“Did Victor say what he wanted?” Hayden asks again, for maybe the tenth time.

“I told you, he didn’t,” I remind her, pulling into the diner’s parking lot.

“Do you think he’s heard from Blade?” she asks, worriedly, wringing her hands together in her lap.

I put my hand over hers, to stop before she manages to pull the skin off her hands. “What did I tell you?”

“Not to worry, you had it all under control,” she says, rolling her eyes.

I swear the woman gets sassier and sassier as the days go by. What’s amazing is that I like it…I really like it.

“Have you got everything you need packed?” I ask, trying to channel her mind elsewhere. It’s taken me two weeks to convince her to go to the lake with me for a while. We were packing up and heading out when Victor called. There’s been no word from Blade and it’s frustrating. I’m busy trying to convince Hayden that Blade is probably on a beach somewhere in Mexico, but in my gut, I know he’s not giving up that easily.

Victor feels much the same way I do. I actually do know what this meeting is about, but I don’t want to worry Hayden, so I’m not telling her. We both feel that as long as Blade knows Victor is here, he’s not going to make a move. It’s time to rattle some cages and bring him out of hiding. Victor will be the one in charge of trapping the dog, my only focus is keeping Hayden safe, and I will do that. Nothing and no one will get the chance to hurt her, ever again.

“Yeah, it’s packed, but right now might not be the best of times to go out of town, Michael.”

“It’s the perfect time,” I argue, and it is—for a lot of reasons unknown to her.

I go around and help her from the truck, keeping her close to me as we walk into the diner. Victor is standing on the inside looking out the window. His two main henchmen are standing close to the door. Hayden is so tense that I rub her back, hoping to calm her.

“Hayden. It’s good to see you again. How are you getting along?” Victor asks when he turns around, his weathered face and pale brown eyes almost friendly.

“I…I’m good. How are you Mr. Torasani?” Hayden answers, shyly. She walks over to shake the man’s hand as he extends it.

“You seem nervous. There’s no need to be, I assure you.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just…”

“It’s okay, I understand,” he tells her, not asking her to put her thoughts into words. He has to know how hard it is for her to meet with anyone. “Can we sit? I have a few things to discuss with you and Mr. Jameson.”

“Is something going on we should worry about?” Hayden asks, and a deep blush blooms on her face, “I mean you know, besides the obvious and well everything…”

“Not at all my dear. I’m afraid I’ve been delaying my stay in North Carolina for too long. I have a business and other matters to attend back home.”

“Oh…” Hayden whispers, and I know she’s worried about Blade. She hasn’t said much, but I know that she feels more comfortable with Victor and his men close by.

It should bother me that she doesn’t think I can handle that asshole on my own, but it doesn’t. Hayden hasn’t had many men in her life that she can have faith in. I understand it. I only hope I don’t end up letting her down like I have other people in my life who depended on me. For a split second, Annabelle’s face flashes through my memories before fading. My hand trembles, the memories of my daughter are getting less and less…clear.

Hayden reaches over and grabs my hand. I have no idea if she saw it shake and is comforting me, or if it is to comfort her because of her nerves. Either way works, because her touch centers me, focuses me and keeps me from getting lost in the pain.

“As you know, when Charlotte left me, she wanted to come back here, because it’s where she was born. She wanted me to go with her.” He looks out the window before saying more. “She didn’t understand my business, but now I find myself wishing I had tried things her way then ,” he says quietly, then he seems to mentally shake himself and continue. “Her sister worked at this diner, and Charlotte asked me for one thing and only one thing when she left. She wanted me to purchase the diner so that her sister would have job security. Sometimes, I think that’s the only reason she kept running this place. It didn’t make a lot of money, but she enjoyed it and the people that worked for her, became her family. Charlotte and I never had children. In my line of work, children are a weakness you can’t afford.”

Hayden’s hand tightens in mine, and I notice she uses her free hand to rub her stomach. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“It is what it is, my dear. I’m an old man and for the most part, I’ve lived a good life. But, let us get back to the matters at hand. Charlotte left a will and you were named her sole beneficiary.”

“Beneficiary? Me?”

“Exactly that. I’m afraid she didn’t have a lot. She wouldn’t take any of my gifts. But the diner and her home are both yours now.”

“But…Why? What about her sister?”

“Her sister already has a home, and Charlotte only asked that you make sure her sister always had a job at the diner for as long as she wanted it, or it was in business. Truthfully, I have her sister set up on a trust fund. She doesn’t need the money, but like her sister, she prefers to work instead of doing nothing.”

I don’t think Hayden is truly listening to Victor at this point she’s holding the manila envelope that Victor handed her and tears are falling down her cheeks. “I can’t believe she did this,” she whispers. “Michael, we have the diner now. I won’t need to worry about finding a job!” she cries the last part out louder, as if it just hit her. I want to yell at her, I told her before she didn’t have anything to worry about. I would be annoyed except she says we have the diner. She’s definitely mine now—she’s claimed me, even if she doesn’t realize it.

“A job? Doesn’t she realize the size of your holdings?” Victor questions, and I shrug. It doesn’t surprise me that Victor had me investigated. I have my own folder on him.

“I guess not. Apparently, those things don’t matter to some women.”

“That’s a gift, don’t waste it,” he says, and I think he gets lost in his memories of Charlie again. I could almost feel sorry for him.

Once all the conversation is done and Victor makes arrangements for Hayden to talk with his attorney, I walk her outside to the truck, and help her in.

“I can’t believe that just happened. Just when I think life can’t get any better it does,” she says, as I click her seatbelt into place. I kiss her lips gently and way too briefly, resting my forehead against hers, taking in her scent, and enjoying it for a moment.

“I told you, Beauty. From here on out, you get nothing but good. So much good that there’s no room for the bad.”

Her hand comes up and she lets her fingers brush against the side of my jaw where the scars are more evident. The sense of touch there isn’t as strong as it once was. There’s a deadness now, but I can feel her touch still—soft, whispery, gentle and…loving. “You and Maggie are the best of everything, Michael. You’re all the good I will ever need,” she whispers.

I close my eyes and drink in her words, then I kiss her again. I lose myself in her taste and in the surety that even though she deserves better, I’m never letting her go.