Free Her Forever Family by Mae Nunn Page B

long shadows beside the topiary and poolside cabana. In the far corner where she and Simba had walked earlier, Benjamin sat on a concrete bench beneath a decorative lamppost.
    All alone.
    Ali’s heart thumped, a combination of guilt and pain. And something else she didn’t want to accept. It ached for the man, surrounded by the trappings of success with nothing but memories of his personal loss for company.
    “Lord, help me out here,” she whispered. “Hedeserves the same compassion I give my Sunday Kids. And instead of showing the love of Christ I treat him like he’s guilty of a crime.”
    Benjamin stood and moved toward the house with shoulders hunched forward, and hands shoved deep into the pockets of his khaki slacks. He looked so much like his son upstairs, who lacked the ability to recognize help or accept forgiveness.
    She should kick herself. When it came right down to it, all Benjamin wanted to do was serve the public and be a good role model. Not really much different from football or all that positive guru business.
    Not really much different from a therapist “who donates more time than she bills,” Ali’s roommate was fond of pointing out. Josie, the nursing student Ali had taken into her home, helped in the office to cover her rent. Each month she reminded her boss that patient gratitude was not an acceptable form of payment for Ali’s mountain of student loans.
    Simba woofed lightly. She was restless to be going.
    “Just get it over with,” Ali reminded herself of the reason she was trespassing in the dark instead of cozy in front of her television with Josie and her snoring cat. Ali crossed to the front door and rang the bell. Several moments later the porch light blazed and the door swung open.
    The good lookin’ man before her was still every inch a fearsome linebacker. Except, of course, for the purse. He stood in the foyer with both strong arms extended. A paper plate covered in foil was balanced on one hand and her bag dangled from the other.
    “Nice accessorizing.” She was glad for something silly to say.
    “Thank you.” He turned it this way and that, checking it out. “It’s my favorite designer knockoff.”
    She pretended to squint disapproval and then snatched the strap from his hand.
    “What took you so long to come back?” His lips were pressed together in a meager effort not to grin.
    “I had to think it over for a few miles before I was ready to call and apologize.”
    He shook his head. “No apology is necessary if you meant what you said.”
    “Well, I did mean it, but I should have found a less confrontational way to express myself. Life has been a series of battles since I was about eight years old, so it’s second nature for me to be on the offensive.”
    “I’m up to it. My reputation with the Cowboys was built on being the best at defensive play. I held my ground against guys as unstoppable as runaway freight trains. I ought to be able to handle anything a beautiful woman can dish out, so bring it on.”
    She waved goodbye as she fanned away his challenge, then turned and headed for the Rover before the blush rushing up the column of her throat was visible beneath the home security lights. Once she was safely inside the vehicle she let the force of his words flow over her.
    He called me beautiful! Benjamin Lamar thinks I’m beautiful!
    As the silly old maid thought resounded in Ali’s mind, she mentally ground it beneath the heel of her boot, determined not to be distracted by empty flattery. He wasa politician. What female could ever be sure this man’s compliments were real? A woman shouldn’t let her head be turned by charming words—not if she was smart.
    There would be strings attached as long as he was looking for a vote. But how nice it might be to become entangled in those strings!

Chapter Ten
    B en muted the Monday evening news while he considered his daily conversation with Randy. It hadn’t gone well. Being an experienced lawyer, Randy quickly