Free Dylan's Daddy Dilemma (The Colorado Fosters Book 04) by Tracy Madison Page B

don’t understand.”
    “What is it you don’t understand?”
    “I... It’s just that you keep...” Overwhelmed, she closed her mouth and dropped her gaze to the floor. “I don’t understand why you’re so kind to someone you don’t know.”
    “It’s called lending a helping hand. You’re right, we’ve barely met, but one thing has already become crystal clear,” he said, speaking softly. “You question kindness, seemingly at every turn. How is it you’ve had such bad luck that you can’t trust in basic human goodness?”
    “How is it that you’ve had such good luck that you can?” The question flew from her mouth, unbidden, and she wished—oh, how she wished—that she could take it back. She felt visible. Vulnerable. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
    “I think it does. I think you’ve been taught that trusting in kindness is a mistake.”
    One long step and he stood in front of her. Close. So close she could lean into him, into his strength, if she so chose. Of course, she didn’t. The thought was...entirely unreasonable. Besides which, he was wrong. Kindness had nothing to do with her ability to trust.
    She just didn’t trust, period.
    “Maybe I’m just smart,” she said. “Maybe what I’ve learned is that too many people only care for themselves and what they can get out of any given situation.”
    He winced slightly, and she wondered if there was a story there, behind that wince.
    “I’m sorry for that, for whatever brought you to that conclusion, and it’s always smart to be aware,” Dylan said. “But I’d like to believe that most people are honestly kind, because most people know that they can’t do everything on their own. You gotta know that, too.”
    Oh, she did. But she was too afraid of all the potential fallouts to not do everything on her own. And this was not a topic she was prepared to discuss. Ever, really. Particularly now, when her world lay crumbled at her feet and she had zero stability.
    Raising her chin a stubborn notch, she said, “If we’re going to Haley’s, we need to do so now. Otherwise, I’m taking Henry and finding a motel. On my own.”
    “Sure,” he said easily. Another long, intense look passed between them. “You’ll have to meet my family first, as they’re with Henry at the moment and they’ll want to say hi. It’s nothing to worry about, and we’ll be in and out lightning fast.”
    No, no, no. Meeting more Fosters was not on her agenda. “Why?”
    “Why what?”
    “Why do I have to meet them, and why do they care if they meet me?” she asked, speaking slowly and purposefully. “I’m no one to them.”
    “Ah...because that’s how my family is, and I wouldn’t say you’re no one. They’ve met your son. They know you stayed the night here and that you’re new to Steamboat Springs. Why wouldn’t they want to meet you?” Every inch of his body, from his long legs to the straight, even line of his shoulders, tensed. “They’re interested and curious. That’s all there is to it.”
    Oh, she was pretty sure there was something more to it, but she couldn’t say what. And arguing would only slow her down, whether she won the argument or not. “Fine,” she said, choosing the path of least resistance. “So long as it’s fast. I mean it, Dylan.”
    “Fifteen minutes, Chelsea,” Dylan said with an easy smile. “And we’ll be out of here.”
    Relieved, she nodded and forced her legs to carry her forward. None of this seemed real. Or sane. Because, despite Dylan’s assurances to the contrary, most people did not put themselves out to help strangers. Oh, they might offer their bus seat to an elderly person, or give directions to someone who was lost, or any number of less disruptive acts of kindness.
    But everything that had transpired since Dylan had found her in her car last night seemed more than the typical. Kind, yes. Helpful, without a doubt. And she was appreciative.
    She just couldn’t stop herself from wondering