Page 94 of Wilde Abandon
“So the social worker looked for you on Tanya’s behalf and somehow found out you won the lottery.”
He nodded.“I’m not sure how, but I assume she dug deep into my background and resources because she wanted to be sure I would be someone good in Tanya’s life.”
Tanya sure thought he was, because of what he could do for her.He’d feared she’d use the information for her gain.And she had.He’d spent a lot of money updating her appliances and paying off her medical bills.That trip she wanted to take around the world, not cheap.Not something she could afford at all.
But he could without it really making a dent in his bank account.And yet, he didn’t just book the trip for her.It had nothing to do with the money and everything to do with his relationship with Tanya.He didn’t want to reward her for her continued bad behavior and her inability to have a real conversation about the past that included a heartfelt apology for what she’d done to him and what she’d allowed to happen to him.He didn’t think he’d ever forgive her for letting him go and never even trying to do what she needed to do to get him back.
He didn’t want to think about that right now.“Come on.Your family is waiting.”He took her hand and walked with her out of the workshop and into the barn.
“We need to talk more about this.”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about.Dean is keeping watch while we’re here.When we get to Boston tomorrow, you’ll have security.You won’t see it, but it will be there.”
She stopped dead in her tracks, her hand slipping free of his, just as they made it across the yard toward the house.“You’re putting a guard on me?”
“It won’t be obvious.Just someone to keep an eye on you.Just in case.”
“I don’t think I like that.”
“It’s more for my peace of mind than anything.”He took her hand again and started toward the house.They were late.He didn’t want her parents to get the wrong impression of him.Not after all they’d done for him.
Chapter twenty-one
Melodydroppedthewholebusiness about a bodyguard following her around.She’d make it clear to Fox that wasn’t necessary.No one cared about what she did, or where she went.
Except the part where Fox worried someone would take her to get money from him did sound plausible.And ridiculous at the same time.
She was still trying to wrap her head around him winning the lottery.She wanted to ask how it all happened.It must be a really great story.Were Dean and Max with him when he discovered he’d won?Did they celebrate?How?
She had so many questions, her mind reeled with them all.
But the second they walked into the house, she set that all aside as she watched her mom rush Fox and wrap him in a hug.
For a second, it seemed Fox wasn’t sure what to do, then he released her hand and hugged Robin back as he said, “Thank you for everything you did to keep me safe and fed and heading in the right direction.”
Her mom stepped back and looked up at him.“I am so proud of you.”That pride shone in her eyes.
Fox swallowed hard, his throat working.“Thank you.I couldn’t have done it without you and Wade.Every time I thought things seemed hopeless, you and Wade stepped in to help.”
“You did the work.Even when things were hard, you persevered.Things could have gone bad in a lot of different ways, but you stuck to it and you made it out of the system with your head up, outstanding grades, and a bright future that you didn’t squander.”
“I didn’t want to let either of you down.”
Her father joined them.“Never, son.”Her dad looked from him, to Melody, and back to him.“And you make her happy, which makes us even happier to have you home.”
Fox took Melody’s hand.
“About home,” Melody began.“Fox invited me to go with him to Boston tomorrow for a couple of days.”
“That sounds like fun,” her mom said.
“I’m thinking about moving there.With him.”
Aria, Lyric, Jax, Mason, and Layla were seated at the island across the room and behind her parents.They all stopped talking and turned around to stare at her.
Lyric asked what they all wanted to know.“What about the bar?”
Melody owned a fourth of it.And she loved working there and being with her siblings, but she couldn’t pass up this opportunity to spread her wings and be with Fox.“Fox and I don’t have a specific date that we’ll be going to Boston to live, but when that time comes, and I’m no longer working there, I’ll relinquish my rights to the profits.”