Relinquished by K.A. Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

used to get in trouble when I was little because I always left handprints on the front room window.” Wow. I hadn’t meant to blurt that out. At least that memory was one of the easier ones. Just one of my shorter stays.
    That particular clean freak foster mother had wanted a doll she could dress up and display, not a child.  She’d forbid me from playing with the neighborhood kids, so I’d sneak up to the window behind the couch and watch them ride their bikes and play street hockey.  When we were in school, the boys always asked why I never came out to play, and after a few snotty girls teased me enough times about it, I stopped watching them.  Within a short time, I was relocated. Again.
    Holden ran a soothing hand up and down my back as I pushed my arm through the sleeve. “Don’t worry about it.  Really.” But the look in his eyes said that he was concerned.  
    I gave him a sheepish smile. “It’s funny how little things from your childhood mold you into who you are as an adult.”
    His eyes softened as he nodded. “That’s so true. We carry all kinds of baggage into our adult lives.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to stare out of the window. “Ya know, when we were kids, there were these boys that wouldn’t leave me alone, and Dante stood on the sidelines and refused to help me.  He said I needed to learn how to stand up for myself, no matter how many guys were coming after me.”
    I grimaced. “Well, that’s pretty shitty of him.  What happened?”
    He continued to gaze out of the window toward the horizon. “Eventually, I became skilled enough to beat the shit out of them, but it still made me feel bitter. My brother didn’t back me up when I needed him most.”
    I couldn’t help but think about Casey and how I’d wished I could’ve helped her.
    He turned his head toward me, snickering. “Funny thing is, he’s just as protective as I am now. Neither of us will stand by and let someone get hurt by another person, but I honestly don’t know if I’ve ever forgiven him.”
    I placed my hand on his shoulder, one of the few times I’d actually reached out to him. “Is that why you decided to work with injured athletes?  To help them heal?”     
    He shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.  I’ve watched athletes give their all to a sport, but as soon as they aren’t useful, they’re discarded and forgotten. It’s bullshit. I want to rebuild their confidence while helping them strengthen their physical abilities. My ultimate goal is to show them they’re worth something with or without the sports label.”
    Those simple words gave me a whole new understanding of the man who was somehow slowly soothing the gaping hole in my heart. I felt myself staring at him with admiration.
    From the very beginning, I’d been attracted to his attitude toward people like me—the discarded, broken souls in society.  But until now, I hadn’t realized just how deep his compassion went. 
    He reached up and wrapped a piece of my hair around his finger with a confidence that further proved how comfortable he was in his own skin. “Come upstairs, I wanna show you something.”
    From our vantage point, I could see almost the entire first floor.  As he led me toward the stairs, I took in the casual dining room and huge modern kitchen. Upstairs, he led me down another hallway, then stopped at one of the open doors. I looked back at the stairs and noticed another set that led up to what I assumed was a third floor.
    “So, I’m going to leave this up to you.” He leaned against the doorframe. “I can either drive you home later, or you can stay in one of my guest rooms tonight, and I’ll drop you off at work tomorrow night.” Man, his hopeful yet shy demeanor was so freaking sweet but could I take him up on his offer?
    I gulped as I stepped into the bedroom. There was a huge window facing the beach, and it had an even better view than the first floor.  The dark ocean could be seen for