Page 39 of Ryder’s Storm

“I wasn’t always. But I had to become strong. After Joshua died, everything changed for me. Dad became overprotective. He believed, and still does, that Joshua’s death wasn’t the result of a random shooting. He thinks that Joshua was targeted because of him. Dad has made many enemies over the years with the business decisions he made.”

“So they never found the shooter?” Ryder asked with interest.

“They did. They found him a day after the shooting. He was dead. A self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.”

“Did he have connections to your father? Is that it?”

“No. The police couldn’t find any connection to Joshua or my father or any of his business associates. Dad believes that he was a contract killer, and that the real culprit is still out there. That’s why he made sure that I got into Stanford, so I could live at home under his watchful eye. And when I transferred to the University of San Francisco last year, he insisted on a bodyguard. Had I said no, he would have never let me move into our house in Pacific Heights. But I wanted some freedom, you know, some autonomy.”

“Of course you did,” Ryder said. “Everybody your age wants that. It’s part of being an adult. We all have to stand up for ourselves.”

“Yes, but it’s not always easy. I don’t want to hurt my father by pushing back too hard, but I don’t think he understands what I’m going through. I feel trapped.”

“I’m sorry. I know that overprotective parents can be difficult to deal with.”

“Are yours like that too?”

Ryder chuckled. “In some ways, but not in others.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“As part of my training at Scanguards, I went to Baltimore for a few years, learning everything I could from a great group of, uhm, other bodyguards. My parents trusted me enough never to worry about me, or to demand that I come home more often to visit. They let me find my own way. And now that I’m back, I’m spending more time with my family again. I know it may sound odd to you, but I actually like living with them again. Granted, at thirty, that may sound like I’m not independent—”

“You’re thirty?” She turned in his arms. “You look way younger.”

He laughed. “Family genes. We all look younger than we are.”

“And you don’t mind living with your parents? Aren’t they constantly checking up on what you’re doing?”

“They don’t really have the time or the inclination to do that. They both work. Dad’s a director at Scanguards, and Mom’s a physician.”

“Is that why you work for Scanguards? Because your dad works there?”

“I can’t imagine doing anything else. Guess I was born to protect others. We all were.”

“You mean Nessie? Is she a bodyguard too?”

“No, but she works for Scanguards too. Community outreach, and a few other pet projects. But Ethan, my younger brother works as a bodyguard too.”

Scarlet now remembered that Nessie had mentioned her brother’s name. “All five of you live in the same house?”

“Yep, not far from here actually. Mom and Dad converted a huge Edwardian house so that we all have our own private space. Mom and Dad have their own little love nest on the top floor, and Nessie, Ethan, and I share the second floor. And the first floor is for everybody. It works just fine. We get time as a family, and time alone when we need it.”

Scarlet smiled. “It must be nice to be a real family.”

“It is. You’ll see.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “You’re planning to introduce me to them?”

“Well, you heard my sister. She wants to meet you. And since she can’t keep a secret to save her life, I’m sure the rest of my family is already aware that I’m in… that I’ve met someone.”

It didn’t escape Scarlet that Ryder had wanted to finish the sentence differently. What had he wanted to say before correcting himself?

That I’m in a relationship?

Or that I’m in love?

Scarlet tamped down her excitement. She didn’t want to expect too much. They’d only known each other for a few days. Time would tell if they were really made for each other, or if the explosive attraction between them would fizzle out quickly.