CHAPTER 28

“You need to rest,” he said as gently as he could, but he was an inaccurate judge of his own tone of voice at the best of times, and from the way she flinched, he suspected that his words had emerged a lot harsher than he had intended. Still she obeyed him and lay unresisting, looking utterly drained of any desire to fight him anymore. He tugged the covers up over her unmoving body and kissed her forehead tenderly before standing up. He hovered uncertainly, feeling faintly ridiculous in nothing but his black cotton boxers.

“Try to get some sleep. Don’t worry about Kayla. I’ll see to her dinner and get her to bed . . .” He seemed to be rambling now and Cindy was confused by his uncertainty. “I’ll bring her up to say good night later. Things will get better now,Cindy ,” he vowed in an awkward rush, but Cindy refused to acknowledge his impulsive promise. “You’ll see. They’ll get better.”

Well, things certainly felt better when she woke up the following morning. She felt warm and cherishe