Claiming the Single Mom's Heart by Glynna Kaye

appreciation for rescuing her daughter from harm and herself from heartache. To somehow release her from the heavy weight of indebtedness to a Hunter.
    Her mind raced, searching. And then, a possibility dawned.
    But would he allow her to do it?

Chapter Seven
    B y Saturday Grady was still dealing with the impact of the rescue that left him more shaken than he cared to admit.
    Too many times he’d relived—in excruciatingly detailed slow motion—that heartrending moment when he’d seen Tessa go over the edge of the slide. Again felt the fear that he wouldn’t cover the distance in time to break her fall to the hard ground below.
    But by God’s grace, all was well.
    So he should be happy, shouldn’t he, that he’d see Tessa today? Her mother had called last night to ask if he could show them the historic cabins on the Hunter’s Hideaway property and he’d agreed. But for a number of reasons, he was far from happy about it.
    â€œEarth to Grady.” Seated next to him, Rio bumped his shoulder with hers.
    â€œWhat?” His attention jerked to the breakfast meeting underway in a conference room at the Hideaway. A roomful of curious eyes focused on him. Warmth crept into his face.
    From the head of the table, his father repeated, “I asked how the game supply store is coming along.”
    â€œExtremely well.” Grady met Dad’s steady gaze with a reassuring nod.
    At age sixty, Dave Hunter was a man who in both manner and appearance had long reminded Grady of the steady, hardworking father seen on reruns of The Waltons TV show. But for many years—since Luke had headed off to the army when Grady was fifteen—his father had expected more and more of his youngest son. Without fail—except for once—he’d always stepped up to deliver on those expectations.
    â€œEven with stopping the weekend work,” Grady added, “Ted and his crew are making solid headway.”
    â€œGood to hear.” Dad rewarded him with a smile.
    â€œI anticipate we’ll be right on target for a mid-October opening. The security systems are being set up at both the store and the off-site storage facility. Worker bees are lined up to process online sales, including Trevor and one of his high school buddies, and a few to man the shop and demonstrate equipment. Stock is set for delivery and the website’s being finalized.”
    Trevor, Luke’s eldest child of three from his first marriage, was over-the-top excited about being a part of this new venture.
    â€œYou’ve done an excellent job overseeing this, Grady.” Grandma Jo’s eyes warmed. “We can always count on you.”
    â€œHear, hear!” Luke, now back from his honeymoon, raised his glass of orange juice in tribute. Grady knew what effort that took. Although Luke and Dad were mending fences, it had to hurt at times that his younger brother had been running the show, heading up the enterprise alongside their father during the years he’d been gone.
    â€œI appreciate you being my backup right now, son.” His father paused, ducking his head slightly and Grady knew he was having difficulty expressing himself. “You know, freeing me up to be with your mother.”
    An uncomfortable silence drifted over the table.
    â€œI’m there for you and Mom. Always.” He glanced around at his extended family—grandmother, siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins. Only Mom wasn’t in attendance. “We all are.”
    Everyone nodded. A united Hunter front.
    Dad looked up again, his lips tightening as he rose from the table. “Let’s get on with our day.”
    Once outside in the fresh mountain air, Grady climbed into his SUV and headed to his cabin. Although it was out of the way, he’d given Sunshine directions, thinking that her arrival would create less speculation if she didn’t march in the front door of the Hideaway’s main buildings.
    As he