Page 67 of Tru Blue
Bear draped an arm over Crystal’s shoulder.
“Um. Hello? There might be single guys here,” Crystal complained, trying to move out from under his grasp.
Bear shot her a look that clearly told her not to bother trying to dislodge herself from his grip—and something much hotter that caused Gemma to shoot a curious look at her best friend. Crystal rolled her eyes, but there was a secret message there meant only for her. People said blood was thicker than water, but Gemma believed true friendship was thickest of all.
Kennedy slowed, and when Gemma reached down to lift her into her arms, she saw fear in the little girl’s eyes. What was she thinking? This was far too much for Kennedy. She picked her up and stopped walking, and the others stopped with her, the men’s eyes actively searching the crowd. Only Truman’s eyes remained on his little girl and Gemma.
“She’s frightened. It’s too much,” Gemma said.
Truman nodded with a serious expression. “Turn it around.”
Like an army, the group turned. Crystal wasn’t as quick on the uptake and Bear turned her by the shoulders and put his arm around her again.
“Do you mind?” Crystal said, but there was a sultry undertone to her words.
“Yeah, actually, I do,” Bear said with a smirk. “We’re heading back. Kennedy’s scared.”
“Oh.” Crystal leaned forward and looked at Gemma. “Is she okay?”
“Yes. I wasn’t thinking. She’s not ready for crowds like this.” Gemma kissed Kennedy’s forehead, holding her tightly as they headed back toward their cars.
“Twick or tweet?” Kennedy asked.
“Do you still want to go trick or treating, princess?” Truman asked.
Kennedy nodded.
Gemma looked questioningly at Truman, whose jaw had gone tight.
“She’s never done it before,” Gemma reminded him. “The next block is a residential street. We could try a few houses and see how she does. She’s excited over the promise of candy even though she’s nervous.” She lowered her voice and whispered, “Sometimes you’ve got to let her take a chance. I took one, and look how things turned out.”
A smile lifted Truman’s lips and he whispered, “What if it scares her?”
“Look around you, Tru. She’s got an army of family to help her feel safe again.”
Truman shifted his gaze to the men one by one. A telepathic message seemed to pass between them, and without another word, they headed toward the residential street.
IT TURNED OUT what Kennedy really wanted was for Truman to go trick or treating while she waited on the sidewalk, safely surrounded by the rest of their group. Truman had never gone trick or treating before, but that didn’t stop him from standing on the front stoop of a house with Lincoln in his arms, towering over a handful of children.
The older woman who answered the door glanced at Lincoln and smiled up at Truman. “I don’t think that little guy has enough teeth to eat candy yet. A little old to trick or treat, aren’t you?”
“Are you ever too old to make your kids happy?” He pointed to Kennedy, safely nestled in Gemma’s arms, with his friends standing sentinel around them.
The woman handed him a few candy bars. “You’ve got yourself a nice-looking family. Happy Halloween.”
Warmed by her observation, Truman thanked her and joined the rest of his family.
“Here you go, princess.” He opened his hand, revealing the candy bars.
Kennedy’s eyes widened and she grabbed a candy bar. “More?” The r was soft. “Them get candy?”
In unison everyone denied their need for a sweet treat, and Kennedy’s smile grew bigger. “Mine?”
“Yes, princess. That one’s yours,” he said, pleased and mildly worried that at her young age she thought of others so quickly. His mind spun back to the first night he’d found her, when Lincoln was crying and she’d patted his back, as if she knew no one else would. He wondered if she’d always think of others first because she’d learned at such a young age that she needed to care for Lincoln, the same way he’d known to protect Quincy. While he loved that she shared so easily, when he thought of what her life must have been like before he found her, sadness slammed into him.
