on his hand and pulls him into the house. “Look who came to see us!”
Every muscle in my face has to be told to move to force the smile that attempts to turn up my lips when I look at her. I’m sure the rest of my body language fails at selling the lie.
“Vaughn.” Ryker’s voice saying my name hurts more than I could have ever imagined.
“Come on, Lucy. You need to get your shoes on because Joey’s going to be here any minute,” I say and busy myself, moving to the family room where her sneakers were discarded, not daring to look at him myself.
“But, Auntie . . .”
“Vaughn.” My name is a plea and one I don’t want to heed as I move back across the space that feels so much smaller with him in it.
“C’mon, Lucy Loo. Let’s get your shoes on.” I drop to my knees before her—his subtle scent of soap and cologne clouding my thoughts, hurting my heart—as her expression falls from excitement to confusion over my actions. “Don’t.” It’s a low growl of warning when his hand closes over my biceps.
“You need to let me explain,” Ryker says. Our eyes meet for the briefest of moments, and everything I feel is reflected in his.
And I don’t understand. How can he be hurt when he’s the one who caused this?
“The lady said not to touch her.” It’s Joey’s voice that speaks through the open doorway, and while I snap my head his way, Ryker is unfazed and remains looking at me.
“Not your business, man,” Ryker says, but his hand moves off my arm as he turns to stare Joey down.
“Vaughn? You okay?” Joey asks as his eyes move from Ryker to me to Lucy and back to Ryker.
“I’m—”
“She’s fine,” Ryker says, cutting me off as Joey takes a step forward. “I suggest you back off.”
“You son of a—”
“Hey,” I say, stopping Joey and stepping forward to halt the testosterone-laced confrontation that’s obviously brewing here, more than a little startled by Joey’s temper and protectiveness. And as much as I’d love for him to throw a punch at Ryker for me, it’ll do nothing to fix the burning ache in my chest that seeing him has caused.
“Something’s obviously wrong, Vaughn. Are you sure—”
“Outside,” I say as I push him off the threshold to the front porch, welcoming the fresh air that’s not clouded with everything that is Ryker.
Once the door shuts at my back, Joey looks at me with a mix of confusion and concern. “What’s going on? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” I take a deep breath.
“Stop saying you’re fine when you’re obviously not.”
“It was just a fight,” I lie, needing him out of here, Ryker out of here. “Just . . . just please don’t start anything.”
He runs a hand through his sandy-blond hair and blows out a sigh as if he doesn’t quite believe me. “I don’t like him.”
A self-deprecating laugh falls from my mouth. “Right now, I don’t like him much either.” Tears threaten. “Lucy’s ready to go. She just needs to get her shoes on.”
“Vaughn.” His hand grabs mine as I turn to go back into the house, and the mask I’m trying to hide my emotions behind threatens to crumble. He waits until I face him to speak again. “I . . . you know I’m here for you, right? Not just with Lucy, but . . . we’ve become friends through all of this, and if you need help, all you have to do is ask.”
“I know. Thank you. It’ll be—”
“Fine. I know,” he says.
I give his hand a squeeze and push back open the front door to find Ryker kneeling down and finishing tying Lucy’s shoes. “You ready, Lucy?” I ask, ignoring Ryker as he turns my way. “Come and give me a hug. Joey has to get you back. You’re having a special movie night tonight.” I infuse enthusiasm in my voice to match the smile plastered to my face.
Lucy’s arms slide around my waist, and those bright-blue eyes look up to meet mine. “Can Mr. Ryker come to the movie night?”
For some reason, that simple question throws me off and has me stumbling for a response. “Um . . . not tonight, Luce. Mr. Ryker has plans.”
Her cheeks turn pink, and she makes kissy-kissy sounds that cause a lump to form in my throat. “Can you make sure he’s on my list of people who can come see me?”
“Lucy—”
“Please, Auntie?”
“Yes. Sure.” Anything to get you