her parents accused her of, none of them had ever questioned why the first thing out of her parents’ mouths was to warn them that she was a liar.
Now she knew that her parents had been doing everything they could to make sure that no one believed her. It was the same thing they were doing now, and it let her know just how afraid they were that she was finally going to tell someone what they did to her, but honestly, they had nothing to worry about. Having people find out just how much her family hated her was the last thing that she wanted to happen.
“What are you working on?” Hunter asked, as he wrapped his arms around her, letting her know that she was safe.
“Not killing you,” Kylie said, as she looked down at the list of therapists that the Prosecutor’s office sent over this morning after Hunter’s latest court-appointed therapist decided that it would be in everyone’s best interest if he ran from the house crying.
“How’s that working out for you?” he asked, as he grabbed one of the Cokes off the tray and popped it open.
“Not well,” she said, unable to help but smile as she glanced back just as his lips pulled up into one of those devastating smiles that seemed to come easier these days.
Chuckling, Hunter took a sip of his Coke and asked, “What are we doing out here, Miss Dumbledore?”
“Freezing,” Kylie said, stealing his Coke and taking a sip before handing it back.
“Is this another distraction?” he asked, taking a sip before he placed the Coke back on the tray.
“Possibly.”
“We could always go for a swim,” he suggested, giving a strand of her hair a playful tug.
“You’re evil,” Kylie said, shooting him a mock glare that had him chuckling.
“You don’t mean that, Miss Potter.”
“I really do,” Kylie said, nodding solemnly even as she prayed that this wasn’t going to end with another swimming lesson, because she really wasn’t sure that she could handle another one right now.
Not after he took her floatie away.
Ready for the deep end her ass, she thought even as she threw a nervous glance at the pool.
“I don’t need you to take care of me.”
“Oh, so you’d be okay if I went back inside and called it a night?” she asked innocently, biting back a smile when his hold tightened around her.
“Brat,” he grumbled, as he took the iPad out of her hands and placed it on the tray.
“Umm, I need to go through that list before we leave in the morning,” she pointed out.
“Ryan’s taking care of it. Now, tell me what we’re doing out here,” he said, as he wrapped his arms back around her.
“That’s why,” she said, as they watched the night sky light up above them in red, white, blue, green, and so many beautiful colors that she could barely keep up with them before they disappeared only to be replaced with more fireworks that were somehow bigger and more beautiful than the last.
“What’s all this?” he murmured, sounding pleased as he laid his chin against the top of her head.
“The fireworks were delayed a week because of the weather and I figured since you didn’t get to see the fireworks on the Fourth of July that this would make the perfect distraction to keep your mind off tomorrow,” Kylie explained, as they watched the sky suddenly turn emerald, her favorite color.
“You think you know me so well, don’t you?” Hunter asked, as he released his hold on her so that he could slide his arms beneath the comforter and wrap his arms back around her.
“It’s my job,” she said, even as she had to admit that she never would have done this for anyone else, but Hunter was…
God, she didn’t know what he was other than the fact that he left her…confused.
Hunter didn’t say anything as they sat there watching the fireworks and once they ended, he helped her up, and-
“Is that the only reason?” Hunter asked, as he shifted so that he was sitting on the lounge chair.
“What’s that?” Kylie asked absently, as she picked up her comforter and folded it.
“Why you take such good care of me?” he asked softly, as he shifted so that she was standing between his legs.
“No,” she found herself saying.
“Then why do you do it?” Hunter asked, sounding genuinely curious as he sat there, watching her.
She worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she thought of how to answer that, only to end up