Bearly a Chance: A Second Chances Romance by Alana Hart, Sophia Barron Read Free Book Online Page B

and his gentle strength the whole walk back to the cabin. The sheer immensity of that strength hit home as she watched him tiptoe up to the cabin’s entrance so smoothly he barely jostled his precious cargo. Faith must have felt safe enough, considering his big strides had lulled her to sleep. Gran’s exhaustion was written plainly in the pallor of her cheeks, and the dark circles under her eyes. When Ben paused at the front door, Aria slipped past him and pulled it open as quietly as she could. She held still as possible as the large man shuffled sideways, back turned towards her, to keep from knocking any stray limbs on the door jam.
    His arms brushed against her shoulder as he sidestepped slowly through the door. Desire flared heating her skin. That thoughtless touch brought forth memories she’d stuffed away long ago. A very visceral part of her remembered being with this man, and desperately wanted to be with him again. Down girl , she chided herself. Can’t just leap headfirst into trusting the one man who abandoned you. Aria kept hold of the door until Ben and Delilah had entered the cabin, then followed them. She closed the screen door as softly as she could, and held back a wistful sigh at the confusion etched in the fine lines around Ben’s face as he scanned the living room.
    The room felt too small with all of them standing around. Aria slipped over to stand in front of Gran, still cradled in Ben’s arms. She gently eased her hands under Faith’s sleeping frame, lifted the tot up slowly, and cuddled her close. She couldn’t help herself, and dropped a half dozen kisses on that angelic little head as she pivoted and eased herself over to the playpen. She reversed the process she’d used to pick Faith up without waking her, lowered her down slowly until the babe lay sleeping soundly in the bed.
    Aria turned back toward the dining area, only to catch Ben’s bright gaze locked on every move she made. Gran and Delilah were nowhere in sight, but from the whispers coming from the kitchen she guessed they were debating that age old question: Tea or Coffee. She wondered for a moment how Ben had managed to carry Gran to the kitchen so soundlessly. Then the heat she saw flooding Ben’s gaze as he watched her erased all thoughts of Gran and tea and coffee from her mind.
    He stood so broad in the walkway between the living room and dining room that there was no way to squeeze past him without coming into contact with some part of him. Instead of trying to slip by, Aria stopped half a foot from him, nose to chest. She looked up, crossed her arms and waited. The wry grin that twisted his lips didn’t earn him any points in her book. She shot a pointed glance diagonally toward the kitchen, loath to speak and wake Faith. His eyebrows drooped low, as if he was thinking. Aria tapped the toes of one foot lightning quick, tossed a glance back toward her baby girl. Still asleep, but not for long if Ben started talking in his growly voice mere feet away from her bed.
    He must have caught the meaning in her glance, because his expression lightened, and for the first time since he’d burst into the shop to save them, a real smile played on his lips, killer dimples and all. Damn him, and damn those dimples too. Faith totally has his smile. With a solemn nod and a faint grin, Ben turned and headed to the kitchen.
    Aria had no idea how to deal with this Ben. This grown up, responsible, sexy Ben. He looked like her geeky, engineer Ben, but bigger, brawnier and a hell of a lot sexier.
    And more protective. This version of Ben didn’t seem like he’d abandon anyone, for any reason. Aria looked forward to finding out exactly what happened that fateful night. Her gaze was inevitably drawn to the curves of his butt, encased in tight, well-worn jeans. She wondered if the rest of him had filled out as well as the vision before her suggested.
    A soft tsk drew her gaze away from his behind, and she felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment