Read Online Hard Break (Deadlines & Diamonds, #5) by Morgan Kearns - Free Book Online Page A

once again sending him from her domain. Instead, she sighed. “I know.” Her fingers plowed through her hair. “I know. I know.” Her fist lightly pounded the table. “Dammit, I know.” Her gaze sought his, holding it tight. “Nobody loves those three as much as I do, and I want the very best for them.”
    “You’re right. Nobody can ever love those three little people as much as you do.” He didn’t bother to remind her how much he loved her children. “Of course you want the very best for them. But sometimes the best for all of you doesn’t appear to be the ultimate in awesome. Kay, those kids are resilient. They’ve bounced back really well.”
    “I’m the one who’s a train wreck.”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “You didn’t have to.” She smiled weakly at him, her eyes misty. “Thank you for not giving up on us.”
    “I’m here for—”
    A blood-curdling scream had them both jumping to their feet and sprinting to the back slider. Kayla yanked it open, running out into the chaos of her back yard.
    “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Chase crouched over Sadie. “I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.”
    Sadie lay on the ground under the swing set. She held her head, blood spurting from between her fingers, surprisingly calm.
    Ian ran back into the kitchen and grabbed a dishcloth from the counter. He hustled back to Sadie, pressing the cloth against her forehead. She awkwardly crawled into his lap. Silent tears trickled down her cheeks, landing on his jeans.
    “I’m sorry, Mom.” Chase’s frantic apology oozed his remorse.
    Kayla took her son by the shoulders. “Tell me what happened.”
    “She wanted to spin. I wound her too tight, I guess, ‘cause as she was unwinding the swing went crazy and she slammed into the pole.” He started to cry. “I’m sorry, Sadie.”
    Sadie brushed the towel out of her eyes and smiled. “It’s okay. I’m fine.” She pushed at Ian. “It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”
    Ian shook his head. “Let me see your head.”
    She squared her shoulders and looked him right in the eye as he pulled the cloth away. Although the blood no longer tried to set long distance records, the cut was deep, right at her hairline above her right eyebrow.
    “How is it?” Kayla asked fro m over his shoulder. Her next gasped breath actually spoke, answering her own question.
    “Yeah, I think so, too.”
    “Come on, guys, looks like we’re headed to the emergency room.”
    “I can stay with Chase and Penelope.” He glanced at the other two kids. “It’ll be easier on both of you if it’s just you two.”
    And just like that he blew the hell out of his date with Denali. Yet, as relief replaced Kayla’s exhausted expression, Ian didn’t have a doubt he’d made the right decision.
    “Thank you, Ian.” She ushered Sadie toward the garage, the girl flip-flopping with each step. “I’ll call you when I know something.”
    “No worries.” He wrapped an arm around Chase’s shoulders. “We’ll be here.”
    The door to the garage closed with a light slam, then the rumbling of the exterior door’s decent sounded.
    Chase finally came inside, closing the slider. “Do you think she’ll need stitches?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Oh man.” He sank down into the chair at the table, his head dropping into his hands. “I didn’t mean—”
    Ian put his hand onto the boy’s shoulder. “I know. It was an accident. Sadie knows it too, so does your mom. Things like that happen, man. At least it’s in a place she can hide with her hair.”
    Chase’s misery eased. “I guess that’s a good thing.”
    “Yeah , definitely a good thing.” Ian took his phone out of his pocket. “Hey, I need to make a quick call. Give me a second.”
    Chase lifted a shoulder that said whatever .
    As he called up Denali’s number and put the phone to his ear, Penelope asked, “Who you callin’?”
    He answered her, but only by saying, “Hey, Denali. It’s Ian.”
    “Hey,” her husky voice purred. Not