Read Online A Time to Protect by Lois Richer - Free Book Online

church bell in a valley. “I’m starved. Can we have lunch?”
    She appeared in the doorway a moment later. Chloe relished her rosy cheeks, the big grin that made her daughter’s sunny disposition such a blessing. She blinked when Brendan Montgomery appeared behind Maddy.
    “Hello.” It was the best she could do at the moment.
    “I invited Coach in ’cause he wants to ask Kyle about the model club.” Madison yanked open the fridge door. “Is there any food here?”
    “It’s ready, Maddy. Why don’t you wash up while I set another place?” Chloe inclined her head to the tall handsome man standing in the doorway. “It’s just soup but you’re welcome to stay.”
    “Thanks, but I don’t think I should eat you out of house and home a second time. I just wanted to ask Kyle if he’s interested in the club. I’ve got some time today that I could help him catch up to the others, if he wants.”
    “Sit down,” she insisted. “You can both talk about it over lunch. Unless you don’t like homemade chicken soup?”
    “Are you kidding? Ever since I walked in the door my stomach has been doing back flips.” He grinned, his lips stretched wide in delight. “But if I take too much, make sure you tell me,” he ordered as he sat down beside Kyle. He leaned forward, breathing in the aroma after Chloe set the tureen on the table. “You don’t know how lucky you are to have home cooking like this.”
    “You’re not going to ask for this recipe, too, are you?” Kyle mocked.
    “Maybe.” Brendan’s eyes widened. “Why? Is it a family secret or something?”
    The boy snorted. “Not hardly. My dad never cooks.”
    “Guess he never learned. Too bad for him.” Brendan accepted his steaming bowl with a sideways look at Kyle. “I like to learn as many recipes as I can, build up my repertoire.”
    “Why?” Her son looked scandalized. Chloe hid her grin.
    “Because I might get hungry for chicken soup sometime. If I can make it myself, I can add stuff that I like and leave outthings I don’t. Besides—” he twisted slightly, winked at Chloe “—the ladies like it.”
    “Huh?”
    Brendan leaned forward and motioned for Kyle to do the same. The two looked like conspirators hunched over the table, voices lowered.
    “You know—chicks,” Brendan whispered.
    “You mean girls?”
    “Yeah. They like it when men can cook. Why do you think they like to go out for dinner so much, man? Because they like it when other people cook. I’m telling you, Kyle, cooking is the way to a woman’s heart.”
    Chloe spread her napkin, forcing herself not to laugh at her son staring at the FBI officer. “Let’s have grace. Maddy?”
    It was a hilarious meal, particularly for Chloe who’d never seen such hero worship in Kyle for anyone other than his father. When Brendan agreed to kick a ball around the backyard with him for a while, she knew it was just an excuse to talk. Kyle cared little for sports.
    Chloe opened the kitchen window and listened unashamedly.
    “You see it’s like this, Kyle. Men and women both need to feel strong and independent, to be able to take what life gives them and handle it. If you have to have somebody waiting on you, you can’t stand on your own. My mom runs a business and she does a great job so she can’t always be at home making lunch for my dad or doing his laundry. My dad helps my brother out with his carpentry business. He doesn’t want to do the same things as my mom. So they each manage on their own, but they also work together. It’s a partnership.” Brendan grabbed the ball, danced it on the tip of his shoe. “It’s not really about who makes dinner or does the dishes, it’s about getting the necessary stuff done so they can both enjoy their time together.”
    “Is that why she picked out your car?” Kyle accepted a pass, sent it back, his thin face intense.
    “Kind of. My mom grew up in a garage. She’s got a verymechanical mind. My dad doesn’t. Neither do I. That