room opened and two uniformed officers walked in. The taller of the two women moved toward him. “Ford Hendrix?” she asked.
He nodded.
“We’re going to have to take a statement.”
“Serves you right,” Maeve told him. “I hope they lock you away forever.”
She stalked off. Ford followed the police officers to a quiet corner of the waiting area and knew his life couldn’t get any worse.
Only he was wrong because, just when he was explaining what had happened, his mother arrived. She hurried over to him.
“See?” she said, her voice oddly triumphant. “None of this would have happened if you’d just gotten married like I told you.”
* * *
FORD PACED THE LENGTH of Isabel’s kitchen. She watched him move, feeling a little like watching one of the powerful cats at the zoo. She was standing close enough to sense his frustration and energy, but she didn’t have to worry about him turning on her and expecting her to be dinner.
The analogy made her smile. Now that she knew her brother-in-law was going to be fine, she could see the humor in the situation. Not that Ford had gotten there yet.
“It’s not my fault,” he muttered for maybe the thousandth time since he’d arrived. “He wanted me to hit him. He begged me.”
“Next time you shouldn’t listen.”
He turned to her. “Thanks for the news flash.”
“Hey, don’t take your temper out on me. I’m not the one who coldcocked a guy six inches shorter and fifty pounds lighter. A guy who wears glasses.”
Ford groaned. “He took them off and put them in his pocket. It’s so Leonard.”
She stepped in front of him. “Look, he’s going to be fine. He explained what happened and his story matched yours. He’s not pressing charges. You’re right. It’s not your fault he hit his head.”
“Tell Maeve that.”
Isabel had heard that her sister had gone a little crazy when she’d been told what had happened.
“She and Leonard have been together a long time. She loves him. She didn’t expect her ex-fiancé to beat the crap out of him and leave him for dead.”
Ford flinched.
She grabbed him by the upper arms. “Sorry. I’m teasing. Everything is okay.”
“They’re keeping him overnight for observation.”
“A precaution.”
“Maeve is pregnant. She has four other kids.”
“I come from a long line of good breeders.”
His dark eyes remained troubled. “I could have killed him.”
“He’s going to be fine. Obviously he’s been waiting for this moment for years. You’ve given him closure and a great story. In the future, keep your bullying ways for your tough friends.”
“I know,” he muttered, then shook his head. “I thought I was making things better for Leonard. I thought...”
Not knowing what else to do, Isabel tried to pull Ford close. He was about as movable as a house, so instead she stepped close and wrapped her arms around him.
He was taller than her, broader and solid muscle. But he was also warm and in need, so she hung on, even when he just stood there.
After a couple of seconds, he put his arms around her and hugged her back. She rested her cheek on his shoulder, thinking this was nice. This was—
Without wanting to, she noticed her breasts were nestled right against his chest. And that her thighs were brushing his. She found herself getting a little tingly and thinking it would be nice if he kissed her again. Only this time, with a little passion and maybe some tongue.
The concept was so shocking she jumped back. Fortunately, Ford didn’t seem to notice her retreat or her panic.
“If you’d heard my mother,” he said, bracing his hand on the granite countertops. “She lit into me something fierce. She kept going on and on about how I needed to settle down, and if I would just get married, she could be happy. She brought up those women she’d found. She wants me to look at the applications.”
“I don’t think having a girlfriend would have stopped you from hitting Leonard.”
“Probably not. Still, it would get my mother off my back.” He turned his head and looked at her. “You’re a woman.”
She held up both hands. “Thanks for noticing, but no.”
His gaze didn’t waver. “You’re leaving, so there’d be no misunderstanding between us. You wouldn’t want me to fall in love with you.”
She was pretty sure he was suggesting some kind of fake relationship, and the answer to that was a very firm “No.”
“Come on, Isabel, I’m desperate. Look at what’s happening to me.”
“You hit a guy. You did that yourself. Nothing is happening.” She made air quotes about the last word. “Leonard is fine. Do a better job of hiding from your mother. It’ll be okay.”
He straightened and turned toward her. Funny how, until right this second, she hadn’t been aware of how much Ford filled up her kitchen.
“It’s more than that,” he said, sounding defeated. “Everybody said I’d been in too long. That I would have trouble adjusting to civilian life. I didn’t believe them, but they were right.”
She wanted to stomp her foot. How was she supposed to fight against the “I’ve been off serving my country” card?
“You’re adjusting very well. This is a teeny, tiny setback.”
“And there’s my mother.”
“I’ll admit that Denise is a challenge.”
“More than a challenge.” His dark gaze settled on her face. “All this time I’ve been away, keeping you safe.”
She took a step back. “No,” she said firmly. “You’re not going to try that again.”
“Risking my life while you went to prom and got laid in college.”
She covered her ears with her hands and started to hum. He raised his voice.
“You promised to love me forever. I have proof. In writing.”
She lowered her hands. “Stop it right now.”
“You went back on your word and broke my heart.” He hung his head, as if defeated.
She stared at him. For a second
