The Heart of a Hero Read Online Free Page B

position because it comes with housing. And since it seems I can’t stop Reggie from turning into another belligerent Campbell male, I can leave home without feeling guilty. And you’ll be a legal adult next month, so Dad can’t stop you from moving out. I’ll ask Olivia if you can live with me until college starts and also spend your summer and winter breaks with me.” Julia clasped Trisha’s face and touched their foreheads together. “Just a couple more months, little sister, and our lives will finally be
ours
.”
    Nicholas heard Trisha sigh as she turned away and spread their wet coats over the pews. She then pulled some clothes and a heavy quilt from the pack, walked to the platform, and balled up a couple of shirts as pillows. She helped Julia get settled on her side on the cushions and covered her up, then started unlacing her sister’s boots.
    Nicholas dropped his chin to his chest with a silent curse as he remembered wondering why no one had offered Julia a ride home. Did everyone in town truly believe she was stupid for moving back in with a drunken father after her failed marriage? Had no one considered that she might have returned for her sister’s sake after their mother died?
    Because personally, he thought Julia might be one of the toughest women he knew. She was pretty damn smart, too, for stealing an education—even if she didn’t have the degree to prove it. But then, he also knew a little something about seizing opportunities when they presented themselves. Like her use of the phones, which had a range of only five miles, that he’d persuaded Olivia were needed so he could send out a blanket alert if there was trouble; Julia certainly hadn’t hesitated to use his security program to her advantage, he thought with a grin.
    Seeing that both women were finally huddled together under the quilt, Nicholas started to leave, only to be pulled up short by Trisha’s softly spoken words.
    “I nearly fainted when that guy kissed you,” the girl whispered. “I mean, jeesh; he just gathered you into his arms and kissed you. And you just
let
him. Except for Olivia’s husband and Mr. MacKeage, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as big and formidable-looking as that guy tonight. I can’t believe you didn’t panic.”
    “I didn’t panic because it was obvious he was only trying to help me. Oh, Sis,” Julia said, touching one of Trisha’s short curls. “Please tell me you’re not afraid of men. Not all of them are like Daddy and Clay; most are actually nice. And some might even be smart,” she drawled. “Nicholas probably just figured kissing me was the easiest way out of the mess he’d gotten himself into for giving me a ride.” She chuckled, although it held no humor. “The guy obviously didn’t know he was kissing the town slut.”
    “But what happens when you see each other at Nova Mare? What are you going to say to him?”
    “The only times I’ve even been within fifty feet of Nicholas were when he and his men were giving instructions on resort security during a staff meeting. And we don’t exactly run in the same social circles, so I probably won’t come face-to-face with him for another six months, and by then he’ll have forgotten all about it.”
    “But how come he gave you a ride home to begin with?”
    “I think he just happened to be in the parking lot when Reggie started acting like a brat again, and he came over to see if I needed any help. It’s his job to worry about employees, and he apparently takes it seriously.” She snorted. “Really seriously. You should see him standing there while his men give the talks at our staff meetings; I swear they’re preparing us for an invasion or something.”
    Trisha giggled. “If Nova Mare is ever invaded, promise that you’ll run and hide behind him. The guy looks like he could turn back an entire army single-handed.”
    Nicholas scowled, undecided if he’d just been complimented or insulted.
    Julia laughed. “I’d have