Free Into His Keeping by Gail Faulkner Page A

sportsmanship. Never once had he discussed where his relentless drive came from, not with anyone. It was private, that dark part of him that had held the memory of her in his clutches had grown into a ruthless opponent in every way.
     
    Sometimes his drive to win had almost overwhelmed him, tempting him down a much more dangerous path. Each time the thing that’d held him back from the shortcuts of drugs or steroids, of bending the rules and taking risks had been the thought of her reaction if she ever found out.
     
    Watching others get caught in sports scandals had convinced him that it couldn’t be covered up. It’d be as public as his successes. He couldn’t risk her seeing that.
     
    She’d both driven him and guarded him. His demon and his angel.
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Jill woke to the feel of her “mattress” trying to stealthily slide out from under her. She didn’t open her eyes as she rolled over off him. “What time is it?” Jill asked as she hugged a pillow that suddenly slid up beside her.
     
    Holdin was now sitting looking down at her.
     
    “Six a.m. Go back to sleep, baby.”
     
    “Mmm, where’re you goin’?”
     
    “I work out in the mornings. Gets it out of the way.” Holdin leaned down and brushed his lips over her cheek. “Is the headache gone?” he questioned into her ear as his thick arms braced him over her.
     
    Jill opened one eye slowly to test her light sensitivity. The room apparently wasn’t on the sunrise side of the house. It was still shadowed. “No pain,” she mumbled, and shut the eye again. Her arms tightened around the pillow she hugged. Her knees came up slightly and her body relaxed into sleep. Just that quickly.
     
    Holdin stood, hands on hips and stared down at her. He struggled with dragging himself out of the room. The raw view of her pain last night had gone a long way toward bridging the distance between them but it had cost him. The price of regaining a relationship would be steep for both of them. Each had been to a very dark place in the last fifteen years. Climbing out of that place was a journey that had built two adults who were strangers. He didn’t even know if she was a morning person or not. Was this sleep one of deep peace or was it simply her habit in the morning?
     
    “It’s seriously creepy when you do that,” Drifter commented from the door to the hall.
     
    Holdin’s head whipped around in surprise that didn’t last long. “When I do what?” he asked as he strode to the door and out, closing it softly behind him.
     
    “When you stand there staring at her while she sleeps.”
     
    Holdin smiled easily and put a hand on Drifter’s shoulder, subtly drawing the boy with him as he strode to his own room. “Yeah? I guess I still can’t believe she’s here. I’ll get over it. What are you doin’ up?”
     
    They stopped at the next door down the hall, Holdin’s room. “I have a couple things I need to check on.” Drifter glanced up and down Holdin’s nearly nude body. “What were you doing in there?”
     
    “I slept in there,” Holdin answered honestly, a little curious where this would lead.
     
    “You do realize the goal is less stress, right?” Drifter’s tone said he doubted Holdin’s ability to comprehend that. “If this is a problem, we have to leave. She can’t afford it.”
     
    Holdin wanted to smile as he looked at his son. It was amazing, but the boy’s unflinching attitude made him so damn proud. Little man was dealing with the facts, calculating possible outcomes and formulating a plan of action to deal with them.
     
    “Relax. Your mother and I can handle our relationship. What are you checking on?” Holdin asked in a casual tone as he opened the door to his room and led the way in.
     
    Drifter didn’t follow, just stood in the doorway to reply. “If you’re telling me it’s none of my business, forget it. What happens to her is my business. Especially now. Will she be upset when she gets