Redeeming Rafe by Alicia Hunter Pace Page A

opposed to bonding with them.”
    “Rafe’s a good man. He’ll come around.”
    “Maybe. If he lives long enough. That’s another thing. He’s a good man with a dangerous job. I don’t understand it—especially now that he has the girls. Why would he risk it?”
Like Gregory had risked leaving me pregnant and alone when he went into that cave.
“I don’t know how his family stands it.”
    Gwen shrugged. “Much like with Beau, when Dirk was in Special Ops, I didn’t know where he was half the time or if he was alive. You can’t think about it.”
    “But at least Dirk was serving a higher purpose. Rafe does what he does for entertainment, fame, and money.”
    Gwen covered Carter. “Is that what you think? Dirk did what he did for the rush, and so does Rafe. I’m not saying Dirk didn’t care about the higher purpose, but I can assure you Rafe cares nothing about the entertainment and little about the money. As far as the fame—that’s only within a certain circle.”
    “Adrenaline junkies?”
    “Who’s an adrenaline junkie?”
    For the second time in one night, the air was sucked out of the universe. And for the second time, Abby looked up into those eyes.
    “You,” Abby said. She let her gaze shift to Dirk. “Both of you, according to Gwen.”
    “Better than some other kind of junkie,” Rafe said.
    Dirk tossed his head, which could have been confirmation, denial, or an indication that he had no time for such debates. “We’re here to help put the kids to bed.” He gave Rafe a pointed look and crossed the room, sat on the edge of Julie’s bed, and picked up the book Gwen had put there.
    “Is that true?” Abby asked Rafe. “You’re going to help put your children to bed?”
    Rafe looked at Bella asleep in her crib. “Looks like you’ve got this handled so I’ll just—” He took a backwards step.
    The little edge of hope that had surfaced in Abby crashed and was replaced by fresh, angry frustration. Where was that sympathy she’d felt only moments ago? Maybe taking this job had been a bad idea, no matter how much she’d needed it. Who was she to think she could effect a change in a man who only wanted to get himself killed on the back of a bull—or on the horns of a bull, more like. His problems were too big.
    “Hi!” Phillip got to his feet and lunged at Rafe. Abby was getting ready to reach for him when Rafe smiled and squatted down to eye level with Phillip.
    “Hi there, yourself.”
    What? Rafe wouldn’t give his own children the time of day, but was happily engaging Phillip?
    “See Poppy?” Phillip held out his stuffed horse.
    Rafe scratched behind Poppy’s ears. “Hello there, Poppy. You’re a fine-looking horse.” Then he turned to Phillip. “I like to ride horses. Do you ride Poppy?”
    Phillip looked confused for a second, and then he laughed, tucked Poppy between his legs, and awkwardly toddled around.
    “Can you gallop?” Rafe laughed with delight and clapped his hands.
    Phillip screwed up his little face and stopped in front of Rafe. “No. Poppy gets a cookie?”
    Rafe reached into his pocket. “Sure.”
    “No!” Abby stepped forward. “No cookies. I mean it. The cookies stop now.”
    Alice toddled over and pulled on Rafe’s hand. “Cookie, Daddy?”
    And when Rafe turned from Phillip to look at Alice, his easy, happy expression went into lockdown and then broke out in pain.
    And then Abby understood. He was not uncaring and selfish. It was as Gwen said. He was reliving the pain of his little sister’s death. But having good reasons wouldn’t matter in the end to Bella and Alice.
    He pulled at his tie, looked at Abby, and then back at Alice.
    “Cookie?” Alice said and gave him a flirtatious smile.
    He reached for his pocket again.
    “No, Rafe.” Abby circled his wrist with her hand. It felt warm and strong, and she wanted to hold it forever, to take away the pain in him. They stood motionless for a few seconds. Then he pulled his hand, and hers with