Page 53 of Her Summer Hope

“No!” she said immediately.

He tilted his head and studied her face. She had to force herself not to fidget or look away. If he sensed a lie it was because Rob had hurt her, once upon a time. In fact, it still hurt every single day…but he hadn’t hit her or anything.

“No, there’s…something else. I can’t—”

“Don’t tell me you can’t talk about it. Tell me now and I’ll fix it.”

She scoffed and a slight smile twisted her lips. “Cal, it’s not that easy.”

“Everything can be that easy if you know what you’re doing,” he argued.

She wanted to confide in someone so much, but she didn’t dare. She couldn’t tell Kyle for obvious reasons, but Murdock was off-limits too. He was Kyle’s friend and would surely tell him anything she said. Evans was also a big fat no. He had a big mouth and he might see it as flirting if she approached him. John might have been a good choice, but again…Kyle’s best friend.

“I swear on my father’s grave that I won’t tell Logan,” he added, putting a hand over his heart and raising an eyebrow.

She narrowed her eyes.

“Let me take this into the dining room and then I’ll meet you on the patio.”

He nodded and helped her collect the beverages, other dishes, and flatware. She went to push the cart through but he nudged her out of the way and did it himself. The dining room was blessedly empty and Cal made himself a plate while she arranged everything. He was finishing up as they heard voices moving closer.

“Let’s go before someone proposes again,” he grumbled.

He waited for her to go first and followed her back through the kitchen and out into the humid summer evening. He roughly pulled a chair out for her on the deck and then sat to eat without waiting. His mixed manners mused her a little.

She twisted her hands nervously and looked around as she gathered her courage.

She spotted newly installed grip tape on the steps and a feeling of warmth infused her chest. Someone had been thoughtful enough to make them safer.

She knew she was being silly again. It was a rehabilitation home and it only made sense to fix fall hazards for the occupants…but still, the thought of Kyle making the steps safer gave her a giddy feeling that clashed horribly with her anxiety.

Cal caught her gaze and lifted his chin. “Kyle installed that the other night.”

She bit her cheek to keep herself from smiling.

“Out with it,” he ordered. “Who do I need to kill?”

She sighed and looked up at the evening sky, debating on how much to tell him. She finally decided that she could live with coming clean about having a baby. Kyle likely already knew that…but how was she supposed to explain the visitation situation?

“I’m just under some stress. I…was served papers today, after I got home from work. They just made me nervous is all, with caring for the baby and having two jobs…it was kind of just the last straw. I’m fine now, really. I just need to figure out how to fix it.”

“What did your husband say about it?” Murdock asked, frowning over her admission to having a baby.

Shit.

“Nothing,” she said quietly.

“You didn’t tell him?!” he asked incredulously.

She shook her head and he leaned in so close that she could see the flecks of emerald in his light green eyes.

“You have to tell him, Madison. He’s your husband. He has a right to know, to help you!” he urged in a low voice.

It was the most she’d ever heard him say at once.

“I can’t and that’s final,” she said, cutting off his appeal.

He opened his mouth to say more then abruptly cut himself off and leaned away from her. He was looking over her head.

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