She shook off the dark thoughts. “It’s okay. I’m just glad Aaron isn’t missing him too badly.”
Ryker nodded but didn’t say anything else. She wondered about his past personal relationships. He didn’t wear a wedding ring and never indicated he was married, but for all she knew, he had a woman waiting for him back home—wherever that was.
Not that Ryker’s personal life was any of her business.
Except hadn’t he said something about tracking her for the past few weeks? Did that mean his girlfriend didn’t mind him being gone for long periods of time?
If the situation was reversed, she’d mind.
She cast another glance at him, subtly studying his profile. His dark hair was short, his cheekbones prominent. There was a dark stubble shadowing his cheeks, which normally wasn’t her thing, but now made him look even more attractive in a rugged sort of way. His strong muscles beneath his black T-shirt were not bad on the eyes, either.
Enough. She peeled her gaze away to stare out the windshield. They were running for their lives from armed men. Why was she noticing Ryker’s looks? Must be that her hormones were all out of whack.
Yep, that was it. Hormones.
She didn’t want a man in her life. Honestly, all she wanted was to be safe. To raise her son. To bring her baby into the world.
And a place to call home.
Tears pricked her eyes, and she quickly brushed them away. There wasn’t time for a pity party. Hadn’t she learned from church services that God was always with her? Always watching over her? She often felt His presence when she prayed.
Between God and Ryker, she and Aaron and the baby were safe.
And that was all that mattered.
Exhaustion swept over her. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the window.
The baby moved and kicked, making her smile. She placed her hand over the motion, wishing she dared share the moment with Ryker.
“Active today?” Ryker’s dry comment made her realize his keen gaze missed nothing.
“Apparently only when I want to rest.” She wryly shook her head. “Happens all the time.”
Ryker’s gaze landed briefly on her belly, then shifted quickly back to the road. Before she could say anything more, his phone rang.
She picked it up from the center console, then pressed the Talk and Speaker buttons. “Hello?”
“Olivia?”
“Yes.” She glanced at Ryker. “Duncan, is that you?”
“Yeah, I assume Ryker is there listening in?”
“I’m here,” Ryker said.
“Well, I’ve got good news and bad.” Despite the former, Duncan’s tone held regret. “The good news is that I have Mike following me in his own SUV, so we can give you guys one to use. The bad news is that we’re running late. We weren’t planning on a semitruck colliding into a pickup. As if the stupid toll roads and Chicago traffic didn’t slow us down enough.”
“Yeah, I hear you on the tolls. We’re about two hours out of Bloomington. We’ll still plan to meet there. When we arrive, I’ll let you know which motel we’re at.”
“Sounds like a plan. Later.” Duncan disconnected from the call.
She dropped Ryker’s phone back in the pocket of the console. “I hate to tell you, but I’ll need another bathroom break in the not-too-distant future.”
If he thought she was annoying, he didn’t let on. “Can you make it another ten miles to the rest stop?”
“Sure.” She winced when the baby kicked her bladder. This pregnancy felt very different from her first and she couldn’t help wondering if the difference was just the fact she was completely on her own, or if this baby might be a girl.
Honestly, the gender didn’t matter to her, as long as the baby was healthy.
No premature labor allowed.
Ryker pulled off at the rest stop. Hopefully this would be the last time they’d need to take a break before reaching their destination. She unbuckled her seat belt and levered herself out of the car, her thigh muscles groaning in protest after the morning climb.
Ryker pulled Aaron out of his car seat, then swung her zebra bag over his shoulder. Oddly, she found the way he carried the diaper bag endearing.
“Let Aaron walk,” she suggested. “He needs to burn off some energy.”
Ryker put the boy down and he immediately started to run toward the building. Liv hurried after her son.
The bathroom break lasted longer than it should have, but considering how good Aaron had been, she couldn’t make herself cut his playtime short. To his credit Ryker didn’t say a word, although she could sense his impatience to hit the road.
Unlike her husband, whose temper had been razor sharp and quickly triggered the last few weeks of their marriage.
“Thanks,” she said, when they were finally back on the interstate. “I know that waiting around made you crazy.”
He shrugged. “Not really. The extra time was helpful in making sure no one followed us. So far, so good.”
Her smile dimmed. “I’m glad.”
Ryker’s intuition, the way he stayed alert at all times, was instinctive for him. He didn’t even have to think about what to do. And he never complained.
She couldn’t imagine living like that, constantly watching your back.
This was clearly his world. One she didn’t particularly care for.
Once the danger was over, she knew Ryker would move on to something else. And that was a good thing.
She wanted nothing more than to find another accounting job and settle down in a quiet place to take care of her new baby and her son. And while she’d miss the calming, supportive side of Ryker’s nature, she knew their worlds would never mesh.
It was foolish to wish for something more between them.
Ryker’s gut was twisted in knots, although he did his best to hide the tension. The last thing he needed was for Olivia to pick up on his concern.
He desperately wanted to meet up with Duncan and Mike. The two men flanking his six would make him feel much better. While Aaron had run around
