Kit frowned at Lee’s back. But he mulled over his friend’s words, and it didn’t take him long to admit Lee was right. He was treating Hallie poorly, and she didn’t deserve it. She wasn’t Jo.
He crossed his arms and relaxed in the saddle. A fly buzzed around the head of his horse and landed. Distractedly, Kit watched the bay’s ear twitch as he thought about his recent actions with a less jaundiced frame of mind. It was true. He hadn’t repaid Jan. Sure, he’d done his guardian duties. He’d given the Fredriksen children shelter and provided for them, but he hadn’t given much of himself, at least not since they’d moved into his home. Since then, he’d pawned off the responsibility for them on Maddie and Hallie.
He swatted the fly away. Despite the fact Hallie was Jan’s daughter, Kit owed her, too. She had moved to his home as he’d asked, she’d handled the children, and she’d been a great help to his aunt. He was the one who had caused all the problems. He was attracted to Hallie, and he couldn’t deal with what she made him feel. What it boiled down to was, the almighty Kit Howland, tower of self-restraint, had thought he’d become immune to women. The realization that he wasn’t as strong as he thought was as emasculating as his lack of control where Hallie was concerned. So he’d blamed her.
Also, he knew deep in his craw that there was no way he could wipe Hallie from his mind, especially after the other night. They were bonded together, both lawfully and in his lusty head; and now that he admitted that bond, it wasn’t so bad. After all, Kit mentally justified, he wasn’t in love with her, and that kept him safe. Why shouldn’t he make the most of his mistakes? Hell, it would be better for Hallie, he reasoned, and he’d be doing his duty to her both as Jan’s daughter and as his wife. He could view this marriage as a business partnership, and maybe they could become friends. He would like that, because he really did like her. Hallie’s lopsided way of thinking made him laugh. She was proud and stood up to him.He liked her spunk.
Lee returned, grinning as if he’d just struck gold. “They open tomorrow night, and guess who got the last box?” Lee waved the tickets under Kit’s nose.
Kit eyed the tickets. “How many seats in the box?”
“Four.”
Lee was enjoying this; Kit could read it in his friend’s devilish eyes. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
“Nope.” Lee smiled.
“All right. Mind if we join you?”
“We?”
“Hallie and myself!”
“Sure.” Lee remounted. “It’s good to see you’ve come to your senses.”
“Well, I need a good night’s sleep in a real bed,” Kit admitted, rubbing his sore neck. Even now it wasn’t easy to admit aloud that he’d been wrong.
“Uh-huh,” Lee agreed with a smirk.
Kit rode on, absently thinking aloud. “Moving into the study wasn’t smart. Now I’ve painted myself into a corner. I’ve got to get back in Hallie’s good graces, Maddie’s, too, and still save face.”
“Your ugly old face,” Lee joked. “The theater tickets should help.”
“Maddie will appreciate that I’m taking Hallie to the theater,” Kit said. “But I’m not sure about Hallie. She’s afraid of me,” he said quietly, remembering their encounter this morning and the fear he’d read in her eyes.
“I’m sure we’ll think of something,” Lee added with a laugh and punched him. “At least, if we’re ever going to save that ugly old face of yours.”
Hallie glanced across the table.The twins’ heads were bent together and they chattered to each other behind their cupped hands. “What are you two whispering about?” she asked.
Both boys looked up, their eyes wide. They glanced at each other and replied in unison, “Nothing.”
Hallie exchanged a knowing look with Maddie before she continued dishing up the boys’ plates. She buttered their biscuits, and the boys’ eyes lit up. They loved any kind of bread, as long as it was soaked yellow with butter.
She handed them their plates. “You boys eat now, and no more whispering.”
The meal continued in silence, at least until Gunnar finished his third biscuit. “Hallie, how do I know when I’m older?”
She smiled at Knut. “When you have your next birthday, in November, you’ll be another year older.”
Gunnar looked thoughtful, and then he asked, “Can you only get older in years?”
“What do you mean?”
“Am I only older each year on my birthday?”
Liv snickered, bringing a glare from Hallie and a negative shake of Maddie’s head. Liv returned to her food, and Hallie was sure her own glare had nothing to do with her sister’s obedience. Turning back to Gunnar, Hallie explained, “No, you don’t just age on your birthday. Every minute, every hour, or every day, you get older. Like right now, you’re older than you were this morning because you’re closer to your next birthday.”
Gunnar appeared to be soaking all this in.
