Motherly instinct kicking in, I managed to get my feet moving and raced around the hulking man now looking at Lennon. Resting my hand on my son’s arm, I forced myself to look more relaxed, and spoke softly to him, grabbing his attention.
“Look at me. I’m okay, he didn’t touch me.”
Lennon’s gaze drifted to mine and I ran my hand up and down his arm soothingly, visibly watching him start to relax. He could be a hot head when he was protecting his sister or me, but it came from the best place in the world.
Hisheart.
“Everything’s okay. Nobody here is harming anyone,” I whispered.
Breland moved closer to her brother’s side and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. That went a long way to calming the storm I knew had started brewing inside her.
“I’m sorry if anyone was startled,” came Huntley’s deep voice, causing me to look over my shoulder at him. But his eyes were not on me, they were focused on Lennon. “I would never hurt your mother or any woman for that matter.”
My breathing hitched.
Lennon didn’t respond but when I turned back to see his reaction, he scanned the group—his eyes assessing the situation—before bringing his gaze back to Huntley. Then he nodded. “I’m going to take Breland and Roxie for a walk. You coming?” he asked me.
The kid was wise, far beyond his sixteen years. He was giving me an out because he knew I was struggling even if I was trying to push my emotions under the carpet. But I also knew that while he seemed to have decided the group was okay, he still wanted to keep watch over me too.
It was endearing and also filled me with sorrow. I justwanted him to enjoy being a kid, something he’d never gotten to be. He’d been playing the protector for way too long.
“You guys go, I’ll be okay. We have to get food ready and I want to start unpacking stuff.”
He leaned in and hugged me. As he pulled back, he said, “I have my cell if you need me.”
God, the boy was something else. Something special.
“Thank you,” I replied softly.
Before they could leave, I glanced at Breland, my eyes asking for silent permission. When she gave me a small smile, I moved in to give her a hug. “Everything’s okay. I promise.”
Once I released her, they moved together toward the front door. The situation had spun out of control and I wasn’t sure how to reel it in. As I turned toward the group, I heard more voices coming into the house. My body tensed at the thought of having a bigger audience.
Not able to meet Huntley’s gaze, I sent a pleading look to my sister. Her lashes were wet and her face was streaked from her own tears which sent a pang of distress straight to my chest. I didn’t like seeing her upset.
Lake caught on quickly, rushing toward me as she began handing out orders.
“Can you girls help me get all the food ready now?” she asked Capri and Gemma. “Babe, you and Huntley fire up the grill, okay? Tell the other guys to start moving the boxes to the room they are marked for instead of everything being piled up in the living room.”
When everyone agreed, she looked at me. “Take whatever time you need, we’ll be here.” Then she nodded toward the bedroom.
I knew there was going to come a time when she would want answers. Lake had let me take our new sisterly relationship slowly, but after what just happened, I had a feeling thatjust pushed the get-to-know-you timeline up quicker than I may have intended.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I began to walk away. Lake and the group wandered off to do what she’d asked of them.
All but one.
I could feel his eyes on me and succumbing to the pull it had on me, I glanced over my shoulder.
Huntley looked like I felt at that moment.
Wrecked.
Chapter Two
HUNTLEY
The lookin her eyes almost brought me to my knees.
