For a second he froze, clearly as shocked as I was, but then he embraced her back.
“Thank you,” she whispered to him.
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
When Breland pulled back, she was blushing. She plucked the dog out of my arms and then blurted, “You have to let him come to game night soon.” Then she ran off toward her brother.
She wanted him to impose on our sacred game night? As the thought settled inside me for a second, I realized it didn’t feel like an imposition at all.
I liked the idea of him coming.
Huntley opened the door and wandered outside. I followed him and shut the door behind me as he turned toward me.
“Game night?”
“Yeah.” I smiled at how carefree Lennon and Breland were on those nights. “The kids and I do one each week. You should see how much fun we have.”
I looked down at the ground seeking courage to send outthe olive branch I was wanting to extend. Taking in a deep breath, I glanced back up into Huntley’s eyes.
There was a lump in my throat, but I managed to get the words out around it. “Would you like to come to our next game night? We could work it around your schedule?”
A radiant smile blossomed across Huntley’s handsome face.
There I go again thinking of words like handsome.
With my palms clasped tightly, I waited for his response.
Huntley reached out a hand toward me and waited. Did he want me to hold his hand? Was this his own version of an olive branch that he was extending back to me? Unlocking my hands, I slowly placed one of my palms in his.
“I’d love to come to game night, Warrior,” he said softly as a jolt raced up my arm.
His touch electrified me and then grounded me all at once. All the stress and worry of the day seemed to swoosh out of me as his thumb slowly rubbed back and forth across the top of my hand.
Our gazes locked on one another, everything else faded away. Why was I not running and afraid of this hulking man standing so close to me? My heart began to race when he looked deep into my eyes as if he could see straight into my soul.
“I wanted to share more of myself and my life with you when we were talking about family, but I just wanted to protect you and not scare you away.” Huntley blew out a deep breath. “My father wasn’t a nice man, but I’ll tell you about it whenever you think you are ready.”
So many questions were running through my mind. Did I want to know the answers? I searched his eyes, so full of warmth, understanding, and concern. Yeah, I wanted to know.
“I’d like that,” I whispered.
He nodded, knowing I didn’t mean right then. Giving my hand a small squeeze, he released it. A part of me wanted to grab it back and hold onto it forever.
Like anotherlifeline.
“I should let you get back inside so you can talk to the kids, but the principal is wanting to talk to you.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened there today?”
Huntley’s face contorted and I could see him trying to quell a bout of anger that took hold at my question.
He masked it, visibly calmed himself, and said, “I think that’s something the kids should tell you themselves, but we’ll talk after they do.”
“Okay, thank you for going to get them. And I’m sorry I messed up your time with your mom.” I looked away, no longer meeting his eyes. “I forgot you were going there. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”
“Please look at me,” Huntley said in a soft voice.
Slowly, I lifted my head and met his eyes once again.
