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He pulled into the gravel drive and saw that his grandfather had left the light over the porch and the
one in the kitchen on for them.
 Are you sure your grandfather won t mind me being here?
 Nope, trust me, he ll love it.
 All right.
Kyle shut off the engine.  Don t forget to wrap your scarf around your lower face, honey. It really is
cold out there.
When he was sure she was adequately covered, he opened his door, hopped out, and then went
around to her side and opened her door. After she had climbed out, he went and grabbed her
suitcase from the back and headed for the front door. His grandfather had already opened the door
and was holding the screen door open.
When Lin hesitated at the top step, Kyle gave her a little nudge.  C mon, honey, it s cold out here.
He could tell she was nervous, but she went into the house and then stood there as though she
didn t know where she was supposed to be.
 Grandfather, this is Lin. Kyle s eyes met his grandfather s, and by mutual decision, without a word
being spoken, his grandfather gave a slight nod, and then, smiling at Lin, he said,  Would you like
some tea? Why don t you come into the kitchen? It s warmer in there.
Lin had pulled the scarf from her lower face and smiled at his grandfather.  Why don t I make it?
she asked, following him into the kitchen.
Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. The tension that had been in her body melted at the mention of tea,
and he thanked the Spirits that his grandfather had picked up on the fact that she was nervous and
needed something to distract her.
 Oh, now, surely you re going to let an old man make you some tea now, aren t you?
He s already charming her. She d better look out. By the time Grandfather gets done with her, she ll be adopted and
calling him Grandpa. Chuckling to himself, Kyle took her suitcase and put it in his room. She didn t
know it yet, but she would be sleeping in there for the duration. His body took notice of the
thought, and he took a deep breath, trying to get it to behave. Now was not the time, not yet. They d
only known each other a short time, but soon. There was something about the delicate Lin that
appealed to his soul. If she had been anyone else, he would have chalked it up to normal attraction
and the need to protect someone weaker than himself, but it was more. A lot more.
Chapter Seven
One week later
Lin stared out the window at the melting snow. The weather was noticeably warmer, and the icicles
that had been hanging from the trees were dropping and shattering on the rough ground. There
were even a few tufts of green grass peeking through the melting snow in places.
Reaching out one hand, she traced a star in the condensation on the glass window before taking
another sip from the cup of tea she had in front of her. Kyle was at work, and Grandfather had
fallen asleep on the couch watching an old MacGyver rerun.
Lin grinned, happiness sleeting through her at the thought of both Kyle and his grandfather. He d
warned her the day after they d arrived that his grandfather would adopt her and have her calling
him Grandpa or Grandfather in no time, and he d been right. By her second day here, she had taken
to calling him Grandfather quite effortlessly. It had just seemed right somehow.
Her cell phone rang, and she readily picked it up and looked to see the number. Smiling when she
saw it was Duyi, she answered.
 Hi, Duyi.
 Hi, Lin. I just wanted to see how you were.
 I m fine. I m still at Kyle and his grandfather s house.
Lin could hear Duyi breathing, but he didn t say anything else for a long moment.  You are going to
come home, aren t you? Worry was evident in his voice.
 Someday, Duyi. But you know I can t come home now. It would endanger you and Grandfather.
 I wish you d never met him! Duyi snarled.
 I wish I hadn t either, but I did, and now . . .
 What?
 Now I have to fix it somehow.
 I miss you, Lin. I want you to come home.
 I miss you too, but I can t come home yet.
 What if you decide you like it there better than here? Duyi whispered, his voice hoarse.
 Even if that happened, Duyi, I would still come home to visit.
 Promise?
 Promise.
 Grandfather wants to talk to you.
 All right.
 How are you, Lin?
Lin smiled at her grandfather s gravely voice.  I m fine, Grandfather. They are treating me very
well.
 Should I be worried? I ve seen you ve been adopted.
 You will always be first in my heart.
 Harrumph.
Happiness was like little bubbles effervescing in her veins.  I think there s enough room in there for
you both, she said dryly.
 You are no longer afraid.
 Not like I was, no. I can t explain it. It s peaceful here. I haven t had any nightmares since I got
here. I actually sleep, Grandfather.
 This is good. Lin, don t come home. It s not safe yet.
The words stunted her good mood somewhat.  I know I have to stay here for now, but you ll tell
me if you see that it s safe, won t you?
 Your new man should be the one to tell you that.
Lin s eyes widened.  Grandfather, he s not . . . We haven t . . .
 Lin.
 Yes?
 You haven t yet, but he s a good man, so I m not worried. I know my granddaughter is in good
hands. He will protect you. He can see some things I cannot.
Her grandfather s voice got much lower on the last few words, as though he hadn t liked admitting
it.
 You taught me we all have different gifts and strengths, Grandfather. Maybe he just has different
strengths than you do.
 Maybe. There was a grumble in his voice.
She heard a door slam and then, looking back out the window, saw Kyle s truck.  Grandfather, I
have to go. Kyle s home.
 Just like that, I ve already been replaced. The good-natured grumbling made her feel light. This
was her grandfather as he was when he was happy and not worried about her.
 I love you, Grandfather. I ll call you in a few days.
 Be sure you do.
 I will. I promise. Bye!
Lin pressed the button to end the call and then hurried out to the living room, where Kyle s
grandfather was still snoring lightly on the couch. She rushed to open the front door and put one
finger to her lips.
 Shhhhh. Grandfather s asleep, she said in a low voice, holding the screen door open for him.
When Kyle nodded and gave her a big smile, she couldn t help smiling back. He was always so
cheerful. Even though her life was a mess, Kyle didn t seem to mind. He bent his head, and her lips
parted, tasting his breath before he gave her a hungry but gentle kiss. The casual sexual, yet [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]