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“Is that him?” Vivienne widened her eyes, their blue depths sparkling with amusement, and pretended to fan herself. “He’s certainly changed from the photograph you have of him.”
“Mom!” Nathalie laughed. Her heart was so full she wanted to shout her joy to the world. She grabbed her mother’s hand and wove through the crowd.
Ryder’s eyes warmed as they approached, his expression softening. Other than some faint bruising on his face and knuckles, one would never know he’d wrecked Foster Hadley in a bare-knuckled brawl.
Releasing her grip on her mother, Nathalie raised on tiptoes to brush a soft kiss across Ryder’s lips. “Did everything go okay?” Between Ryder dealing with the police and her getting ready for her DoD briefing, she’d barely seen him the past few days. Caleb had been her daytime shadow.
But at night, she and Ryder made love, then slept, wrapped in each other’s arms.
He gifted her with a faint smile. “The police won’t be pressing charges against me for putting Hadley in the hospital. Everyone in the room at the time is claiming I acted in self-defense and to protect you.”
“Claiming?” Her voice rose with indignation. “It’s the truth.”
“It’s partially the truth.” Ryder’s expression hardened. “I wasn’t defending myself. I wanted to kill him for taking you from me. For hurting you.”
“Eh hem.” Vivienne cleared her throat, making her presence known.
Nathalie flushed and stepped aside so her mother could approach Ryder. “Sorry mom.”
Vivienne lifted her hand to Ryder, the silver bangles covering her slender wrist jangling. “You must be Ryder.”
“Mrs. Williams. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Finally.” Ryder grasped her extended fingers and lifted them to his lips.
Vivienne’s cheeks pinkened. “Thank you for saving my daughter.”
“She saved me.”
“I feel I owe you an apology.”
“For what?” Ryder shot Nathalie a questioning look.
She shrugged, as puzzled as he was at her mother’s statement.
“I’m pretty sure my husband knew about the sacrifice Nathalie made in order for his dream to survive.” The sorrow in Vivienne’s voice had Nathalie placing a comforting hand on her mother’s arm. “He didn’t ask the question because he didn’t want to know the answer.”
“Maybe we needed those years apart to grow into who we are now,” Ryder murmured. The look he sent Nathalie made her heart swell and her toes tingle. “We’re stronger together now than we ever were.”
“I’m happy to hear it.” Vivienne glanced between Nathalie and Ryder with an amused smile. “I think I’ll get a piece of that delicious-looking cake and let you two catch up.”
After her mother left, Nathalie pretended to smooth the lapels on Ryder’s jacket and adjust his tie. Not that he needed it. She just wanted to touch him. “I guess this means you’re no longer my bodyguard.”
His gaze raked her hungrily, setting her blood on fire. “Given how the job ended, I feel obligated to guard your body for free until you no longer have need of my services.”
“Oh?” Tendrils of heat arrowed to her core. “In that case, plan on servicing me for a very long time.”
His hands slid to her hips. “It will be my pleasure.”
Releasing her, he angled his body toward the doorway. “I brought someone with me.”
Nathalie followed his gaze. Caleb appeared with Angie holding his arm. They slowly navigated their way into the room.
“Angie!” A chorus of greetings filled the space.
Nathalie rushed to the young woman and embraced her, even as Caleb kept a loose grip on Angie’s arm to help her maintain her balance. “When did you get out of the hospital?”
“This morning.” Yellow and deep purple bruising marred Angie’s face, but the doctors predicted she’d make a full recovery. Physically, at least. “I wanted to congratulate you and to say how sorry I am that I let that horrible man use me to get to you.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. What happened was not your fault.” Nathalie wiped away the tear that trailed down Angie’s cheek. “As soon as you feel up to it, we’ll expect you back at work. Until then, you’re on paid leave, and I want you to get some counseling, too. The company will pay for it. Okay?”