Page 27 of Sobek’s Joy

“I did not growl.”

“Sobek. I literally watched you do it.”

Sobek’s jaw worked, but he didn’t argue further. The rigidity in his shoulders eased fractionally.

“It’s kind of adorable,” Rudy said, softer now. “In a scary, protective, caveman sort of way.”

“I am not adorable.”

“You’re a little adorable.” Rudy held up his thumb and forefinger, barely an inch apart. “Just a tiny bit.”

“Rudy…”

“Where are the kids?”

“Napping. All three of them. Timothy fell asleep in my lap, so I put him down. Rose and Jack followed within minutes.” Sobek’s expression shifted, some of the intensity draining away. “They are safe.”

“And you came running out here because...?”

“I heard that man speaking to you.”

“From inside?”

Sobek’s silence was answer enough.

Rudy stepped closer, crossing the porch until only a foot separated them. This close, he could see the tension still humming through Sobek’s frame, the way his dark eyes tracked every micro-expression on Rudy’s face.

“You really don’t like people flirting with me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because…” Sobek’s hand lifted, hesitated, then settled on the porch railing exactly where the driver had been leaning. “Because you deserve better than delivery drivers with cheap smiles.”

“Oh, yeah? What do I deserve?”

Sobek’s gaze dropped to Rudy’s mouth, then back up. “Someone who understands what a gift you are.”

Rudy’s breath caught. The humid Louisiana air pressed close, thick with unspoken things. Sobek’s hand remained on the railing, knuckles white, like he was physically restraining himself from reaching out.

“Sobek...”

“You are raising three children alone. You give them everything. Your time, your patience, your…” Sobek’s voice roughened. “Your enormous heart. And that fool thought he could just smile at you and…”

“I wasn’t interested in him.”

“Good.”

“I’m interested in someone else.”

Sobek went very still. “You are?”

“Yeah.” Rudy’s pulse hammered in his throat. “Someone tall. Cranky. Really terrible at expressing emotions but weirdly amazing with my kids.”

“Rudy…”

“Someone who shows up every day with fish or tools or just himself, and doesn’t run screaming when Rose climbs the curtains, or Timothy covers everything in flour.”