Searching for Eden, page 29
“You can crow all you want. Unless you have family, you’re not leaving.” The nurse shot her a quick glare and left the room.
Liam waited for the woman to leave, shut the door and prowled toward the bed. He moved with the grace of a predator stalking its prey. Fluid lines. Mouth-watering ripples of lean muscle.
Like typical prey, she froze under the spell. The hum of anticipation started low in her belly. The vibrations flowed outward. Was this real? Or would she wake up in a dark, muggy room thousands of miles away, and find the entire last months were nothing but a figment of her lonely existence?
His lashes lowered over dark eyes. “Why are you giving her a hard time? She’s just doing her job.” His voice rumbled across the distance.
“I...” She licked her lips. “I’m ready to leave.”
He stalked a few steps closer.
What was he doing?
“You heard the nurse. You can’t leave unless you have people to take care of you.”
She huffed. “Liam, don’t you get it? There’s no one. No home, no family. I don’t deserve people. All I do is hurt the ones I—” Love. She swiped at unwanted tears. “Go home. Your kids need you.”
As if he heard nothing she said, he advanced another step. “I might know a place you could go. A place someone would take care of you ‘round the clock.” His voice dropped another octave.
“Where is that?” That breathy sound couldn’t be her voice. And he wasn’t suggesting what her heart wanted him to mean.
“I think you’ll like it there.”
“Yeah?” There it was again, a voice that wasn’t hers coming from her mouth.
“Absolutely. Three people to care for you.” He stood close enough to fill her space. He brushed his knuckles across her cheek. His thumb softly rubbed the places where pale, yellowish-green bruises still marred her skin.
Zoe’s laughter, Noah’s shy hugs. Images of the family she’d come to love floated through the pain and fear. She swallowed. “Three people to care for me?”
“Are you kidding? Zoe is going to be waiting on you hand and foot. You’re her hero. She’s already asking to take karate.”
Eden laughed. “Give it time, she’ll outgrow it.”
“Sadly, no. She wants to be a kick-butt princess, her words not mine. I’m afraid I will have to fight my seven-year-old for your attention.”
Calloused hands maneuvered over the top of her thighs. His hip nudged her legs wide enough for him to stand between them. Those yummy, roaming hands settled at her waist, the flimsy hospital gown doing nothing to shield her from the lick of flames.
She finally gave in and stared into his eyes. Dark with desire, they held her gaze captive.
He was her whole world and she couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t truly, madly in love with him. “Do you want my attention? After everything that happened?”
“Hell ya, sweetheart. I want it today, tomorrow...fifty years from now.” Hands cupped her chin. “I love how you call me out when I’m being too hard on the kids.” He lowered a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I love the way you say my name with that sexy as hell southern drawl.” His lips brushed across the tip of her nose.
“I love dancing with you in a musty old garage to whatever pops up on the radio. Just to have an excuse to hold you close.” He nuzzled the hollow where neck met collar bone.
“And I’ll spend every day, for the rest of my life showing you all the ways I love you.”
His lips claimed hers, one hand laced into her hair, the other gripped her hip and pulled her closer.
She reached her good arm up to circle his neck and gave herself completely to him. Desire and love crashed into her heart like a tidal wave against the shore.
When he pulled back, there was no mistaking his sincerity. “I love you, Eden Glover. What do you say? Are you ready to go home?”
For so long she’d watched the families that passed on the sidewalks, oblivious to how lucky they were. She’d spent a lifetime searching for a place to call her own.
Far from the streets of Dallas, she’d found it, in the wilds of Minnesota.
In the arms of a Knight-in-Tarnished Armor.
“Liam, darlin’, I love you with all my heart. And I’m already home.”
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED Liam and Eden’s story. If you’d like to join my community and learn of upcoming releases please follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Kimberlyfordauthor/?eid=ARBZi6-v3AIgVz76zwwQdndWPW70bqbd5boCOKZvs2EpANetHHdxz5enFvlHJVk3fkzGdcTpApt05Nyd
And if you want to keep the party going, click below for a bonus scene, After the homecoming. Candlelight, nachos, and a game of war. What could happen?
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/r7dm1ireo0
If you want to learn more about Dr. Max James and his story, Betraying Teyla will be out this summer.
Thanks for reading!
Kimberly Ford, Searching for Eden
