LITMIR.BIZ

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heated skin. He got some relief, but not enough. Nothing could drive Leah from his thoughts…from his already complicated life. The strange thing was, he didn’t want her to leave the ranch. She’d filled the old house with energy and laughter. Even as he’d tried to stay in the background, she’d pulled him in, including him in a family she’d help create with Corey.

      Holt shut his eyes. As a kid, he’d wanted to belong, but every time he’d reached out to his grandfather, he’d been rejected. And he never had a chance with his father …

      The stillness was suddenly interrupted by a soft cry. He immediately recognized Leah’s voice coming from her room next door. He grabbed his jeans off the chair, pulled them on and went out into the hall. He listened at her door and heard the pain-filled sound again. After a moment’s hesitation he let himself into the dark room. With the aid of the moonlight through the window, he saw her slender body thrashing around on the bed and went to her.

      “Leah. Leah, wake up.” He sat down on the mattress and gripped her shoulders. “Leah, wake up.”

      She finally gasped and jerked upright. “Holt?”

      “You were having a nightmare.”

      Leah brushed the hair from her face and drew in a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

      “You didn’t. I’m more concerned about you. Are you all right?”

      She nodded, but the moonlight revealed the fear in her eyes.

      “Do you have nightmares often?” he asked.

      “Sometimes,” she said, her gaze avoiding his. “Really, Holt, I’m okay.”

      He knew she wasn’t. “Maybe you should talk to someone…professionally.”

      “I’m fine. It’s just, sometimes the memories …”

      “You’re not fine, Leah,” he said. “You’ve spent a lot of time in war-torn counties. You were probably dodging bullets in your dreams.” That thought made him shiver. “At the very least, talk to your family.”

      “It’s not that bad. I just need to get some rest. I’ll be fine by the time I go back.”

      He tensed. She was leaving. “So you’re continuing your quest to save the world.”

      “I have to. I made a promise …” A sob shook her slight frame.

      He wrapped his arms around her. “Shh, it’s all right,” he whispered. “I’m here.” He brushed a kiss against her hair as he held her. “Oh, Leah. What am I going to do with you?”

      She burrowed into his embrace. “Just…don’t leave me.”

      Never, he promised silently. “I won’t.” Impulsively he bent down and placed a kiss on her mouth before pulling away. “Just let me check on Corey.” He hurried down the hall to the boy’s room and found him sleeping soundly. After covering Corey with a light blanket, he returned to Leah. Holt closed the door behind him and went to the bed. Her wide-eyed gaze showed her sudden apprehension.

      “Holt…maybe it would be better if you go back to your room.”

      He sat down and picked up her trembling hand. “Do you really want me to?”

      She hesitated, then shook her head.

      “Then go to sleep, Leah.” He stretched out on top of the blanket beside her, and pulled her close. “I’m right here…if you need me.”

      “Thank you,” she whispered as she curled against him, her hand resting on his chest. Within seconds she was sound asleep. It took Holt a lot longer, but having Leah close was worth a sleepless night. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel alone.

      The next evening, Leah was anxious to see her sister, the mayor, in action at the town council meeting. She had also managed to convince Holt to attend. Since he was staying in Destiny, he should get to know the town’s residents.

      That had been all she’d managed to talk to him about during the past day. Even though they’d shared a bed most of the previous night, he hadn’t said a word about it.

      That morning, she woke up when she felt him brush a tender kiss against her forehead before he left her bed at dawn.

      Maybe it was best they hadn’t discussed sharing the moment together. They had already gone too far beyond the reason for them being together.

      Corey.

      The small community of Destiny was already talking about their situation. Maybe it was time Leah thought about moving back to her parents? Corey would understand.

      “Are you sure there are going to be other kids here tonight?” Corey asked as Holt pulled his truck into the parking space.

      “There usually are during the summer,” Leah told him. “My parents and Morgan will be there. And there’s always cake and cookies.”

      They climbed out of the truck and walked together toward the old hall. The structure held maybe three hundred people and served many of the town’s functions. On a warm night like tonight, it was bound to be filled. Everyone was gearing up for Destiny’s Founder’s Day celebration. And Leah suspected that they wanted to meet their newest citizens, Holt Rawlins and Corey Haynes.

      At the door, her father waited. “Hi, Dad.”

      “Leah.” Tim Keenan greeted her with a kiss. “Corey, good to see you.”

      The boy smiled as her father ruffled his hair. “Hi, Mr. K.”

      Tim Keenan looked at Holt. “Holt, nice to see you could make it.”

      The two shook hands. “Your daughter can be pretty persuasive.”

      Tim winked. “She gets that from her mother.”

      Claire Keenan appeared. “I heard that.” She offered her daughter a kiss and one for Corey. She surprised Holt and hugged him. “Holt, it’s nice you’re here.”

      He glanced around. “It looks like a big turnout.”

      “It is,” her mother said. “And a perfect opportunity for Tim to introduce you around.” She nudged her husband and the two men walked off together. “And, Corey, there’s someone I want you to meet.” Claire glanced around then motioned at someone. Suddenly a dark-haired boy about eight years old appeared.

      “Corey, this is Mason Langston. Mason, Corey Haynes. Mason, Corey is staying at the Rawlins Ranch. He hasn’t had much of a chance to meet anyone. Do you think you could show him around?”

      “Sure, Mrs. K.” He looked at Corey. “Hey, do you like chocolate chip cookies?”

      Corey shrugged. “Yeah.”

      The boy motioned to follow him. “Come on, before Kenny Dorsey eats them all.”

      Leah watched the two boys run off.

      “Not to worry, they’ll be fine,” Claire told her.

      “I know, but Corey’s very vulnerable. He’s been through a lot.”

      “And Mason is a good boy. He’ll be nice to Corey.” Her mother turned her attention to her husband and Holt as they made their way around the hall. “The two older boys seem to be getting along nicely, too.”

      Leah was glad that Holt was meeting people. “Holt should know his neighbors,” Leah said. “He’s going to live here.”

      “He seems to be attracting the ladies, too.”

      As much as Leah tried to ignore that comment, she noticed that Kaley Jenkins Sims was standing very close to him. “Kaley hasn’t changed since high school. She goes after any good-looking male. I heard she’s divorced now.”

      “About a year ago,” her mother said. “She has a sweet little girl.”

      Leah

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