Read Online A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) by Alannah Carbonneau - Free Book Online
Authors: Alannah Carbonneau
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that kind of beauty in this world is rare. Don’t keep that exquisiteness caged by your fear of feeling, Ember.”
I felt tears mist in my eyes as I struggled to swallow the emotion building up in my chest, threatening to travel upward to morph into something more physical and audible than simple feeling, but rather the crystal of tears and the melody of sorrow.
“I...”
Kami spoke. I didn’t know if it was because she had something to say, or because she was taking pity on me. She knew me well enough to spot the signs that I was nearing my breaking point, so I knew, she knew, I was almost there.
“Ember,” Kami sighed. “You know that every one of us girls came to this Ranch in a desperate need to heal. This place is the perfect place for you to open yourself up to the pain you’re feeling. I know what you’re going through right now, because I know you. I know you don’t trust openly and I know you particularly don’t trust men - but I can promise you that the Donnelley men aren’t your father. They aren’t even in the same species as your father.” She sucked in a deep breath as a tear escaped from my eye. “I’m sorry for saying this, and I know it’s hurting you, but my not saying anything - my allowing you to continue living the way that you are, is hurting you more.” She pushed a smile into her lips. “I love you and you’re worth loving.”
“I love you too.” I didn’t know what else to say. Her speech was a lot to take in and I couldn’t find my voice no matter how I tried. Instead, I turned to Hadley, desperate to change the topic from me to something else - anything else. Placing the rim of my wine glass to my lips, I tipped my head back, and I downed the contents of my glass. Then, I spoke. “So, how are the wedding plans coming along?”
Through the sadness in Hadley’s blue eyes, she smiled and forced a perkiness that I appreciated greatly into her voice. “It’s coming along really well. Actually, I was hoping you would stand up with me as a bridesmaid?”
I stiffened and Gracie rose from her chair. I watched as she poured more deep red wine into my glass as I asked, “You want me to be a bridesmaid?”
Hadley nodded. “I really do.”
“But we just met.” I stumbled over my words. “I’m honored, really. But are you sure?”
Again, she nodded. “I’m positive.” She gave a small giggle. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but honestly, I feel confident that we’re only going to get closer as time passes. As you know I’ve asked Reese to stand as my maid of honor, and Kami is standing as a bridesmaid. I’d really love for you to stand as a bridesmaid as well.”
“Oh.” I nodded before laughing. “I’d love to, Hadley!”
“Yes!” She jumped up from her chair and I laughed even harder as she practically dove into my lap to hug me tight. “Thank you, Ember!”
“Of course.” I hugged her back, again careful not to spill my new glass of wine. “I’m so honored.”
“It is going to be an amazing day.” She breathed. “It already feels perfect.”
***
I don’t know how much time had passed between Hadley asking me to be a bridesmaid, three more glasses of wine, and the dancing, but us ladies were definitely going to pay for this the next morning.
I was spinning around with Kami on the deck when I heard a loud male voice ask. “Is this seriously what happens when we leave them alone?”
I looked up to see the four men and their father, John, staring at us with lopsided funny grins plastered on their faces. The man that had spoken had been Collin, Hadley’s fiancé. His green eyes were focused on Hadley with an intensity that made me blush deeply. Jeez, that was a look that should be reserved for the bedroom.
“I think we should leave them alone more often.” Luke winked at me and the blush Collin had started deepened.
“I think they’re intoxicated.” Kyle stated. “But at least I know mine can hold her own when it comes to
I felt tears mist in my eyes as I struggled to swallow the emotion building up in my chest, threatening to travel upward to morph into something more physical and audible than simple feeling, but rather the crystal of tears and the melody of sorrow.
“I...”
Kami spoke. I didn’t know if it was because she had something to say, or because she was taking pity on me. She knew me well enough to spot the signs that I was nearing my breaking point, so I knew, she knew, I was almost there.
“Ember,” Kami sighed. “You know that every one of us girls came to this Ranch in a desperate need to heal. This place is the perfect place for you to open yourself up to the pain you’re feeling. I know what you’re going through right now, because I know you. I know you don’t trust openly and I know you particularly don’t trust men - but I can promise you that the Donnelley men aren’t your father. They aren’t even in the same species as your father.” She sucked in a deep breath as a tear escaped from my eye. “I’m sorry for saying this, and I know it’s hurting you, but my not saying anything - my allowing you to continue living the way that you are, is hurting you more.” She pushed a smile into her lips. “I love you and you’re worth loving.”
“I love you too.” I didn’t know what else to say. Her speech was a lot to take in and I couldn’t find my voice no matter how I tried. Instead, I turned to Hadley, desperate to change the topic from me to something else - anything else. Placing the rim of my wine glass to my lips, I tipped my head back, and I downed the contents of my glass. Then, I spoke. “So, how are the wedding plans coming along?”
Through the sadness in Hadley’s blue eyes, she smiled and forced a perkiness that I appreciated greatly into her voice. “It’s coming along really well. Actually, I was hoping you would stand up with me as a bridesmaid?”
I stiffened and Gracie rose from her chair. I watched as she poured more deep red wine into my glass as I asked, “You want me to be a bridesmaid?”
Hadley nodded. “I really do.”
“But we just met.” I stumbled over my words. “I’m honored, really. But are you sure?”
Again, she nodded. “I’m positive.” She gave a small giggle. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but honestly, I feel confident that we’re only going to get closer as time passes. As you know I’ve asked Reese to stand as my maid of honor, and Kami is standing as a bridesmaid. I’d really love for you to stand as a bridesmaid as well.”
“Oh.” I nodded before laughing. “I’d love to, Hadley!”
“Yes!” She jumped up from her chair and I laughed even harder as she practically dove into my lap to hug me tight. “Thank you, Ember!”
“Of course.” I hugged her back, again careful not to spill my new glass of wine. “I’m so honored.”
“It is going to be an amazing day.” She breathed. “It already feels perfect.”
***
I don’t know how much time had passed between Hadley asking me to be a bridesmaid, three more glasses of wine, and the dancing, but us ladies were definitely going to pay for this the next morning.
I was spinning around with Kami on the deck when I heard a loud male voice ask. “Is this seriously what happens when we leave them alone?”
I looked up to see the four men and their father, John, staring at us with lopsided funny grins plastered on their faces. The man that had spoken had been Collin, Hadley’s fiancé. His green eyes were focused on Hadley with an intensity that made me blush deeply. Jeez, that was a look that should be reserved for the bedroom.
“I think we should leave them alone more often.” Luke winked at me and the blush Collin had started deepened.
“I think they’re intoxicated.” Kyle stated. “But at least I know mine can hold her own when it comes to
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