Page 25 of A Cowboy's Bride
The sincerity in her eyes was pure.
A sudden spark of something hot and soft flared in his chest. Nothing sexual, even though she still pushed all of his buttons with her soft grey T-shirt and faded jeans over gentle curves. The sensation of being part of something bigger than he’d ever expected was there, and the sense of rightness.
It wasn’tjustabout the sexual tension between them, and that was good. “I’m glad too.”
The doorbell rang, shattering the peaceful connection.
An instant later, the front door cracked open, and Danielle called a greeting. “Hello. Anyone here? We’re early.”
7
“We’re in here,” Aiden answered.
Snatching her hands from the water, Petra snagged the towel from Aiden’s fingers and hurriedly dried off. She walked behind him slightly, stopping a second too late when he froze a step earlier than expected. Their bodies made contact, so when he inhaled, huge and sharp, she felt it.
It wasn’t Danielle walking into the room that had caused his reaction, but the slight figure behind her. The girl slipped through the doorframe and tucked herself as close to the wall as her backpack would allow. As if she were a chameleon, and if she stood still enough, she’d vanish from sight.
She was thin—too thin, Petra thought. The girl’s light frame would always look delicate, but her white skin was crepe-paper pale, as if she’d never been in the sun. She looked as if a strong wind could blow her away. The contrast of full breasts on such a small frame looked wrong, and Petra already guessed one of the problems she’d faced in the past. This girl who was young enough her face still held a hint of baby fat was built with curves that belonged on a much older woman.
Dark brown hair hung in mats, and ratty clumps tangled around her face. She held her head tilted toward the floor, but her eyes were up and wary as if watching so she could duck if necessary.
Still, Petra saw hidden strength in those eyes. Stone grey, but bright, like the eyes of a cat analyzing and judging. Sharp and alert. She hadn’t lost all hope yet.
Danielle continued, her voice a gentle breeze dancing over eggshells. “We met up a little early and the traffic was incredibly light. I knew you wouldn't mind, so we came straight here. Jennifer, come meet Aiden and Petra. They'll be your hosts for the next while.”
Aiden spoke softly. “Hey, Jennifer.”
No one in the room missed the way the girl flinched when he spoke, but she took a couple of shuffling steps off the wall to stand partly hidden behind Danielle. “Hi.”
Petra's heart pounded at the base of her throat. She had no idea what the girl had gone through, but this moment was beyond uncomfortable. This wasn’t what stepping into the sanctuary of High Water should feel like, and the longer silence hung in the air, the more she knew to her core that this was her moment.
She acted on instinct, stepping from behind Aiden and folding her arms over her chest. Petra deliberately eyed the girl from top to bottom then nodded before speaking as bluntly as she would have to her friends. “Hi, Jennifer. This is your home for as long as you need it.”
Jennifer nodded but didn’t directly meet Petra’s eyes.
“So, to start, what do you want us to call you?” Petra asked.
The girl finally lifted her head, confusion on her face. “Like a made-up name?”
“You can pick something completely different if you want, but I was more thinking that Jennifers are rarely called by their full name. I know some Jens and some Jennies.” Petra shrugged. “Give it some thought.” She turned to Danielle, mentally apologizing to Aiden for taking control of the situation. “Anything else you need to grab from the car?”
“No. Jennifer’s got all her things with her,” Danielle answered. “I have contact info for Aiden, though.”
Petra waved a hand as if it were inconsequential, although it had to be the more detailed information regarding Jennifer’s story. While that was important, this was even more essential. “We’ll leave you to it then. Jennifer, we’ll get you settled in your room in a minute. Aiden and I were doing the dishes, and I hate to leave a job half done. Put down your backpack and come help.”
Then without waiting to see if the girl would follow, she headed back to the sink.
Low voices drifted on the air behind her, but nothing but silence from the young woman. Petra worked on putting things away—probably screwing the job up royally, but it kept her attention off Jennifer for a few brief moments.
Partly to see what she did without an audience.
Petra twisted back to grab a set of glasses and stifled a gasp when she discovered Jennifer had made it to the sink without so much as a single floorboard creak, despite wearing a pair of thick soled shoes. The girl moved like a ghost.
“You mind washing?” Petra asked.
“No.”
Petra pointed to the sink. “There are gloves under there if you want. One of my older sisters uses them all the time to save her manicure. My hands are in terrible shape most of the time, and I rarely get manicures, so I never bother with them.”
