Anna Stewart - Safe In His Arms

She’s pushed everyone away...

...but is he her forever?

Ex-soldier Kendall craves solitude after a heartbreaking accident, and she finds it in the small town of Butterfly Harbor. That’s until handsome writer Hunter MacBride moves into town with his orphaned niece, Phoebe. Their arrival triggers painful memories for Kendall of the family and life she lost—but Hunter also shows her the promise of a life she could still have, if she’s prepared to take the risk...

Bestselling author ANNA J. STEWARTwas the girl on the playground spinning in circles waiting for her Wonder Woman costume to appear or knotting her hair like Princess Leia. A Stephen King fan from early on, she can’t remember a time when she wasn’t making up stories or didn’t have her nose stuck in a book. She currently writes sweet and spicy romances for Mills & Boon, spends her free time at the movies, at fan conventions or cooking and baking, and spends most every night wrangling her two kittens, Rosie and Sherlock, who love dive-bombing each other from the bed...and other places. Her house may never be the same.

Also By Anna J. Stewart

Return of the Blackwell Brothers

The Rancher’s Homecoming

Butterfly Harbor Stories

Holiday Kisses

Always the Hero

A Dad for Charlie

Recipe for Redemption

The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor

Christmas, Actually

“The Christmas Wish”

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Safe in His Arms

Anna J. Stewart

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09748-2

SAFE IN HIS ARMS

© 2019 Anna J. Stewart

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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It was hard, Kendall thought.

She didn’t want to see a father and daughter curled up on the sofa, reading books and playing board games. She didn’t want to bond over a roaring fire or hot soup or cuddle up against the storm. She didn’t want to remember. Kendall tipped her head back and let the rain fall on her face. She didn’t want to forget. She wanted to just stay here, in this spot, and let the rain and wind take her away.

“Kendall.” Hunter’s hold eased. He stepped back, offered his hand instead. “Please.”

Kendall looked over her shoulder to where Phoebe stood in the window, her tiny nose pressed against the glass in between splayed hands. Kendall couldn’t do this. She couldn’t spend endless hours looking at a little girl who reminded her so much of the daughter she’d lost. She couldn’t...

She took a deep, shuddering breath, looked down at Hunter’s hand.

And placed her trembling one in his.

Dear Reader,

From the time Kendall Davidson walked onto the page in Always the Hero , I could not wait to tell her story. Writing about a female veteran of the Afghan war was a responsibility I took very seriously; so seriously, I second-guessed myself, hoping I was doing my fictional military heroine a fraction of the justice so many of our servicemen and servicewomen deserve.

I knew it would require a special man to convince Kendall love was worth taking a chance on, but other than that, he was a blank slate. Correction: I knew Hunter MacBride would need an advantage in his fight to win Kendall’s heart—his niece Phoebe, a child in need of the kind of help only Kendall understands. The more books I write, the more I realize just how resilient the human heart is.

This story, like all the Butterfly Harbor romances, is about the healing power of love and acceptance, friendship, community and hope. Here’s wishing that Kendall and Hunter’s (and Phoebe’s) journey to their happily-ever-after finds a place in your heart.

Anna J

For Aimee Costa-Schmitz.

Cousin by birth. Friend by choice.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

“WELL, PHOEBE?” HUNTER MACBRIDE stopped his decade-old motor home at the turnoff for the Liberty Lighthouse. “What do you think?”

Hunter’s seven-year-old niece turned her doll-wide gaze out the bug-and grime-encrusted windshield to get her first glimpse of Butterfly Harbor and California’s historic lighthouse. He powered down the windows and let the roar of the ocean welcome them. The faint sound of rattling pebbles cascading beside the lapping waves and late-winter wind reminded him of the carefree summers he’d spent at his grandparents’ beach house growing up. For the first time in a long time, Hunter felt as if he could breathe.

The coast had always brought him a sense of peace. In his experience, there wasn’t a problem that couldn’t be solved by the roar of the water and the sheer power of Mother Nature crashing against the rocks. He could only hope this place would do the same for Phoebe. It had to. He’d bet everything—including his career—on it.

“I’ve always loved lighthouses,” Hunter said. “Used to explore them whenever I could.” He cast an eye on Phoebe. “Nothing better than climbing to the top, around and around that spiral staircase—”

Phoebe looked at him and frowned, her brows knitting into a perfect V over her little nose.