mouth and Hannah held up her finger in warning.

“I promise, I wasn’t going to mention his penis,” Julie’s eyes twinkled.

Hannah sighed. It didn’t matter, because she knew damn good and well that Max’s penis was definitely going to be part of her future.

* * *

“They’ve retained an attorney,” Elias Peterson said.

“I had no idea they could afford one,” Hannah said with disgust as she looked out the kitchen window into the backyard and watched Max show Zephyr how to use a baseball mitt. “You didn’t tell Max, did you?” she asked the old man anxiously.