Page 83 of Her Summer Hope

Jace leaned back, his gaze wandering over the sprawling grounds of McClellan’s Hope. "This place... it's more than just walls and beds. It's a second chance. You've given us that."

Kyle exhaled slowly, the early morning chill biting at his skin. "I want to do more than just give you a roof. I want to understand, to be there for you guys."

Jace nodded, the sun casting a warm glow on his face, softening the hard lines and angles. "You're doing more than you know, Kyle. This place, it's a lifeline. Maybe my last one."

The tranquility of the morning washed over him. He’d been worried, worried he’d screwed Jace up or set him back even farther, but he seemed okay now.

“I’m here when you need me. We all are, Jace,” he promised.

He couldn’t ever allow his personal feelings to override his judgment where the guests were concerned.

∞∞∞

Perhaps he wasn’t ready for this particular challenge.

Kyle leaned against the doorway, his gaze following Madison as she moved about the driveway, talking to Cal Murdock.

She's like a puzzle, he mused, watching her laugh at something Cal said. A jigsaw with a few crucial pieces missing. And why do I feel like one of those pieces is hiding in Murdock's pocket?

He gritted his teeth at the knowledge that Murdock knew something about her that he didn’t. He watched as Cal took a heavy box from her before she could even take one step toward the porch with it.

Madison's laughter floated over to him, light and airy, but Kyle's trained eye caught the slight stiffness in her shoulders. He'd seen that kind of tension before. It was the kind of posture someone held when they were ready to bolt at any second.

She's scared. But of what?

Cal came in, forcing Kyle to move out of the door. He set the box on the counter and clapped him on the shoulder, bringing him out of his reverie. "You’re thinking too hard again, Logan."

"Someone around here has to," Kyle muttered, his gaze still fixed on Madison coming up the steps.

Cal followed his gaze.

Kyle's eyes narrowed slightly. "You know something about her situation and you aren’t talking which means I have to figure it out myself."

Cal raised his hands in a gesture of innocence. "I told you, it’s not my secret to tell, buddy. But I'll say this, life's thrown her a curveball."

Cal pushed off the counter and strode out of the room.

Kyle's protective instincts flared. Curveball, huh? More like a grenade, by the looks of it.

Madison caught his eye from across the porch, a questioning look on her face. He offered her a smile, the kind that he hoped said 'I'm here if you need me,' but feared might come across as 'I'm a brooding former soldier who overthinks everything.'

She smiled back, talking to Aiden as she passed him reading on the porch.

She's like a swan on a lake, Kyle thought. Graceful on the surface, but paddling like hell underneath.

He made a mental note to keep an eye on her, and maybe do a little digging. Not too much, just enough to figure out what kind of trouble was nipping at her heels. He wasn't one to pry, but Madison and Emmie had a way of sneaking into a person's heart, setting up camp, and refusing to leave.

And maybe I don't want them to leave, he admitted to himself as he watched her.

Kyle pushed off from the doorway, his mind made up.

He'd find out what was troubling Madison, one way or another. But first, he had to survive dinner without making a fool of himself. Simple task, but with Madison around, even simple things became complicated.

Kyle stood in the kitchen, watching as Madison breezed in from the pantry, her arms loaded with groceries. Her face was lightly bruised from yesterday and he imagined her body was worse.

“Need some help there, or are you training for the grocery Olympics?” he quipped, moving to assist her.

Madison shot him a playful glare. “Very funny, Kyle. If this were an Olympic sport, I’d have all golds by now.”

---