A Better Father (Harlequin Super Romance) Read Online Free Page A

made.” Libby gave a silent cheer.
Maybe, just maybe, she could save the camp. Saving her sanity would be an added
bonus.
    Myra turned toward Sam, who returned her gaze for a second
before transferring his attention to Libby.
    “What did you have in mind?”
    He sounded bored. Good. Unless he’d changed more than most
humans do in a dozen years, that “couldn’t care less” attitude meant he was
worried.
    “I think—” she began, but Myra cut her off with a raised
forefinger.
    “I’m so sorry, dear, but might I go first? There’s something
I’d like to ask of you.”
    “Of course. Anything.” Libby grasped a handful of skirt fabric
on her thigh and gave it an impatient squeeze.
    “I think that the sooner I can move on, the better it will be
for everyone. Nothing will be served by me doddering around here like the ghost
of summers past, confusing everyone as to who is now in charge.”
    Libby’s head swam as the implications of the sale came clear.
Not only was she losing the camp, she was losing Myra. This time she didn’t care
if Sam saw the tears pooling in her eyes.
    “It won’t be right without you,” she said. “I can’t imagine...
I don’t want to think about it without you.”
    “I will miss you. The whole camp, of course, but especially you
and...” Myra’s voice faltered and she glanced out the window again. Not in the
direction of the river this time, but down the hill. Toward the dining hall.
    After a second she shook her head, blinked a couple of times
and gave Libby a very unsteady smile. “Well. We’ll adjust. Both of us. We’re
strong old broads, aren’t we?”
    “Better than life has dealt us,” Libby answered, paraphrasing
words Myra had said to her more than once. Myra laughed, and Libby forced
herself to join in, reminding herself that moments like this would soon be
gone.
    An odd sound from the side of the room, something between a
cough and a choke, dragged her attention back to Sam. She turned instinctively
in his direction and caught him staring at her with an expression that could
only be described as disbelief. Almost as if he’d seen a ghost.
    As soon as she caught his eye he looked away and shook his
head. A moment later he was leaning forward, focused on Myra once more. She must
have felt his attention because she sighed, then returned to business.
    “I want the transition to be as smooth as possible. For
everyone,” Myra added with a nod toward Sam. “And, Libby, dear, the fact is that
the camp needs someone with your qualifications to operate by the book. So it
would do my heart good if you could see your way clear to stay on here, at least
through the summer.”
    Stay? With him? Dear heavens, had
Myra taken complete leave of her senses? If she thought for one minute that
Libby could exist anywhere in the same town—no, the same province—as the man in
the corner, well, she—
    Oh.
    Her earlier, sketchy thoughts about adding a condition to the
sale took on a clearer, tighter focus. She could work with this. She could use this.
    “Yes,” she said to Myra. “Of course I’ll stay through the
summer. For you.” She took a deep breath, buying herself time. “But I do have a
couple of requests of my own.”
    Myra cocked an eyebrow. Over in the corner, Sam grabbed the
arms of the sofa. Bracing himself, no doubt.
    Libby grabbed the clipboard and looked over the notes she’d
jotted during her time of exile, mentally modifying them beyond the scribbled
list of impossible wishes that had filled her mind while she waited.
    “I would strongly suggest that you add two conditions to the
sale. First, as you have said yourself, it’s vital for the owner to be a part of
the camp. Since Sam already plans to be here full-time, it should be easy for
him to participate fully in the program. I recommend that, as a condition of the
sale, he must take on the job of a regular staff member for this summer, acting
as a counselor while I teach him everything I can.”
    Myra