Page 26 of Mountain Refuge

“That’s right.” Cautiously, he opened his arms. “Can I have a hug?”

Lydia stepped forward slowly. She kept her hands at her sides. When she got close enough, she lifted one hand to his outstretched one. Her entire spread hand fit in the palm of his. She journeyed down his arm, touching his jacket, which looked like it was made of real fur. Her exploration brought her closer to him. Corbin remained perfectly still, letting her choose how close she got.

I watched, waiting to see what would happen. Lydia wasn’t very trusting with strangers. I think she attached herself so quickly to Brooke because, one, she’d saved us and, two, Brooke was a woman. Lydia had learned from a young age not to trust men other than me and her brother.

She was in between his outstretched arms but still hadn’t gone in for a full hug. Lydia scrunched up her face. “Are you going to keep my daddy safe?”

Corbin’s eyes flew to mine before immediately going back down to her. “I’m going to try. And not just your daddy, but you too.”

Lydia thought about this for another moment before nodding. Her seven-year-old curiosity satisfied, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his neck. She had to stretch up on her tippy toes to reach.

Corbin’s arms came around her, holding her tightly to his chest. He rose to his feet with her still in his arms. Lydia’s legs dangled high off the ground. She lifted her head to look down, way down, at the floor. Her grip on Corbin’s neck tightened but she didn’t look scared. Instead, she turned to me with the biggest grin on her face.

“Look, Daddy, I’m taller than you!”

I chuckled. “I see that, Angel.”

Corbin patted her back. “Stick with me, kid. I’ll give you as many piggyback rides as you want so you can stay taller than your daddy.”

She was so small in his arms. If he tightened his hold, he could crush her like a bug. But I knew that would never happen. I knew those arms could and would protect her.

Henry, finished with his chewing on the bottle’s nipple, let out a large burp. Thankfully there was no spit up this time.

Corbin reached over and draped a large hand over his head. “Good to meet you too, little guy.”

“His name is Henry,” Lydia supplied. “He’s six months old.”

“Yeah?” Corbin jostled her playfully in his arms. “And how old are you, little miss? Twenty-one? Twenty-two?”

Lydia giggled. “No! I’m seven!”

“Oh, how silly of me. You look so much older when you’re this tall!”

Movement from behind Corbin drew my attention to Brooke. I was reminded of the first morning I’d woken up here, when I’d held my kids on the kitchen floor. It was the way she stood, her hunched posture, almost like she feared she was intruding on a private moment.

I wanted so much to pull her into my arms then, to include her. It would have been so easy, so right. To hold her against myside, one arm around her waist, the other holding Henry. I could picture it perfectly, like a family portrait.

I cleared my throat, needing to get that vision out of my head. “Brooke, would you mind taking Lydia into the kitchen for a snack? Corbin and I need to talk.”

While there definitely were things that I didn’t want Brooke to know, I also needed space from her. It was the excuse I needed to prevent myself from doing something stupid.

I didn’t miss Corbin’s eyes as they volleyed between the two of us.

Brooke stepped forward. “Of course.” Corbin lowered Lydia to the floor and Brooke offered her hand. “Come on, Lydia. Let’s see what goodies we can dig up.”

She didn’t look at me as she led Lydia from the room.

Corbin, however, did. He raised his bushy eyebrows in question. I shook my head, not ready or willing to talk about that.

Chapter Eleven

Adam

Iled him into Brooke’s bedroom so we could close the door. I knew how voices echoed around the cabin, and I didn’t want our conversation overheard easily.

Henry was still in my arms, but the kid was currently being entertained by his own foot. It was a fascinating discovery that took up his whole attention.

“What the hell, man?” Corbin asked, keeping his voice low. “What happened?”

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