“We did, but after I left home, he downsized.”
“Does he live alone?”
“Yes, but his lady friend spends a lot of time here. Just drop me off. You can meet him when you come back.”
“I figure about three hours by the time I go to the store, then to your house and get the locks changed.”
“That’s fine.” When she opened the door to get out, he slipped his fingers around her arm, stopping her.
“Do me a favor and don’t go anywhere else, okay?”
“I won’t.”
“Good. Now give me a kiss to hold me over until I see you again.”
The kiss was brief, but even so, the spark was there. After she pulled away, he gave her that smile that could break hearts the world over. She traced her thumb along his bottom lip. “See you soon.”
“Count on it.”
She unlocked the door with her key, then glanced back and waved. Always in protection mode, he waited to leave until she was safely inside her father’s house. She found her dad in the kitchen, stirring something on the stove. “What smells good?” She walked to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Chicken and dumplings.”
“Yum. My favorite.”
He grinned. “I know. I was about to call you, see if you and Livie wanted to come to dinner.”
“You know I can’t resist your dumplings. Did you have a good time on your cruise?”
“We did. You should do that someday. Alaska is pretty awesome. I’ll show you pictures later.”
“Is it okay if my friend joins us for dinner?”
“Friend?” He set the ladle on the paper towel he had on the counter, turned down the burner to simmer, then leaned back. “Stacy coming over?”
Stacy was another teacher she was friends with who sometimes joined them for one of her dad’s meals. “No, this is a guy friend.”
His brows went up. “A man?” He peered around her. “Where’s Livie?”
“I have a lot to tell you. Make yourself a cup of coffee, and I’ll make a cup of tea, then we’ll talk.”
He took two cups from a cabinet. “Sounds serious.”
“You could say that.” He was going to go ballistic when she told him about Livie’s kidnapping, that Livie’s father was back in the picture and that she had a stalker. Because he’d been gone, she hadn’t told him any of that yet.
After they settled at the kitchen table, her gaze followed the steam rising from her cup. She wished she didn’t have to tell him any of what had happened this week. None of it was good…well, except for Livie having her father in her life.
Before she was halfway through telling her story, a storm was brewing in his eyes, and his expression darkened with each detail she shared. She gave him credit for not interrupting her until she finished. “So, that’s pretty much it.”
He sat back in his chair, the silence between them thick as she waited for him to speak. “You and Livie are moving in with me,” he finally said.
“No, Dad. Cooper and his friends are experienced at this kind of thing. We’re safe with them…with Cooper.”
“You don’t know this man, Kendall. How do you know you can trust him?”
“He’s Livie’s father. She loves him already, and he would die for her. That I do know.”
“I’ll make up my own mind about that. Why isn’t he here now?”