Free Breaking Perfect by Lydia Michaels

think, under the
circumstances, you’d want me to welcome him in our home.” She pressed her lips
together and then mumbled, “God, I hope that’s what you would want.” She
sighed. “I’m going to let him in and offer him something to eat. Please call
me.”
    When she returned to the door Sean
was standing back and gazing toward their soffits. He appeared to be admiring
the exterior of their home. It was really getting chilly out. She could have
called the hospital, but if Mason wasn’t answering the phone it was because he
was likely with a patient and that was more important than her needing
approval.   Maybe.  
    “Um, Sean?”
    “Yes.”
    He looked at her with those
piercing hazel eyes and her thoughts scattered like autumn leaves in the wake
of a sudden gale. She shook her head and tried to focus. “Um, Mase is going to
call back any minute. Would you like to come in? Could I fix you something to
eat?”
    He stilled for a moment as if
considering if the offer was a good idea or not. “Uh, sure. Thank you, Mrs.
Davis.”
    “You can call me Libby.”
    “Libby?”
    “Yeah, it’s short for Liberty, like
the bell.”
    He laughed. “Cute. Thank you,
Libby.”
    She stepped back and let him enter
their home with one last hope that she wasn’t making a mistake. As he stepped
past her she looked up at his hulking size and admitted that if she was, she
was a dead woman.

 
    * * * *

 
    Sean entered the home. An ominous
chill crested his shoulders as though he were crossing into a secret place he
might never escape from unscathed. So many insecurities came rushing to the
surface. His father’s taunting voice intruded on his calm. Stifling the
unwanted memories, he focused on the little woman in front of him.
    Mase’s wife wasn’t beastly. As a
matter of fact, she was perhaps one of the most adorable females he ever laid
eyes on.
    She was a little thing and he had
the unusual urge to lecture her for inviting a strange man, twice her size,
into her home when Mase wasn’t around. What was she thinking? He agreed to come
in only because he had the sudden ridiculous fear that some other beggar might
come knocking and feed her a line of bullshit and trusting little Libby might
end up inviting someone truly dangerous into her home. Oddly, something about
her tapped into his protective instincts. This little girl needed someone to
keep an eye on her.
    The house entrance was ri -god-damn- diculous . He let out
a slow whistle that echoed all the way up to the thirty-foot ceilings. It was
homey, but also sort of like a museum. Nothing seemed out of place. Maybe the
missus just finished cleaning.
    “The kitchen’s this way,” she
announced and he followed.
    She only came up to his midsection,
not even reaching his chest. Her feet were bare and her toes were painted pink.
Girlie. She wore cute frayed daisy dukes and a sweater that hung precariously
low over her one arm. Her bare shoulder hinted she had nothing underneath. Wild
golden curls bounced with each step she took. Kudos to Mase for at least
finding a woman with a bangin’ body. If he were going to switch teams, he
clearly made out in the draft.
    Sean had the impression of lots of
white and open space. He was too busy sizing up his old friend’s wife to really
take in the house. He was sure it was what American dreams were made of if
Mase’s knack to adhere to pursuing a goal was still as sharp as it once was. If
anything, his boy had an incredible ability for sticking to his guns and
keeping his word. He promised one day he would have an easy life with a good
partner and nice home. Sean had no doubt he had walked into just that.
    Libby stopped and Sean plowed right
into her. Nice . His hands reflexively grabbed her shoulders so he didn’t
knock her down and hoped he didn’t trample her little feet “I’m so sorry.”
    She quickly extricated herself from
his grip and turned to face him. She took a step back and smiled, but he could
tell he made her