Kentucky Home Read Online Free PDF

very nice dog. One day, when you’re ready, you can meet him properly. See if you guys get along.”
    She turned around and looked at Keith, this sweet, sexy man who held her hair when she threw up and didn’t laugh at her fear of dogs. “Thank you,” she said, and took his hand.
    That’s where Miss Libby found them as she climbed up the stairs with a mug of tea. “You poor thing,” she said, elbowing Keith out of the way and handing the mug to Mal. “Drink this; it’ll settle your stomach.” She put a protective arm around Mal’s waist and led her back into the bedroom.
    â€œSee you,” Keith practically grunted as he brushed past them in the bathroom doorway.
    â€œThat boy and his dog,” Miss Libby said, watching him go.
    Mal smiled, then laughed, and put her head down. Miss Libby brought her arms up and began to rock back and forth, rubbing Mal’s back. It felt good and comforting, but not nearly as good as Keith’s arms had, her voice not nearly as soothing as Keith’s. Mal’s laughter suddenly choked her and turned into tears.
    â€œWhoa, whoa, hey, none of that,” said Miss Libby, lifting her chin up and wiping her tears with her thumb. “What’s this about?”
    Mal tried to explain; she wasn’t entirely sure herself. Every time she tried to articulate why she was crying, it just got worse. She didn’t like lying and it was stressing her out, she was angry that she was such a chicken around dogs, she was sad that she couldn’t have a normal fiancé whose family would take her in because they were engaged for real, but mostly she was frustrated that while she was engaged to one handsome Carson brother, she was thinking about another one entirely.
    She decided to keep that last part to herself.
    Maybe all of it, but especially that last part.
    â€œI’m sorry. I’m causing such a fuss.”
    â€œNone of that,” Miss Libby clucked. “It’s nice to have someone new to fuss over. It’s my bread and butter, sweetie. Besides, you make me feel appreciated.” She smiled. “Now, I have some bad news about Luke,” Miss Libby said kindly.
    Mal’s eyes widened in panic. “What happened to Luke? Is he OK?”
    â€œOh, he’s fine. But did you know that I don’t sleep well? I have a tendency to putter around the house in the middle of the night.” Mal nodded, not understanding. “So I saw him leave your room at three o’clock this morning.”
    Mal blushed.
    â€œThat’s right, you should look chagrined. But Luke told me nothing untoward happened, and I believe him. Not that it would do much good. Anyway, he told me he had to leave town for a few days.”
    â€œWhat? Why?”
    â€œYou might as well get used to it if you’re not already. That boy cannot sit still. He’s always out, chasing his next big thing. He told me he had a few things to take care of and he’ll be back in a few days, and in the meantime, I’m to take good care of you.” She pulled a piece of notebook paper out of her robe pocket. “And he gave me this for you.”

    Mal—
    I know you’ll be surprised to wake up alone, but don’t worry. I have a big opportunity I have to follow up on or it will fall through. Wipe that worried look off your face; it has nothing to do with Michael. You’re fine with my family and I’ll be back soon. I love you, darlin’, even if it’s not that way.
    Luke

    â€œDid you read this?” she asked Miss Libby.
    â€œIs it addressed to me?” she responded. Mal looked down at the note, her eyes watering. “Oh, now don’t you start that again. He’ll be back. He wouldn’t have left you here with us if he wasn’t coming back.”
    â€œJust residual effects of the shock, I guess,” Mal lied, wiping her eyes. “And the kindness.”
    Miss Libby looked like she