Searching for Eden by Kimberly Ford

Author:Kimberly Ford [Ford, Kimberly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimberly Ford
Published: 2020-04-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

Eden’s feet tangled, and she went down hard. It took two attempts to push her feet flat to the ground, and she ignored his outstretched hand, but she righted herself. A glimpse of tear tracks glistened in the street lights before the braid curtained her face.

Liam had never felt more powerless. People stopped or pointed as they walked by, and both his kids stood wide-eyed, trying to figure out what happened. The sight of her panicked and defenseless stirred a protective need so strong he didn’t know how to hold it all in.

The Eden he’d come to know over the last month would have plowed her way through that group like a fiery badass.

His gaze roamed over the gawkers. Some stared openly, others tried to be discreet as they slowed and craned their necks. But no one stood out as a threat. Still, instinct clawed at his gut.

Satisfied no immediate danger shadowed them, he brought his attention back to Eden. She’d collapsed against a rock, legs pulled tight against her chest, head resting on top of her knees. Her fingers tapped and twirled the bracelet in a frantic dance he hadn’t seen from her since she first came to live with them.

The sight made the skin along his neck itch. This wasn’t right. He couldn’t stand by while she went through this alone.

“Zoe, take Noah’s hand. Stay close.”

He squatted in front of her. “Come on, honey. I’m gonna get you out of here.”

“No. Leave me alone.” The words came out in a strangled mess.

He slapped his hands to his knees. The male need to do something, anything, sat like a weight in the pit of his stomach. “Eden, let me at least take you over to the bench. You’ll have more privacy.”

She didn’t answer for a long time. “I... don’t want... the kids or you to see me.” She gasped between gulps of air.

“No one cares.” Nervous whispers and snickers hung in the night air. “We don’t care. But the ground is too cold. I’ll get you to the bench, and we’ll leave you alone.”

He exhaled a sigh of relief when she placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her into the shelter of his arms. Music blared over the speakers, marking five-minutes until the fireworks show. The gathered crowd lost interest, drifting off to find their place in the grass.

He handed Noah the blanket and moved them from the main path to a secluded bench where she dropped with a deep exhale. The wood shook with tremors as she inhaled great gulps of air.

Without asking, he took a seat and scooped her onto his lap.

“What... What are you doing? You said you would go.” She squirmed and twisted in his grasp.

“I lied.” His hand rubbed up and down her back, murmuring endearments only she would hear. Much like he did for his kids when they were young and frightened from a nightmare. “You’re shivering. I’m not leaving.”

She peeked from beneath those long, thick lashes as they fluttered over pale cheeks.

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