Jill Kemerer - Reunited With The Bull Rider

He looked away.

Apparently, he disagreed. She straightened, forcing herself to get her head back to the here and now, not stuck in the way back when.

“Now that I know more about her past, I think she’s terrified of you leaving her.” The more Amy thought about it, the more obvious it became. “She is much more comfortable with me when you’re in the room. But the instant you left today—well, I think she has no idea if she’ll be left by herself, dragged to another home or if she’ll ever see you again. How long have you had custody?”

“A little over a week. But I’ve spent time with her almost every day since December.”

Amy sagged on the stool. She hadn’t realized... No wonder Ruby was so scared. Amy never should have pushed for her own agenda, having Ruby come to her apartment without Nash.

“Well, spending time alone isn’t going to work until it sinks in you will always come back for her.”

“You’re right.” He stretched his head back. “Listen, there are a few other things you should know.”

She braced herself.

“Since she never knew when she’d have food, she hoards it. I find all kinds of snacks in her bedroom. Sometimes under her pillow or stuck in a shoe. And if she wakes up and I’m not around, she screams. Loud. I bought walkie-talkies so I can go outside if she naps, which she doesn’t do very often.”

“That breaks my heart.”

“Mine, too.” He tapped the table, raw honesty pouring from his expression. Then he pointed to the living room. “I bought her all those toys, but she won’t play with them. Barely looks at them.”

“I noticed the same earlier.”

“The therapist told me this is common in severely neglected kids.”

“Will she overcome any of this?” Amy held her breath. Please let him say yes.

“Most likely. If she feels secure. That’s why I moved back. Called the pastor when Dottie told me about the mentor program.”

Something in his tone, the dip of his shoulder, clued her into something she’d missed since seeing him again. He didn’t want to be back here. He never would have stepped foot in Sweet Dreams again if it hadn’t been for Ruby.

Because of me. Because I’m here.

Her heart hurt all over again. Ten years and the wound hadn’t fully healed.

“All these questions... Does this mean you still want to help her?” The question came unexpectedly, and Amy almost jumped.

Knowing what Nash had told her, did she still want to help Ruby?

Yes!

The intensity of the thought surprised her. But she had to protect her heart where Nash was concerned. She couldn’t trust him with it. She might not even be able to trust herself with it. She was willing to take that chance if it meant bringing sunshine to the little girl who’d only known darkness.

“I want to help her. But I think we’re expecting too much of her too soon.”

“What do you suggest?” His eyebrows drew together, and he clasped his hands tightly.

“In the pastor’s office, we all agreed that Ruby’s needs come first, right?”

“Yes,” he practically growled.

“Then you and I are going to have to put aside our issues to let her get used to me.”

“I’m not following.”

“The three of us are going to have to spend time together if Ruby’s ever going to trust me enough to be alone with me.”

He looked nauseous. Irritation flared in her chest. Welcome to the club, buddy. It isn’t easy for me to be around you, either.

“You’d really do that...given what I put you through?”

She gave him a firm nod. “Yes. But we need to make it crystal clear to Ruby we are only friends, and there will never, ever be anything romantic between us. I don’t want her to be confused about my role in her life.”

“Of course. Never, ever will there be anything romantic between us.”

“Then we agree.” She should be thankful. But his never, ever had been more forceful than hers.

“Agreed.” He rounded the island and stuck out his hand. She placed hers into it, and his rough, warm skin caused the hair on her arms to rise. He smelled familiar, like aftershave and leather. She snatched her hand back.

Never, ever.

Wouldn’t be difficult as far as she was concerned.

“For how long?” he asked.

“For as long as it takes.”

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.