Safe in His Arms by Anna J. Stewart

Author:Anna J. Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-06-05T15:44:42+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

KENDALL PULLED HERSELF free of the fireplace-induced trance as Hunter quietly tiptoed out of Phoebe’s bedroom.

“I think she’s out.”

“Stressful day.” When was Kendall not the master of understatement. She’d taken refuge, physically and emotionally, in their temporary home. Curled up in the corner of the sofa, she sipped on tea she recognized as one of Calliope’s special relaxation blends, recalling the one-sided conversation of a father putting his child to bed.

And somehow her heart hadn’t shattered.

“Why Charlotte’s Web?”

“Huh?” Hunter dropped onto the sofa beside her and rested his forehead against his hand. “Oh, that. It’s the book Juliana was reading to her when she died. Doesn’t matter how many other books we buy or which ones she thinks she wants to read, it always comes back to Charlotte’s Web.”

“Smart girl. Appropriate story, don’t you think?”

Hunter shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t read it.”

Kendall frowned. “All these months and you haven’t read the book she’s clinging to like a talisman?”

He dropped his hand and looked at her. “I’ve been a little busy.”

“Sorry. Don’t mean to judge.” She sipped her tea. As she knew a bit about grief, she pressed harder. “Does she read it all the way through or just bits and pieces?”

“Uh.” He leaned his head back. “Now that you ask, I think she gets to a certain spot and starts over.”

Kendall looked back into the fire. “Maybe she stops where your sister did. Because finishing the book means having to finally say goodbye to her mother. Just a thought.”

The silence stretched. “I hadn’t thought about that,” he said finally. “You think maybe I should push her to finish it?”

“No.” Kendall shook her head. “I think you might try reading the rest of it to her, the way Juliana would have. Start from the beginning and go all the way through.”

“She isn’t too old for story time?”

“No child is ever too old for story time,” Kendall said. “At least I never was. This might be a barrier she has to get over, but there’s nothing saying you can’t help her get there. What about school?”

“Is this some kind of therapy session?”

“Maybe.” Kendall found herself grinning. There was something appealing about keeping him off-kilter—served him right since the second he kissed her, that was exactly how she felt. All these years, all the time she’d spent making sure no one got through, that no one wedged into her heart and expose her to another devastating loss, had been tossed aside by a single kiss from Hunter MacBride. “I’ve had enough of them myself to probably have earned a degree.”

“Well, you seem to have taken it all to heart. And I bet you’ve been using it to help Phoebe, too.”

“You look exhausted. You should get some sleep.”

“Is that your way of saying you want me to leave you alone now?”

“No. And yes.” How could this man read her so well? Maybe because the time they’d spent together had been quality... Oh, good heavens. Somewhere her former therapists were popping champagne corks.

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