Unsafe Haven (8 page)

Kendall raised a hand to knock on the door, but her knuckles hesitated three inches from the wood. She shifted from one foot to the other. The cold early-evening breeze slithered over her exposed knees and her calf-length boots did nothing to keep it at bay.

I can walk away. I can get into the truck and drive.

Unfortunately for her, not very far. Certainly not far enough away to avoid Denn Nulo, who’d probably come after her and either demand an explanation, or else insist she return his truck keys. Living in a region where the roads stopped less than twenty or so miles in any direction meant she couldn’t escape unless she owned a boat or could commandeer a plane.

She raised her hand again, grazing the wood so softly anyone beyond the door would never hear a thing.

You’re a damned coward, Kendall.
Her shoulders slumped in defeat as she huddled at Denn’s door like a scared rabbit.

Once again she was in danger of allowing her past to direct her future. If she didn’t fix it, now, she’d miss out on so much.

Hadn’t she worked hard to bolster her shortcomings? Disastrous relationships aside, she’d succeeded enough to relocate to a new place and begin a brand-new life. Although her relocation felt more like running away, she’d still taken charge and improved her prospects.

And now, a handsome man acted as if he’d like to be the one to cherish her. As if he’d like to fall in love with her.

Fuck you, Roy. I deserve this.

With renewed resolve, she rapped her knuckles sharply on the door, which was immediately opened by Denn’s sister.

Luna stood in the doorway and gawked at her. “You’re wearing a skirt.” Her high-pitched voice bordered on petulant. Kendall’s lips twitched into a smile at the accusatory tone. In her bright yellow ribbed sweater and ripped-at-the-knees jeans, Luna looked adorably young. Her dark eyes flashed aggression as well as insecurity. Kendall could easily relate to both emotions.

How many times had she stared at herself in the mirror and seen the same conflict in her own eyes?

This little girl could sure use a big sister.

And just like that, everything seemed to snap into place. Kendall edged forward, stepped into the dim foyer, and held out the covered bowl she’d brought. “Hi, Luna. It’s nice to see you again. I made dessert.”

Luna frowned and stuck her hands behind her back. “I thought you were going to make salad. I’m a diabetic. I can’t have dessert.” But she stared longingly at the bowl in Kendall’s hands.

Poor kid.
Kendall resisted the urge to drop the bowl on the nearest surface and snuggle Luna. Instead, she kept her smile cheerful. “I made both.” She pointed at the bowl in her hands. “This is sugar-free rice pudding. You eat rice?” She lifted a corner of the foil covering the bowl so Luna could see inside.

Luna nodded, wide-eyed.

“Well, rice pudding is very yummy. And it’s good for you, too. Better if you don’t cook it with real sugar.”

“I’ve never had it before. I can really eat it? I won’t get sick?” Luna raised uncertain eyes to Kendall.

“Not as long as you don’t try to eat the entire bowl at one sitting. I used to have it for breakfast when I was a kid. My mom made it for me all the time.” Kendall smoothed the foil over the bowl and handed it to her. “Here, you take this. I have to go back to the truck and grab the salad.”

“I’ll get it,” Denn murmured into her ear, and Kendall jumped. She hadn’t seen or heard him come to the door. He smiled at her. “Evening, Kendall. You look very nice.” Before she could do anything other than blush, he slipped out. She stared after him for a few seconds, unable to help herself, before she shut the door.

With a glance at the pale tan carpeting under her feet, she didn’t hesitate to unzip her boots and leave them by the door. Luna had already skipped ahead of her and Kendall followed her into the kitchen. She looked around curiously as Luna opened the fridge. From outside, the single-story, split-cedar house hadn’t appeared very big, but obviously appearances could be deceiving.

She almost sighed aloud in delight as she took in the lemon-yellow walls, offset by oak woodwork and cabinets. A selection of well-used, copper-bottomed pots hung from the ceiling, and rust-colored tiles covered the floor. Everything shone, from the porcelain sink to the moose-shaped salt-and-pepper shakers on the wide stovetop.

Kendall smiled at Luna as she took a seat at the table. “This is a wonderful kitchen. Do you like to cook, Luna?”

The girl shrugged and flipped her braid over one shoulder. “Sometimes. Denn’s teaching me. I like making pot roast.” She played with the ends of her plait, tickled the tip of her nose with it. Then her face slipped into an endearing pout. “But we’re not having it tonight. Denn made halibut.”

“Yes, he told me.” Kendall smoothed her hands over her skirt. “So, your brother does the cooking? Is he any good at it? Because most guys don’t like to step foot in a kitchen. They give you a look when you ask them to help out.” She purposely scrunched her face into a sour frown, which made Luna giggle.

“Denn’s a super cook. He’s even better than Jo, and Jo’s the
best.
” She darted over to a cupboard and pulled out heavy earthenware plates. “Do you want to help me set the table?”

“Sure.” Kendall laid the plates on woven mats, enjoying the simple, homey task. A movement at the doorway caught her attention and she turned to see Denn standing there, tenderness in his eyes as he regarded his sister. He swung those eyes to Kendall and a slow smile formed on his lips. Heat suffused her cheeks at the promise his smile revealed.

She folded paper napkins and arranged them next to each plate, conscious of the way Denn held back on purpose in order to give her and Luna some time to get to know each other.
As if it matters to him.
She ducked her head to keep her overly warm cheeks hidden.

All through dinner, Luna monopolized the conversation. She talked about school and how much fun Jeffie, Jo’s oldest boy, was to hang out with. She dissed on one of the other girls in her class who chased after Jeffie all the time. She compared notes with Kendall about makeup and movies.

But most importantly, while she chattered away, she also ate everything on her plate without complaint. Most of the time, Denn had to bribe her, then issue threats before she’d touch any kind of vegetable. But tonight, she ate the potatoes, the salad, even the green beans and slivered almonds he’d sautéed in olive oil. And she’d had two servings of halibut casserole.

He set the bowl of rice pudding on the table, and Luna’s face lit up. “I can eat this ‘cause it’s made without sugar.” When Denn eyed her in mock-suspicion, she turned to Kendall and beseeched, “Kendall, tell him.”

Denn treated them to some teasing skepticism. “Sugarless pudding? I never heard of such a thing.” Prepared to enjoy himself, he crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. “You’re both pulling my leg.”

“No we’re not, honest. It doesn’t have any sugar in it. She made it just for me so I wouldn’t get sick when I ate it.” Luna bounced on her chair and waved her spoon and dessert dish around.

“Well, I don’t know . . .” He counted to five under his breath, and shifted on his seat when she dropped her dish and spoon, flew at him, then landed on his lap. Her thin fingers grabbed for his armpits and he let her gouge him, laughing not so much because it tickled but because it made him happy to see her acting like a normal kid.

Finally, out of breath, Luna leaned against him and batted her lashes. “Please, can I have some pudding? I promise I won’t eat too much. I’ll do all the dishes.”

“Denn, put your sister out of her misery,” Kendall admonished, her eyes bright with humor.

All he wanted to do was reach over the table and grab her into a hug for how she’d already bonded with his baby sister. He hadn’t seen Luna this playful in so long.

“Denn . . .” Luna wheedled, on her feet again and brandishing both spoon and dish. Kendall slumped in her seat with a hand over her mouth.

He pointed to the bowl of pudding. “Okay. But serve our guest first.” He grinned at her ecstatic squeal and kept an eye on how much she took for herself, once she’d filled Kendall’s dish, and then his. He dipped a spoon into the pudding and took a bite as Luna let out an exclamation of rapture over the taste. He ate another bite. It
was
damned good. In no time at all, he cleaned his dish and considered seconds.

“I’ll give you the recipe. It’s very easy to make,” Kendall offered. She nudged the bowl closer to him. Denn gave in to the urge to stuff himself with another helping, which encouraged Luna to swipe half his pudding. He slapped teasingly at his sister’s hand, but let her spoon it out of his dish. It did his heart good to see her having fun.

After dinner, Kendall insisted on doing the dishes and roped Luna into helping her. While Denn jumped in his Suburban and did his evening rounds, Kendall took advantage of the opportunity to get to know Luna better. The child was delightful, once she let down her guard and allowed herself to act like any other thirteen-year-old. Funny, smart, pretty as a fresh daisy and with a goofy sense of humor, Luna kept her laughing while they washed the dishes and put them away.

“I wish we had a dishwasher.” Luna swung her braid over her shoulder as she wiped down the stovetop. “But every time I ask Denn, he says our septic won’t handle it. Then he points to me and says we already have one.” She blew her bangs out of her eyes and tossed the dishcloth in the sink. “He’s such a snot.”

Kendall wiped her hands on a paper towel and gave an understanding smile. “Big brothers aren’t always easy, I’d say.”

“Do you have brothers? Or sisters?” Luna leapt nimbly onto the counter and swung her feet back and forth.

“No, I’m an only child. I always wanted a sister, though, or a brother. It got kind of lonely sometimes.” She dug a package of gum out of her purse and held out a piece. “Here, sugar-free bubblegum.” She waited until Luna crammed the pink square into her mouth, before giving into the temptation to brush the hair out of her eyes. It thrilled her that Luna allowed the caress.

“Our mom had me late. That’s what Denn always said. His father died when he was just a kid. Then our mom met my dad a few years later. Denn was my age when I was born.” Luna blew an enormous bubble and let it pop all over her lips and nose. “Mom and my dad never got married, so Denn helped take care of me when I was a baby. My dad left and went to Canada.” Her words were muffled as she cleaned off the sticky goo, using the remainder of the gum wad to get the excess. Sadness clouded her pretty eyes.

Oh, sweetheart.
Kendall’s arms ached to hold her. She’d suspected Denn and his sister had different parents. It was in the shape of the face and along the line of the chin. She wasn’t surprised to have her suspicions confirmed, but it broke her heart to think this sad-eyed young girl would have been made to feel unwanted.

Softly, she asked, “Did you ever see your dad again?”

Luna shook her head. “No. And Mom didn’t ever meet anyone else. Denn went to Anchorage when I was five and only came home when he got breaks from school.” She turned partly away, but Kendall could see how Luna blinked rapidly, as if trying to keep tears from falling. “Then he had to come home anyway, when our mom died. He had to leave college and take care of me again.” She knuckled one eye.

Kendall couldn’t hold back any longer and silently extended her arms. After a few seconds, Luna slid off the counter and ventured closer. Her head came to rest on Kendall’s shoulder and she heaved a sigh. Kendall hugged her and massaged her narrow shoulders.

“I’m not a baby, you know.” The defiant words were a mumble against Kendall’s neck.

“I know. Maybe I need a snuggle, too.” Kendall eased away enough to look into Luna’s face. “I don’t have any parents, either. They died, years ago. Car crash,” she explained when Luna’s eyes widened in question. “I was only eighteen, getting ready for college when it happened.”

“That’s awful. What did you do?”

Kendall swallowed the sudden panic that still arose too often for comfort and searched for the right words to offer Luna.

What did I do? Why, I walked into the arms of a monster. That’s the stupid thing I did.

Of course, she’d never say it aloud. Instead, she tucked another lock of wayward hair behind Luna’s ear and tried for reassurance. “I kept on living, honey. It’s all any of us can do when we’re faced with a tragedy.” She gave Luna a squeeze, then let her go, and pretended not to notice the flush riding high on the girl’s rounded cheeks.

“Why don’t we change the subject to something more cheerful?” Glancing around, Kendall noticed a few CDs stacked on the corner of the counter. “What kind of music do you like?”

Instantly, Luna’s eyes brightened, and she caught Kendall’s hand, pulling her out of the kitchen and into the living room. “I
love
music. I spend all of my babysitting money on CDs. My friends use those iTune things, but I like having CDs better. I love books, too.” She moved to a bookshelf with louvered doors and opened them, revealing neatly organized CDs. Two lower shelves groaned under the weight of paperbacks and stacks of comics.

Kendall goggled at the display. “Good grief. Those are all yours?”

“The CDs are all mine. Denn keeps his in his room.” Luna pointed to the lower shelves. “Most of the books are mine, but all the comics are his. He’s a real goof.” Luna fingered several of the CDs, then handed one with a familiar-looking cover to Kendall. “Do you like Alan Parsons? I think they’re so cool.”

The copy of
Ammonia Avenue
was spotless, though Kendall could tell it had already been opened and probably played. Unbelievable, a girl Luna’s age spending her money on eclectic music from the Eighties.

She said, “I have this on vinyl. In fact, it was one of the last LPs my dad ever bought.” To test Luna’s musical knowledge, Kendall gestured with the CD. “What’s your favorite track?”

“I like “Don’t Answer Me.” It was my mom’s favorite, too,” Luna replied, her eyes suddenly sad again. “We played it so much, we wore it out. I bought this one last month as a replacement.” She pulled out another CD and showed it to Kendall. “Mom gave me this one right before she . . . before she died. She gave me a bunch of her music.” Her hand cradled the well-worn CD cover. “She really loved Pink Floyd.”

“I’ve got that one, too.” Kendall smiled at the memory of playing
Dark Side of the Moon,
over and over again when she wasn’t much older than Luna. “My mother liked classical music, but Dad and I always went right to the good stuff. Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, The Romantics. Most of the time it drove my mother crazy.”