Embattled Home by J.M. Madden

Author:J.M. Madden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary, Romantic Suspense, Military, Romance
Publisher: J.M. Madden
Published: 2014-04-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Lora watched the clock tick over another minute and her anxiety mounted. A few more minutes and they would have to leave for dinner. She tucked her hair behind her ears, then moved it forward again. She’d left it down in the hopes that it would hide some of the bruising she’d been unable to cover with makeup. Even with that, it was obvious she’d been beaten.

Disgust coated her tongue. She’d left that life behind. Derek didn’t have any right to mess with her anymore.

She walked out to the kitchen with her chin up. Chad looked up from his phone and frowned, then his lips spread in a broad smile. “You look like you’re ready to kick ass.”

Lora tilted her head. “I kind of feel like that,” she admitted.

“My family isn’t going to attack you.”

She shook her head, stepping closer. “It’s not your family. I’m just…tired of worrying. Tired of Derek monopolizing my life, even when he’s not around.”

Chad pushed to his feet and Lora realized he had cleaned up as well. He wore a fresh t-shirt and jeans and the ball cap was missing. He’d spiked his short hair with gel and shaved his lean jaw. The scent of a tangy body wash reached her and she wanted to inhale more.

Maybe if she walked toward him he would just open his arms…

Lora cringed and Chad immediately stopped moving. She huffed out a breath and waved her hand. “It wasn’t you. I just…had a thought that I shouldn’t have.”

He raised a dark brow at her but she refused to elaborate.

“Do I look okay?”

She ran her hands over the pale blue blouse and jeans she wore, worried that it was too informal. When she’d shoved things in her bag, she hadn’t thought about dinner like this.

Chad’s bright blue eyes drifted over her slowly and Lora forced herself to stand still, though his appreciative survey was making her prickle. His gaze slowed at her hands on her hips, drifted down to her socked feet, then back up to meet her eyes. “I think you look perfect.”

Lora had to look away then because the sincerity in his expression was enough to make her tear up. She grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair where she’d draped it and slipped her shoes on at the door. Stepping outside, she called for Mercy.

The little girl leapt off the swing several feet in the air and raced to her, followed closely by Rachel. “You better be careful doing that, you little imp,” the guard called to her.

Mercy giggled and climbed into the open truck door Lora held open, then Lora slid in beside her daughter.

They rattled down the hill in silence. Flynn had agreed to go for exterior coverage and Rachel would stay inside, though Chad had told her he doubted there was need inside the house.

When they arrived, Flynn headed toward the barn, probably to secure an outlook from the second floor. He made an odd motion with his hand at his side before he disappeared inside.

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