by Dora Hiers
“My friends, God loves you so much He was willing to give up everything to enjoy your company forever. Paul tells us in Ephesians that His love for us is so wide and so long, so high and deep, that it surpasses knowledge itself. Wow!
“My point is this. A loving God offers us salvation. As a gift. Free of charge. No admission price. Free. Did you hear me? That means you can’t work your way into heaven. On the flip side, that means you can’t work yourself out of heaven either.”
Huh?
This guy was speaking Latin. Hmm. No, wasn’t the Bible written in Greek? Or was it Hebrew? Ryker shook his head. Focus, man, focus.
“Our God loved us so much that He died for us. I don’t know about you, but I can’t say I’ve loved many people enough to die for them. I can name them on one hand.” The pastor held up one finger. “My wife.” Separated two fingers. “Each of my two kids.” He put his hand down and frowned. “But a stranger? Someone who hates me or ridicules me for what I stand for?”
The pastor shook his head, a solemn expression on his face. “I couldn’t do it. But, God did.”
He paused. Now he was going for the kill. Hit him where it counted. Raise his voice. Yep, this was it.
Ryker waited.
The pastor spoke so softly, Ryker had to lean forward to hear. Along with everyone else.
“Let go of whatever’s keeping you from God. Let go of your bitterness. Your resentment. Let go of your past and whatever baggage you’re carrying around. Let go of whatever’s weighing down your shoulders. Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Are you weary? Burdened? Do you want that rest? Come.”
Weary? Burdened? Want rest? Yes. To all three.
The pastor continued, “‘I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.’ This verse from Philippians reminds us that we can’t do this on our own...”
Ryker tuned out the man behind the lectern, burdened with the guilt strapped to his shoulders. He should have been in the car accident that killed his family. But, he’d been left behind with Granny, punished, for getting in trouble at school. For not following the rules.
The note from his teacher burned a hole in his wallet, every day, reminding him.
And yeah, he was weary. Weary of being bitter. Worn out from protesting. Tired of feeling cheated out of a real family. How could you, God? If you’re such a loving God, how could You leave a defenseless child completely alone in the world?
“Ryker?” Danae tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you ready?”
He blinked. She stood next to his chair while people milled about, talking, laughing, making lunch plans. Church had dismissed.
Why hadn’t the pastor screamed at the top of his lungs for people to repent? What was up with this church? The pastor?
He stood. He needed time to process all this hugging and good will. And the pastor’s soft-spoken message. Time he didn’t have right now. “Yeah. Let’s get going. We don’t want to miss kick off.”
****
“Way to go, defense!” Danae bolted from the seat and pumped a fist in the air.
Ryker grinned. Nothing beat watching Danae at a football game. Even the game itself.
“Danae, the Panthers are losing. Twenty-one to nothing.” Kyle whined from beside Ryker.
“One play at a time, Kyle. One play at a time. They can win if they can hold ’em like that.” Her face glowing with happiness, Danae slapped Amber’s hand in a high-five.
Kyle rolled his eyes at Ryker. “Has she always been like this?”
Ryker nodded and draped an arm around the kid. “Yep. Danae always sees the jar half full, Kyle.”
Kyle’s cheeks scrunched. “What?”
“You know, she’s optimistic. No matter how dark or how gloomy the circumstances are, Danae always sees the bright side.” Ryker hadn’t ever thought about Danae’s personality before. But that’s exactly how she was. Full or overflowing, never half empty.
Bright. Confident. Optimistic. And with rosy cheeks and wind-blown hair, beautiful. Ryker sucked in a breath. What was wrong with him lately?
“But the Panthers are behind by three touchdowns with only a little over one quarter to go.”
Ryker withdrew his arm and nodded, disturbed by the emotions stirring in his chest. “I’m with you, Kyle. Things aren’t looking good for them right now.” Things weren’t looking good for him, either.
He needed to get a grip, pull himself out of whatever warped emotional zone he’d entered. Between thinking these weird thoughts about Danae and praying to a God he wasn’t sure he believed in. What was going on with him? Were these feelings a result of surgery? Had the doctor messed with his heart while he’d been under the knife?
A shrill whistle pierced the air. He winced and pressed a hand against his ear. He didn’t have to look to know who that whistle belonged to. “Danae!”
“What, Ryker? They scored. Did you see it?”
He saw it all right. The contagious grin, the joy shimmering from her eyes, the heart swelling with love, always willing to share. Why hadn’t he ever seen her this way before?
He gulped.
Am I in love with Danae?
No.
I can’t be.
She could be my sister. I’ve grown up with her.
I won’t be.
She’s a flight medic. She spent half her life in the air. How could I ever consider a relationship with someone who enjoys flying? Not just for fun but for a living!
Ryker stood. He had to get away from Danae for a few minutes. Spending so much time with her again after a couple years away had to be the problem. Maybe he just needed a little space to give him different perspective. To clear his head. To restore his heart. “Would you like a hot dog?”
“Sure. I’ll come with you.”
“Okay.” No, it wasn’t okay. But because Ryker didn’t know what to think, what to do, it would have to be. Buckle up, man. Your job is to protect her, remember?
Protect her. After he caught whoever was harassing her, his job would be over. He could back off, give himself the space, and the distance, he needed to put things in perspective.
Yeah, he could do this.
Danae took orders from the five kids she’d sweet-talked him into bringing. “Hope you’ve got extra cash on you, big boy.”
He grinned. “Why me? You did the inviting.”
She swatted his arm.
They scooted down the row, bumping knees and excusing themselves. When they reached the aisle, he grabbed her hand. Just to keep her from falling down the steps. That’s what he told himself anyway. But he kinda liked the way her hand felt against his. Soft, tiny, feminine.
But when they reached the concession area, she tugged her hand away. “At least everybody wants food we can get from the same area. Do you want to get the hot dogs while I get the nachos?”
Ryker glanced around. With the game already a few seconds into the last quarter, only a handful of people walked by. He could keep a close eye on her. “Sure.” He pulled out his wallet and handed her a twenty.
“Thanks, Ryker. Be back in a minute.”
He watched her move away, those clingy jeans curving around her hips and stretching out over beautiful, athletic legs. Her hair swayed against her back, almost hypnotizing him. She peered up at the concession signs, anticipation lighting her expression and adding a tiny bounce to her steps. She stopped at the concession stand that sold nachos and looked his way. Blazed that mega-watt smile at him.
Wow. He expelled a long sigh. So much for getting away from her. Not that he really wanted to. He shook his head. That was the problem.
He reached the counter and ordered four hot dogs.
A commotion sounded. People running. What was going on?
He glanced over a shoulder. Police officers, five, no, six of them, jogged toward him, radios plastered against their ears.
Uh-oh. This couldn’t be good.
Footsteps thundered past him. Ryker heard
a radio squawk the code for “bomb threat.”
Fans poured out of the alley into the concession area, looking like a bunch of ants erupting out of an anthill.
Ryker groaned. He’d never find Danae in this crowd.
His gaze roamed the area. She was probably in front of the line by now. He scanned the people waiting.
Where was she?
Panic settled around his heart. His pulse skipped a few beats.
He took a step away from the counter, not liking the feeling trapped in his gut. This wasn’t good. Was it a set up? Or a freak coincidence? “Hey, mister, don’t you want your hot dogs?”
“Ryker, my hands are full. Can you grab the hot dogs?”
Danae’s voice filtered through the mob noise. She’d made her way through the crowd to press against his other side, balancing a tray of nachos. He filled his lungs with precious air and forced his heart to slow down. She was safe.
He edged back toward the counter on unsteady legs and snatched the hot dogs. “Yeah, sure. I’ve got you covered.”
Did he? Have her covered? Could he protect Danae in his present state? Between his wounded side and the wacky emotions floating around his head, he wasn’t sure. Maybe he should call Trent or Gunner for some help.
“What’s going on?”
“I heard the code word for bomb threat. We need to find the kids and get out of here before anybody gets hurt.”
Like her.
Wasn’t that why he was here? To keep her from getting hurt?
But who would keep him from getting hurt?
8
How could she keep him from getting hurt?
Danae jerked the tape with her teeth. After leaving the stadium and dropping the kids off at the orphanage, they’d driven to her house for the first aid kit.
She had to find a way to keep Ryker from reopening this wound. He was going to end up back in the hospital. And it would be all her fault.
Not that she’d asked for his protection. Or needed it. But that’s the way it was.
She patted the tape against the gauze. “There you go. Good as new.” Almost. Not with a gaping hole from where his spleen used to reside.
But that was nothing compared to the giant chasm he’d leave in her heart when he fulfilled his responsibility to her brother.
A responsibility. That’s all she was to him.
A promise he’d made to her brother.
Well, he could keep that promise. But she’d show him in the process that she didn’t need him. Or his protection.
Danae closed the first aid box and snapped the lock. “I better bring this to your house.”
“What are you trying to say?” Lion eyes blinked.
She’d always been a sucker for his golden eyes. Not this time. She steeled her tone. “That if you keep moving around like you do, chasing after ghosts, sprinting out of a football stadium, you’ll end up back in the hospital.”
His head angled to the side. “Nah, I kinda like the doctoring you do.”
She softened, rested a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Ryker—”
He moaned, a soft, contented sound.
“Want a massage?” Without waiting for a response, she moved behind him and kneaded the kinks in his shoulders.
His head shifted back, eyes closed.
Danae sucked in oxygen, exhaled, slow and easy. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Touching him was doing funny things to her insides. Made her heart race, goose bumps tingle up and down her arms—
“That feels great.”
He enjoyed having his shoulders rubbed. She was the one with the problem. Oh, God, I’m in over my head. A little help, please?
“Mmm.”
He relaxed. His body went limp.
She closed her eyes, imagined her hands slipping down that powerful chest, nuzzling her lips against his neck. More than that, if she were honest with herself.
Yeah, but Ryker didn’t love her the way she loved him. And, even if he did, she wouldn’t be happy with a one-night stand. Her mother had taught her the consequences of one-night stands.
Babies.
Babies that grow into children.
Children that needed food and clothes.
And love.
Danae’s mother had a problem with the food. And the clothes.
And love?
Not enough to give up the drugs and the one-night stands.
No, thank you. That is not how Danae wanted to live her life. Not how she wanted to start a family. She wanted her children to feel loved, part of a family, a product of a man and woman who loved each other enough to be married.
Danae heaved a sigh and opened her eyes.
Head angled, Ryker stared at her, his eyes soft, like melting gold. His giant hand tugged her around and settled her onto his lap. Cradled against his chest, his chin dipped to rest on her head, his breath fanning her hair. “Mmm, thanks, Danae. The massage felt wonderful.” The words rumbled against her head.
“Ryker, I don’t think this is a good—”
The weight lifted from her head. A hand touched her cheek, gently propelling her face around so his head angled close to hers, his gaze never straying from her lips. A strand of her hair slid through his fingers. His eyes locked on hers. She couldn’t look away, could barely breathe. “You know I’d never hurt you, Danae, don’t you?”
She gave her head a tiny shake, her breath squished into already full lungs.
His lips closed over hers. Gentle, soft, tentative. With just a hint of peppermint.
With her heart beating out a frantic tempo against her chest, her arms snaked around his neck, with a mind of their own, and her fingers lost themselves in his hair. His arms tightened around her waist, lifting her closer, until she felt like she was part of him. His mouth explored her chin, feathered her cheeks, then dipped down to her neck, sending shivers of anticipation rippling through her veins. A groan escaped from somewhere deep in her chest.
The sound stopped Ryker cold. He broke the kiss and tugged her hands out of his hair, settling her back against his chest. He wrapped her in his arms, his heart beating a high-speed rhythm to match her own, his breathing ragged and hoarse.
She inhaled, deep and long, then exhaled, willing her pulse to return to normal. What just happened? Or worse, what had she wanted to happen?
She glanced up at the dark hollows under his eyes. Was that longing for a family and a love that mirrored her own? Or just passion, desire?
He took her hand and pressed a kiss against her palm. “Danae, you don’t know what you do to me. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—”
Glass exploded. Something hard shattered. Against the wall? The hard wood floor?
An engine roared. Tires squealed.
“Get down!” Ryker yanked her from his lap and pushed her to the floor, shielding her with his body.
“What happened?” she whispered.
“Sounds like something crashed through your front window. Stay here while I go check it out, will you?”
****
Danae nodded, her red cheeks and rumpled hair a testament to his lack of self-control. How had he let things get so out of hand? He respected Danae and her vow. Too much to seduce her into giving up something that meant so much to her.
Ryker shook his head, refusing to dwell on that right now. Danae’s safety was all that mattered. He’d have plenty of time to consider his emotions later. After they caught this jerk.
Adrenaline spiked through him. Anything to obliterate the passion that flowed through his veins.
He reached for the cold steel of his weapon.
Keeping Danae in his peripheral vision, he crawled next to the wall, edged around the corner.
Wind howled. The bare window swallowed the curtains, then a gust expelled them back into the room.
Shards of glass littered the floor. And…concrete?
Huh?
Crouching, Ryker made his way to the door and flicked off the light. He moved to the edge of th
e broken window and peered into the darkness. Looking for movement. Opportunity.
Nothing.
The jerk was probably long gone.
Chasing was out of the question. He wouldn’t leave Danae unprotected. He grabbed his phone, called the police and explained the problem. Told dispatch where they’d be.
Not here.
Danae’s pale face, now minus the rosy cheeks, appeared around the corner. “All clear?”
“Not yet, sweetheart. Can you wait in the kitchen for me? I’m going outside, and I don’t want you anywhere near this open window.”
Her eyes widened at the mess on the floor. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure. Wait in the kitchen. I’ll be back in a couple minutes.”
She nodded, but his heart still wouldn’t cooperate. All he wanted to do was cradle her in his arms, press kisses against that silky hair and whisper that everything would be all right. That they’d catch this jerk.
He opened the front door. The cool breeze should help clear the fog that was his brain and force his limbs to function properly. He scanned the front yard, the bushes, the driveway.
Nobody. Nothing.
Not even a family of raccoons tonight.
Ryker didn’t like it. Who was torturing Danae? And why? Had she done something to bring this on? Had she inadvertently taken something that didn’t belong to her? Ticked somebody off? Was somebody just trying to spook her? Or did they actually want to hurt her?
He didn’t get it.
Why would somebody want to hurt her? A flight medic—someone who provided a valuable medical service, someone who cared for other human beings enough to help.
But that was Danae. Someone who cared for others more than herself. She shared herself with everyone she met. In her job, with the kids at the orphanage.
She embraced passion. Embraced life with an enthusiasm he’d never seen in anyone else. That’s what made her special, unique.
That’s what made her Danae.
He knocked on the kitchen door. “Danae, it’s Ryker. Open up.”
She peeked through a tiny crack in the curtain, face drawn, tight.
Straightening his spine, Ryker gritted his teeth and holstered his weapon. This joker, whoever it was, better hope Ryker wasn’t the one who caught him.