Eli stood in the doorway watching them. When she caught sight of him, she stumbled. He sprang forward, picking her up and lifting her over the gate. As soon as she had her footing again, he stepped back.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t. I’m just clumsy, that’s all.” Kay avoided his eyes and walked into the kitchen. Hope’s giggle floated from the living room. She leaned back until she could see into the room. Eli was in the play area with Hope, dancing around and making silly faces.

She turned back to the refrigerator and pulled out the apple juice. The steaks she’d taken from the freezer to thaw that morning didn’t look as though they’d be ready on time.

She sighed. She might have to go with chili for dinner, gassy or not. Sasha would be appalled.

“Wait, don’t climb on that… Oh shit!”

Kay turned from the open refrigerator in time to see Eli dive forward and the bookcase fall on top of him.

“Oh my God! Eli, are you okay?” She dropped the sippy cup and ran back to the living room.

The bookcase lay on top of Eli’s back. He wasn’t flat on the ground however, but up on his arms.

“Kay, grab the baby.”

Her eyes almost bugged out of her head when she saw Hope’s face peek out from under Eli’s arm.

“Hope!” She dashed forward and pulled her daughter from under the shelter of Eli’s body. As soon as she stepped back, Eli dropped to the ground and the bookcase fell flat against him. He then rolled to his side and edged out from under it.

Kay watched, stunned, as he stood and shook himself off. His shirt had a dark smudge on it and there was now a long scratch on his arm. A small drop of blood welled up and then smeared when he wiped at it.

“Is she okay? I didn’t fall on her, did I?” Eli walked closer and looked Hope over from head to toe.

Still in shock, Kay couldn’t even speak, so she just did the first thing that came into her mind.

She hugged him.

He stood, stiff and unyielding, in her embrace for a moment before his arms came up and around her back. Hope stuck her fingers in her mouth and then looked up at Eli. Then she patted his cheek with her damp hand. He burst out laughing.

“I guess she’s okay then.”

Kay lifted her head and looked up at him. “I think she knew she was safe the whole time.”

Eli disappeared through the door leading to the garage. Kay sat on the couch, Hope still clutched in her arms. So many conflicting emotions raced through her mind. It was irrational, but she wasn’t ready to put Hope down yet. Her eyes went back to the overturned bookcase and she closed her eyes and hugged her daughter tighter.

A few minutes later, he came back with a drill and a small toolbox. Kay watched from the couch as he pushed the bookcase back up against the wall. The picture frames and candles that had fallen off the shelves he set to the side in small piles.

“It’s a good thing there wasn’t much on this bookcase,” he said. Then he rummaged in his toolbox.

The loud sound of the drill made Hope jump. She turned to Kaylee and pointed.

Eli turned and saw her pointing. “I’m making a lot of noise aren’t I, princess? But I need to make sure this room is safe for you.”

He drilled inside the bookcase on the left side and then the right. He did this on the second to last shelf and then the middle one. After that, he pulled on the bookshelf to see if it would move. Once satisfied, he picked up his toolbox and the drill and carried them back to the garage. He came back in and stepped carefully over the gate, then sat next to Kay on the couch.

“I’m really sorry, Kay.”

Shocked, she stared at him. “Sorry? For what? You just saved her from being seriously hurt.”

“It’s my fault she almost got hurt in the first place. I should have blocked off an area that didn’t have stuff she might try to climb. Or bolted that bookcase to the wall as soon as you got here.”

Kay shook her head. “It’s not your fault, Eli. You don’t have children. I wouldn’t expect you to know about child safety hazards.”

“You don’t have to be a parent to know that bookcases are heavy and that a baby can’t resist trying to climb everything in sight,” he said.

Kay regarded him silently. This was the kind of man who took the care and shelter of everyone around him personally. He considered it his duty to help and protect others. Was that the kind of guy she needed to be afraid of? In any way?

Her heart sang out a resounding No.

“I think you’re amazing. Thank you.” She didn’t qualify her statement or explain anything else, just rested her head on his shoulder.

“No thanks are needed. I would never let anything hurt you or Hope.”

She smiled against his shoulder, even though he couldn’t see her. He’d unwittingly just made her decision for her. No matter how scary things might seem, Eli would never harm her. He wouldn’t do anything she didn’t want him to do.

If only she knew exactly what that was.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ELI WATCHED KAY from the corner of his eye as she stirred the pot of soup she’d made for dinner. Every few minutes her eyes would drift over to him. He could feel the heat of her gaze on his back, but when he looked up, she’d glance away. She clearly wasn’t ready to talk about things yet, but at least when she looked at him now it wasn’t with the shocked disgust he’d seen in her eyes earlier. It was with confusion. With questions.