A Matter of Honesty Read Online Free

been looking for the job, but he knew that she was right for it.
    “I know I do, and I just did. I promise you, Lauryn is the right person to take
    care of Hannah.”
    Johanna knew Steve well enough to know when he made up his mind there
    was no changing it. She also knew he would never do anything that would hurt his
    daughter. Hannah was his life. The reason he breathed.
    She started to say something else but stopped. Steve looked at her, full of
    assurance. “Trust me, Johanna. I know what I‘m doing. I would never put Hannah in
    danger. I had Dillon run an instant background check on her. Nothing came back. I‘ll
     
    run a more detailed one as well, but I know it isn‘t necessary. Lauryn is going to be
    great with her. I have a feeling that Lauryn needs Hannah as much as Hannah needs
    Lauryn.”
    Johanna took a deep breath. “Okay, Steve. I know when your mind‘s made up.
    Plus I‘ve never known you to make an awful decision. Irrational on occasion, but
    never bad. If you trust her, so do I.”
    Steve smiled. “Thank you.”
    Lauryn was still standing in the foyer, hugging herself and looking completely
    lost. Where most people would have been looking around, she was staring at her feet.
    Steve knew then he was right. Lauryn couldn‘t hurt a flea. The background check
    Dillon ran also reaffirmed it for him. She didn‘t even have a speeding ticket. Lauryn
    was the right woman for this job.
    Johanna smiled warmly as she walked over to Lauryn.
    “Please excuse my earlier rudeness, Lauryn. It isn‘t anything personal. I
    promise. I‘ve been looking after Steve and Hannah for so long sometimes I‘m a little
    overprotective. But if Steve trusts you, I do as well. Now, I‘m sure you want to get
    cleaned up so I‘ll go back and tend to the girls.”
    Lauryn watched Johanna leave before turning to look at Steve, a wary look in
    her eyes.
    “Maybe I should leave?”
     
    Steve stood and studied her a moment before responding. “And go where?”
    Lauryn shrugged, and Steve stepped closer to her. “Don‘t pay Johanna any
    attention. She meant what she said. I promise you she won‘t give you a hard time.
    Now, let‘s get you upstairs so you can freshen up.”
    She followed him through the foyer into what looked to be the living room
    before following him up the stairs.
    “You can have your pick of these three rooms. I‘m down the far end. Hannah‘s
    room is across from mine and connects to that bathroom. If you choose this room it
    connects to Hannah‘s bathroom.” He pointed to two rooms on the same side as his.
    “These two rooms connect to the last bathroom. It has an oversize bath tub.”
    “I‘d like that one.”
    “Okay. Let me go grab a few clothes I think may fit you.”
    He returned a short time later with a few T-shirts and sweat pants. “Your
    bathroom should have towels, a spare toothbrush, soap, and shampoo. Go ahead and
    freshen up. I‘ll meet you downstairs shortly.”
    She closed the bedroom door behind Steve, walked into the bathroom and
    looked around. Once she‘d located everything she would need, she hopped in the
    shower. She hadn‘t realized how unclean she felt until the warm spray hit her body.
    Taking longer than she normally did in the shower, she bathed several times
    until she felt squeaky clean and her skin began to prune. She stepped out of the
     
    shower stall and stopped in front of the mirror. It was hard not to gasp at her
    reflection. But she had just survived a tornado. What was she supposed to look like: a
    beauty queen?
    Heading downstairs, she heard the giggles of a little girl and followed the
    laughter into what appeared to be Hannah‘s playroom. Steve‘s massive frame lay on
    the floor and he was holding a little girl above him. She giggled again as Steve made
    the airplane motion and sound. Lauryn‘s heart tightened.
    Lauryn could tell in that instant Steve was a good father, one who would do
    anything for his little girl. Steve‘s trust in her with