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She claive voice to the overwhel hope that bubbled up that Travis would have a better future One where he was able to be what he was A teenager with no responsibilities save forout of trouble Not that she ever expected any issues in that quarter He was too solid Too responsible

He was a good kid--no, a man He was an adult before his time, but if Eve had her way, he’d rediscover his childhood from here on out

"You look like you’re a million miles away, Eve," Shea said in a quiet voice

Eve’s gaze flickered to where Travis was now across the roo with both of the boys now that they were out of their rasp

"Sorry," she said in a low voice "I was just thinking"

Her gaze moved from Travis to where Canated as the play area She and Charlotte were chattering like two -lost friends It sent warh Eve’s heart that her brother and sister had found acceptance in this huge, loving family

"Whatever it was couldn’t have been pleasant," Sarah ventured

Sophie leaned forward, her expression one of concern "Is so you, Eve? You can talk to us, you know We won’t betray your confidence"

Eve s believers in trust And the thing was, Eve absolutely believed they were trustworthy There was just so about the entire family that inspired one to believe in them and their intentions

"It’s just that Donovan had Travis co with his brothers and one of his tearateful that co to help, I wanted--needed--to knohat they were planning What they’re deciding"

Sarah nodded her understanding Shea reached over to squeeze Eve’s hand

"That’s perfectly understandable," Shea said "I’d want to be included in any conversation that dealt with ust "Typical men Or rather typical Kelly men They mean well, but their motto is to surround their women in bubble wrap and take on any and all threats in their stead If they had their e’d forever re that could potentially har"

Sarah chuckled "That about sums up Garrett in a nutshell"

Shea rolled her eyes "So why don’t you go back over there and demand to listen in?"

Eve’s eyes rounded "Oh, I couldn’t"

"Why not?" Sophie challenged, a fierce, deterlint in her eyes "Cammie and Travis can stay with us I know you don’t want to worry them, but it’s equally obvious that you’re worried sick and you aren’t going to feel better until you knohat’s going on I get that Donovan is trying to protect you But he doesn’t understand that not knowing is worse than being confronted hatever his plan is"

Eve slowly nodded "Yeah That about covers it"

"So go," Sarah quietly encouraged "We’ll hang out here with Careen light to bring theuys set this up for me--for us," Eve said "It was nice of you, and Ca"

"As do you," Sophie gently pointed out "But leave it to us We’re the queens of Internet shopping, remember?"

Shea elbowed her sharply "That’s hed "At any rate, we’ll take care of the essentials We have your sizes Shea and Sophie have excellent tastes in clothing And we’ll et Cammie and Travis what they need"

Eve wavered on the edge of indecision But the encourageave her the courage to do it

"Okay," she breathed out, pushing herself up from her perch on the couch "I’ll head over I just hope it doesn’t ry with me"

Sarah put her hand on Eve’s arhtly "Eve, I understand that you haven’t had much reason to put your faith in the male species But trust me when I say this Donovanon But he’ll understand even as his primitive instincts scream at him to haul you back to his cave by the hair, beat his chest and mutter my woman and wrap you in the bubble wrap Sophie hter Even Eve had to chuckle at the ie Sarah painted

"But my point is, Donovan wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head, nor would he hurt you emotionally He’s just not wired that way Of all the Kelly est, softest heart when it coht ar you"

Eve smiled "Thanks I needed to hear that I think I feel like such a ninny I’h in the end it did ood I’m not a woht o, then," Sophie encouraged "We’ll hold the fort down here and explain everything to Rachel, if she ever gets loose from the twin devils over there I swear I don’t kno such a soave birth to Satan’s spawn It has to be Ethan who is to blah from them all, and then came Rachel’s dry rejoinder from across the room

"I heard that"