DELIVER(101)

She caressed his jaw, her fingers lingering on his mouth. “She’s a stupid girl.”

His eyes hardened. “Bull.” He scooted to the edge of the bed and perused her body over his shoulder. “As much as I love you without clothes on, you should probably get dressed for the family meeting.”

In the kitchen, Emily sat stiffly at the table, holding a tissue to her nose. “You just haven’t been right since the kidnapping. You need to talk to a minister.” She nodded. “You need the influence of good people.”

Liv hovered in the corner. Fuck, she didn’t want to be there, but when she had emerged from the bathroom in her jeans and t-shirt, he dragged her along behind him, saying, “This needs to be done.”

He leaned against the fridge, arms crossed over his bare chest, his legs clad in low-hung jeans. Despite his casual pose, there was a fire burning in his eyes. “Liv is good people.”

She and Josh had discussed their options the night before. With their financial issues resolved, they could go anywhere, and they would. He wanted to ease his parents into his impending departure.

Her insides quivered with anxiety. This was ripping off the band-aid before they’d healed from his last departure.

Daniel sat beside his wife, his green eyes narrowed on Liv. “We have rules in this house, and we expect you to follow them.”

Josh’s nostrils flared. “Don’t you dare blame her.”

“She’s as loose as ashes in the wind,” Emily whispered, as if only Josh could hear her.

Liv caught her sigh before it billowed out and dropped her head on the wall behind her. His parents were hurting. They’d lost their son, and he’d come back with his own view on life, one that had veered from their belief system.

“Be careful, Mom.” He straightened and stormed toward the table, the muscles in his back flexing and hardening. He raised an arm and, for a fearful moment, Liv thought he might sweep all the dishes to the floor. He snagged the gaudy ceramic rooster centerpiece. “Apologize to her or the rooster’s gonna get it.”

Liv bit back her smile and tried to imagine how her mom would’ve reacted to catching her in bed with him. She honestly didn’t know and that realization tugged at her chest. She was a seventeen-year-old virgin when Van took her. Her relationship with Mom had never reached this kind of trial, and it never would.

Emily fanned her fingers over her breastbone and flicked her eyes to Liv. “I’m sorry. It’s just…my boy’s going to be a minister. He has schooling and farm work. He doesn’t have time for—”

“That was an embarrassing apology, Mom.” He set the rooster on the table and strode toward Liv with wide steps, his eyes roaming her face. Placing his hands on the wall on either side of her head, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I love you.”

Her heart wobbled. “Love you, too.”

“Let me remind you that you’re not married.” Daniel rested his forearms on the table. “Tell me this was the only time you…shared a bed.”

Liv sagged against the wall. Their son was kidnapped and trained as a sex slave. Jesus, they were in serious f*cking denial about his captivity.

Josh turned and hooked a thumb in his belt loop. “I love her, Dad.” He pointed at her. “And I’m sharing a bed with her every which way to Sunday. Because I. Love. Her.”

Daniel paled, and Emily gasped, her face crumpling. “You need to go to church. And you need to finish your religious studies.”

He let out a booming laugh. “No amount of church is going to keep me from sleeping with her.”

Liv pressed a fist to her lips, her chest swelling. She wanted to kiss him for standing up to his parents, but her stomach sank as she considered what it might do to his relationship with them.

“You’ve changed.” Emily straightened her spine and pursed her lips. “That man who took you put something bad in you. You need help, Joshua.”

He raked a hand through his hair and groaned. “I need her.” He sat in the chair beside Emily, turning it to face her. “I’ll finish school. When I’m ready. I’ll worship God. On my own terms. As for the farm, I’ll help you financially.” He twisted and met Liv’s eyes over his shoulder. One dark eyebrow lifted.

Oh God, he wanted her to step in here? They already hated her. She rubbed her forearm, wrinkling her forehead. He wanted her support, and she had a sure way to give it to him.

Two confident strides put her behind his chair. She rested her hands on his shoulders. “I inherited some money when my mom died.” She rubbed her thumbs over the skin on his back. “We’ll leave you with more than enough to retire.”

Daniel stiffened, his eyes on Josh. “What is she saying? You’re not leaving.”

“I am.” His shoulders rolled back.

“You will not disobey me.” Daniel jumped up, his face red. “You’re not leaving. That’s final.”

Josh stood with his hands in his pockets, chin lowered, and his body angled toward his parents, but his eyes cut to the side and met hers. A small smile played around his lips. “No more requirements.”

She swallowed around a lump of guilt and moved to stand beside him.

He reached for her hand and looked at his dad. “I’m not leaving you. I’m leaving your rules.”