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Lost in the thoughts of him tying her, Joy jumped when the detective spoke. “I’d like to start at the very beginning, Joy. I need to make sure I understand every detail, no matter how small. If you don’t mind, of course.”

“Oh, I don’t… what do you mean by beginning?” Joy asked, her voice trembling already. And they hadn’t even started.

Tension tightened every muscle in Chance’s body. “Is it really necessary to put her through relivin’ everything she went through? Did you read through Sam’s notes? He was very thorough.”

The detective leveled a cool look at Chance. She’d never seen that look on the man’s face before. “I have. And while I’m sure the sheriff did the best job he could, there are quite a few details he didn’t explore.”

How her Daddy’s eyes narrowed didn’t bode well for the detective. Before this was over, it might be him who needed to be tied up.

"I realize you have a job to do, Detective James. But you might as well deal with the fact I have a job to do, too. My job is keepingthis woman safe from any and all predators, or anyone else who might endanger her physically, emotionally, or mentally. So if she's willing to answer your questions, that's fine. But the choice is hers. And if she says no, well, I’m a firm believer that no means no."

Joy stared at Chance in wonder. No one, not in her whole life, had ever stood up for her like that. Her shoulders relaxed, and she breathed easier because she knew her Daddy would keep her safe. "It's all right," she said. "What's your first question, detective?"

It occurred to her then she might have a few questions of her own. Just like it was her Daddy's job to keep her safe, it was her job to protect him, too. That meant making sure the trouble following her did not endanger anyone on the ranch.

She ran her fingers lightly over the back of Chance's hand and prepared for Detective James's first question.

Instead, Detective James led with a statement. "You know, Joy, if you aren't comfortable discussing this in front of –" he gazed around the room before returning his eyes to her – "your new friends, I have no problem asking them to leave."

Joy's mouth went dry at the very thought. There was no way she would be able to answer any questions without her Daddy there. And as for everyone else, if she was putting them in danger, they had a right to know everything. It was the only way they could decide if they wanted her to leave.

God, she hoped they didn't want her to leave.

"It's all right, Detective James. I don't have any secrets. And I didn't do anything wrong. So, I really have no reason to be uncomfortable."

The look Chance gave her then shot desire straight to her clit. He was proud of her. Had anyone ever been proud of her?

Running her fingers lightly over the back of Chance's hand, she waited for Detective James's first question.

"All right, how long was it before you started living with Eddie Sharp after your parents died?"

Chance almost jumped out of the seat. "Why the fuck do you need to know that?" he demanded.

Reacting to the tension now snapping through the air, Sam said, "Hold on now. Let's not get riled up."

Joy wasn't sure Sam's words helped the situation very much. But it was Boone's expression and deep voice that made the difference. He exchanged a look with Chance and said, "Easy." Something passed between the two of them she didn’t understand, but her Daddy relaxed.

Joy didn't mind answering the question, but she agreed with Chance. Why did the detective need to know that? "It wasn't very long. After Pop passed, Mom didn't last long. She kept her heart hidden from most people. Even me, most of the time. But she loved Pop. With me grown, I think she decided she'd rather be with him."

It wasn't that she didn't miss her parents, but they were hard to get close to. They were from the stiff upper lip, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, generation.

"It wasn't until after they died that I found out they had mortgaged the house to pay for I have no idea what. Eddie's bank foreclosed on the loan, and Eddie offered to let me stay with him for a price."

She hadn't really understood at the time exactly what kind of price he was talking about. She truly believed he wanted her to cook and clean and run errands. She had been so gullible. So stupid. And she'd paid such a high price.

"I see, so he coerced you into living with him?"

"I don't know if coerced is the right word. He did expect everything he said he would. He just added to the list once I moved in."

"And while you lived in Mr. Sharp's home, did you see any drugs?"

Joy shook her head. “No, I didn't. It was almost a year before Ifound out he even did drugs, much less sold them. I didn't know that until you told me.”

She wanted to look around the room to see what Chance's family felt about all they were hearing, but she didn't have the nerve. They had every right to hate her. Who would want someone caught up in the drug trafficking trade to be in their house? Not even considering the danger, the reputation of the ranch itself could be at stake.

No guest would want to visit a resort that was connected in any way to that kind of thing. Her heartbeat sped up. It became difficult to breathe. She had ruined everything for people who had done nothing but help her. How could she have been so selfish? Dizziness attacked her. She felt like she was drowning.

Suddenly, a deep voice broke through the chaos in her mind.