Read Online Her Only Hero by Marta Perry - Free Book Online Page B

anything that low to the ground. We didn’t want to have you jumping out of
bed to check every five minutes.”
    “Thank you. So much.” She realized her hands were clenching and
pressed them flat against her jeans. “What happened to your brother?”
    “Seth was in a hurry to get home and see his fiancée.” He shook
his head. “Sad, the things that getting engaged do to a man.”
    Was there an edge to his voice on that subject? She wasn’t sure.
    “According to your mother, you’ve had quite a spate of marriages
in your family in the past year.” Siobhan had been clearly delighted about that
fact when they’d chatted over the cookies that afternoon.
    “It’s pitiful. First Gabe, then my cousin Brendan, and next
comes Seth.”
    “But not you.”
    “Hey, there has to be at least one Flanagan left to play the
field.”
    “And you’re the expert at that.” At least, according to his
mother he was.
    He shrugged. “So they say.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “You
got married right out of college, I guess.”
    “Yes.” She clipped the word off and then feared her short
response had betrayed too much. “Jason and I met in college.” And she’d been
swept right off her feet by his assurance and the flattering attention he’d
paid her.
    “I’m sorry for your loss.” Ryan’s words were conventional, but
his deep-blue gaze was intent, as if probing for what she didn’t say.
    “Thank you.”
    He was a charmer, like you, Ryan. Unfortunately there wasn’t
much character beneath the charm.
    She cleared her throat. “Mandy’s in bed already, but I’m sure
she’s still awake, waiting for you to say good night.”
    He flexed his fingers. “I’ve been practicing my sign language
for the occasion.”
    “This way.”
    She was very aware of him close behind her as she led the way
into Mandy’s bedroom. The playful jungle animals in the mural she’d put on the
far wall seemed to smile at them.
    “Mandy, look who’s come to say good night.”
    Mandy looked up from her book, her small face lighting with a
smile. Her fingers formed the sign for R and brushed her chin.
    Ryan glanced at her, eyebrows lifting. “Okay, I’m in trouble
already. What does that mean?”
    “It’s a name sign. Mandy made it up for you. The letter R,
touching her chin. For the cleft in your chin.”
    She hoped she wasn’t blushing. Well, he must know the appeal
that had for women of all ages, apparently.
    “Oh.” He looked disconcerted, and for a moment she actually
thought he was the one who blushed. “That’s really nice, Mandy.” He went to sit
next to her on the bed. “What are you reading? A book about puppies.”
    Mandy held the book out to him. That didn’t need translation.
    He took it. “You want me to read? I probably can’t sign all the
words.”
    “That’s okay,” Laura said. “I’ll do the signing along with you.”
    Ryan nodded, putting the book on his lap so that he and Mandy
could both see it. He began to read, his deep voice a counterpoint to the
hesitant movement of his hands.
    Actually, he did pretty well with the signing. Either he knew
more than he’d shown them so far, or he’d been getting some coaching.
    The idea touched her, but it disturbed her almost as much. Ryan
wasn’t a part of their lives. She didn’t want Mandy to begin to depend on him.
    Still, she could hardly deny her child the opportunity to have
friends just because those friends might not always be there. She struggled
with the idea while she automatically signed the words to the short picture
book.
    “The end.” Ryan closed the book and tucked it next to Mandy.
“Good story.”
    She nodded, settling back on her pillow.
    “Night-night, sweetheart.” Laura bent over to kiss Mandy’s soft
cheek.
    “Night. Sweet dreams.” Ryan stood, his arm brushing Laura’s
warmly.
    Breathe, she ordered herself, and got busy tucking the covers in
and switching off the light. The room was bathed in the soft yellow glow of