Page 108 of Her Summer Hope

Her vulnerability tugged at his heartstrings, and Kyle tightened his hold around her. This beautiful, strong woman had been through so much, and yet she still managed to put others first. He admired her resilience and knew he would do anything to protect her.

"Please believe me, Maddy," he said softly, pressing his lips to her temple. "You deserve all the love and happiness in the world."

Maddy took a deep breath and pulled away slightly, turning in his arms to face him. Her eyes were shining with unshed tears, but there was a softness in her expression that gave Kyle hope.

"There's something else I need to tell you," she said quietly. "About Rob's death..."

Kyle's chest tightened at the mention of her late husband, but he pushed the feeling aside. Whatever she needed to share with him, he would listen without judgment.

"The car accident that killed Rob..." Maddy swallowed hard. "He had been drinking. A lot. And he wasn't alone in the car. There was a…woman with him."

It took a moment for the implication of her words to sink in. "You mean he was with his… mistress."

Maddy nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek. "He'd been seeing her for months. Years, maybe. I didn't want to believe it at first, but looking back now, all the signs were there. He left me when I was pregnant with Em."

A surge of anger rose in Kyle at this revelation. How could any man treat this woman, the mother of his children, with such blatant disrespect?

If Rob were still alive, Kyle wasn't sure he could stop himself from confronting the bastard.

"I'm so sorry, Maddy," he said, cupping her face in his hands and wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "You deserved so much better than that."

"You don't know the half of it," she said with a hollow laugh. "After the accident, her family sued Rob's estate. I had to give them almost everything to settle it. There wasn’t much left. I had to find work. That’s a large part of the reason I lied to you. I needed that job so badly.”

Rage bubbled in Kyle's chest, rage at the injustice of it all, at how much Maddy had suffered because of that bastard. But more than anything, he felt a fierce protectiveness wash over him, a need to shield Maddy and the kids from any more pain.

He pulled her close again, cradling her against him. "I'm here now," he murmured, hoping his words could ease her sorrow, even if just a little. "And I promise you, Maddy, I will do everything in my power to make sure you and your kids never have to go through something like this again."

“I’m so sorry, Kyle…for all of it.”

"Maddy, you have nothing to apologize for," he said firmly. "Look at everything you've been through," Kyle continued, his eyes never leaving hers. "You're strong, courageous, and tenacious. And you don't have to do it alone anymore." He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch sending shivers down her spine. "You have me now, and I'll stand by you. The guys won't let you struggle alone either. Each one of them considers you a friend and an ally. I'll be here for you, no matter what."

Tears slipped down her cheeks, and Kyle could see the relief mixed with lingering doubt. He pulled her into a gentle embrace, letting her feel his solid presence.

"Now," Kyle added, breaking the tension with a playful grin, "we should get going to the restaurant before Murdock calls and complains about having to have tea parties with Ellie and Emma."

Maddy laughed through her tears, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

He took her hands, leaning in to press tender kisses to the back of each one as he stared into her eyes.

"Come on," he whispered, his voice low and enticing. "Let's go enjoy ourselves tonight."

Chapter Twenty-Three

Madison

Madison's heart raced as Kyle pulled out her chair. His fingers brushed her bare back, igniting sparks along her spine.

"You outshine every woman here," Kyle murmured, his gaze caressing her face.

Madison smoothed her little dress over her thighs, wishing it were longer, wishing her body were leaner. But Kyle's eyes glowed with heat, melting her insecurities.

His opinion was the only one she cared about, and he seemed to like the way she looked.

They sat close together in the dim, upscale restaurant. The soft glow of candles flickered between them. When the waitress arrived, Kyle ordered a bottle of wine without looking away from Madison.

Later, the waitress, her curves accentuated by the tight black dress that clung to her body, brought their first course—a delicate plate of seared scallops resting atop a bed of greens. As they began eating, Madison found herself caught up in the intensity of Kyle's gaze, their legs brushing against each other beneath the table, sending shivers up her spine.

As they ate, Kyle reached over and took her hand, resting their entwined fingers on his thigh. His calloused palm dwarfed hers, his strength barely restrained.