Love Inspired May 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Linda Goodnight

Author:Linda Goodnight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Lilianna followed Bridges and the boys to his cabin. She’d never seen her son or Cooper so animated. She knew the research behind animal therapy, but she had never seen it in action. Working together with the dogs was building the boys’ confidence in a way she hadn’t expected. When they had first arrived, even Bridges had seemed happier, more open.

She glanced at him. There was a storm brewing in his eyes now that had not been there earlier. Every time she tried to talk to him, he moved away from her, interacting with the boys, pretending he didn’t hear her.

Bridges opened the back door. “Welcome to our home, Sebastian.” He smiled as they charged past him. Cooper brightened and looked at Bridges as if he held the keys to all the rooms the preteen wanted to get into. Even with his grumpy, mad-at-the-world attitude, he couldn’t hide what it meant to be included in having a home.

Lilianna put her arm around Cooper. The compulsion to hug him closer and protect him from all hurts was too strong to deny. He was too young to lose his childhood. She knew he wasn’t ready for a full-on smothering of motherly love from her, but it was hard to fight.

Stepping back, she gave him some space. “It’s beautiful out here. How are you liking it, Cooper?”

“It’s so far out in the country. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s the best place I’ve ever lived. I’ve only lived in the city. Mostly apartments, until I was with my last family, but those houses were so close together there wasn’t even a yard.” He looked into the basket she placed on the counter.

“This place has a lot more yard than house. And food right out the back door. I never imagined there were so many noises this far away from people. I always thought it would be quiet. It’s strange, though, how much I really like it.”

He pointed to a wide ladder that went to the loft above. “My room’s up there.”

Eyes wide, Sebastian stared up with awe as the older boy started climbing. “Cool. It’s like you live in a tree house.”

Standing at the sink with his back to Lilianna, Bridges chuckled. “But with indoor plumbing.”

Halfway up the ladder, Cooper turned to Sebastian. “Do you want to see it?” Big Mack climbed the slanted ladder, his gaze staying on Cooper.

“Make sure to wash your hands,” Bridges reminded them.

“Oh no.” Sebastian froze. “I forgot my notebook in the car. Could you get it for me, please? I want to draw out my ideas for a new maze design before I forget.”

“You’ve had a lot of great inspiration today.” She moved to the sink to wash her hands. Standing next to Bridges, she tried to make eye contact again.

Bridges studied his hands as he dried them, then moved to the other side of the counter. He took the casserole she’d brought and slid it into the oven.

“I don’t hear the water running,” he shouted to the loft.

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