The Military Wife (A Heart of a Hero, #1)(93)

She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Sophie, and whispered, “How about we go get some ice cream downstairs?”

Libby shook her head. “I think I should stay. In case she wakes up. I don’t want her to be afraid.”

“I’ll stay, too.” Ryan scooched his chair closer to Sophie’s bed.

Harper and Bennett retreated to the hallway, but she kept her eye on the kids. She had to believe they would get through this with scars but no lasting wounds.

With the walls and secrets swept aside, Harper didn’t hesitate to notch herself into Bennett’s arms. Burying her face in the warmth of his neck, she inhaled, and like he’d imprinted on her, her heart recognized home.

“They’re coming.” His chest rumbled against her.

She shifted but didn’t pull away. Allison had been crying—Darren too. “What do you need?” Harper directed her question to Allison.

“Prayers?” Allison gave a little laugh. Although she seemed lighter and reconnected with her husband, the road back to a new normal would be long and difficult.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done, man.” Darren dropped Allison’s hand to clasp Bennett’s in a shake. Instead, Bennett pulled Darren into a bear hug.

“I wish I’d been there for you sooner. We all have our ways of coping, I guess. What’s your plan?”

“I want to see my little girl home, and then I’m going to take a leave of absence and work out my problems or at least learn to manage them. Alex said he’d help. He also invited me to the survival weekend he’s put together with you.”

“Good. I was going to suggest that myself.”

While the men discussed particulars of the trip, Harper pulled Allison to the side. “Are you two going to be okay tonight?”

“‘Okay’ might be overstating things, but I think—I hope—we’ve reached a turning point. The things he told me, I can’t imagine … But I’m glad he trusted me.” Allison squeezed her mouth closed, her chin wobbling. “How close was he to finishing it?”

“The gun wasn’t loaded, if that’s any consolation.” Harper rubbed circles on Allison’s back like she did for Ben when he woke from a nightmare. Unfortunately, Allison’s nightmare was all too real.

“Maybe it shouldn’t, but that does make me feel better.”

“What happens now?”

“Darren is going to stay with Sophie. He’ll be safe here. I’ll take the kids home and try to get a decent night’s sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.” Allison flashed a brief watery smile before looking to the floor. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Darren and the kids. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“You won’t have to find out. And I’ll be back and forth for the opening of the café. Let me know if I can watch the kids or take you out to vent or whatever. Call or text me in the morning.”

Bennett slipped an arm around her shoulders and Darren retreated to Sophie’s bedside. Allison joined him, her hand on his shoulder.

“I guess that’s it,” Harper whispered.

“For now.”

They didn’t speak again until they were outside. Even though the children’s wing of the hospital did its best to be open and welcoming, tension was sloughed away by the swaying trees and endless night sky. Relief coupled with worry, but she and Bennett had done everything in their power to help. It was up to Darren to fight for his life both literally and abstractly.

“What do you want to do? We could get a hotel room for the night or drive back.”

Part of her longed for the privacy of a night together after the turmoil of the day. But a driving need to be with Ben when he woke seeded impatience.

She pulled Bennett to a stop and met his gaze. “As much as I want to frolic all night in a king-size bed with you, I need to be home.”

“Because of Sophie.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Yes and because of how I left things this morning with Ben.”

“With Ben and Sophie close in age and seeing her … like that. It’s scary.”

He was right. Call it mother’s instinct, but she needed to make sure Ben was safe. “You don’t mind?”

“As long as I can get a rain check. I don’t know that I’ve ever frolicked in bed, but as long as it involves you naked, I’m all in.”

Harper muffled laughter. Bennett was a surprise on so many levels, not least of all the sly, sexual tease in his voice.

“Rain check it is.”

“But I’d also be good with some covert action in the dead of night if you’re up for it.”

“I might be up for hunting bear later.” She popped to her toes to press a kiss on his smiling mouth. “Grizzly.”





Chapter 24


Two months later …

Harper paced next to the coffee roaster in the back of the café. It was five in the morning opening day of Home Front Coffee. Sleep had been not just elusive but nonexistent. The aroma from the roaster filled the room. She and Joyce and Madeline had roasted countless small batches of beans, ground them, made coffee, and sampled it. They had agreed the medium dark roast was the most appealing. Eventually, Home Front might offer a variety of roastings, but keeping it simple at the start held its appeal.