For His Forever by Kelly Favor Read Free Book Online Page B

then he was on his way back to give her a cold glass of water.
    Nicole drank deeply, sighing. “That hit the spot. Thanks.”
    He kissed her cheek and then sat down by her feet, picking one foot up and slowly massaging it.
    “Oh god, that’s amazing.” She leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes.
    Red grabbed her other foot and began massaging that one as well. “So what do we do with her now?” he asked. “Does she have any family in the area?”
    “I don’t think so.” Nicole opened her eyes and looked at him. “I’m pretty sure she said she’s from Ohio.”
    Red shook his head. “I guess we’ll have to help her get a flight back tomorrow.”
    Nicole sat up straighter. She put the glass of cold water to her cheek. “Let’s just wait and see.”
    “Wait and see what?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t want to just kick her out, toss her on a plane and make her go home to Ohio. What if she doesn’t want to leave New York?”
    “New York doesn’t seem like it’s been a very fun experience for her,” he said.
    “She ran into a couple of jerks. But that doesn’t mean she should just run away from being a nanny and experiencing New York City.”
    Red nodded, allowing that she had a point. “Still,” he said, his fingers expertly rubbing the sole of her foot. “It’s not our job to help this girl get back on her feet. You picked her up, we can let her stay the night—but then she needs to figure out a plan for herself.”
    “We can help her figure out a plan.”
    “As long as it involves going somewhere else. She can’t stay in our house, Nicole.”
    For some reason Nicole didn’t like what he was telling her, even though she knew it made perfect sense. The truth was, she didn’t know Kallie at all. Kallie might not even be her real name—she might be a liar and a thief—or worse.
    “I’m just saying, let’s take it one step at a time,” Nicole replied.
    “She’s not a stray puppy.”
    “Never said she was.”
    He gazed intently at her. “You’re acting like she is.”
    “No, I’m not. I’m simply being human and empathetic to her situation. You’re a man, you can’t understand what she’s been through.”
    His eyes narrowed. “You’re pregnant and that’s the most important thing in my mind. I’m not putting you or the baby at risk by having some strange person in our house indefinitely.”
    “Nobody’s at risk. She’s a perfectly sweet girl.”
    He shook his head. “You’re being naïve.”
    “Well I like her. And that’s enough for me, for now. We’ll discuss it again tomorrow, Red.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Whatever you say, Nicole.” And then he picked up her feet and began rubbing them again.
    She laid her head back and smiled. “Your hands are magic, I swear,” she said.

    ***
    Kallie luxuriated in the thirty-minute hot shower she took after Nicole left the room. By the end, the chill that had gotten deep into her bones from standing out in that cold rainstorm was long gone, and replaced by a feeling of loose muscles and warm, glowing skin.
    She dried off and changed into the large, but very comfortable clothing she’d been provided by her thoughtful host.
    Afterwards, Kallie walked out onto the balcony and took a deep breath of the salty air. The waves in the nearby ocean were large and crashing from the storm earlier.
    Although the downpour had stopped, the sky was still cloudy and the air smelled of rain.
    She went back inside, shut the sliding door and exhaled. At least for now, she felt safe and warm and sure of what the night would bring. Tomorrow she could deal with the uncertainty of what to do next.
    Kallie went downstairs and found Nicole and Red making an early dinner together. Nicole was prepping the salad at the enormous granite counter, and he had a fancy grill up and was heating it, tongs at the ready.
    They both looked up when Kallie entered the kitchen. Nicole got a big smile on her face, but Red wasn’t nearly as pleased to see