Love a Woman Right (The American Soldier Collection 17)

t want to look him in the eyes, but for some reason, the fact that Lois and her son looked scared and acted scared whenever he was around bothered him.

He looked at Kenny, who watched him closely but also remained next to Evan. It seemed to Ghost that Evan had gained the kid’s trust. He felt a little jealous, and for all sorts of reasons. Ghost nodded at the kid.

“Are you helping your momma?” he asked Kenny.

Kenny looked timid, his eyes wide and unsure. Ghost knew he had a deep voice, and he also didn’t mean to sound so abrupt, but that was his way. He wasn’t going to change for anyone.

Kenny nodded his head.

“Good boy,” he told him and then walked closer.

Kenny wiggled on the seat and appeared like he would move and Ghost shook his head, indicating he not move. Kenny remained still. There was one small spot to sit next to him and Ghost took it and then brought his eyes back to Lois. She stood to the right of Kenny, placing more dough onto the large baking sheets. Evan and Laverty were bagging the cookies and Kenny was placing the labels on them. Kenny kept looking up, watching Ghost. He could see him in his peripheral vision, but Ghost’s eyes were locked on Lois.

She looked good. The fitted T-shirt she wore showed off toned arms. She was thin, though, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she was eating right or if that worried, scared expression she held most of the time kept her from taking care of herself. The thought upset him. It was just an instinctual guess. Then, as she bent down, he caught sight of the deep cleavage of her breasts. She was well-endowed for such a little thing. She had a narrow waist and long, shapely legs. The shorts she wore weren’t too short, left a lot for the imagination, and definitely weren’t the kind of shorts most young women wore.

He didn’t know why her conservative style made him have more questions, but it did. Ghost pulled his attention from her sexy body to the kid as he saw Kenny’s arm wrap around his mom’s waist as he slid off the chair. Ghost was shocked when Kenny pressed his mom away from him. It bothered him that the kid was frightened by him, too, and seemed to think he could hurt Lois. What had the kid seen in the past? Had he witnessed his father abuse Lois? His cousins didn’t give them many details, except that Kenny was present during the attack and was held down by his father’s friend. Sure, that would be traumatic, but the look in Kenny’s eyes said there was more fear there, and especially with men around his mom.

“Kenny, come on over here and help me with these bags. You’re really good at being careful when you’re packaging them,” Laverty said to Kenny.

“I don’t want to,” he said and stared at Ghost.

“Why not?” Ghost asked him and then looked at Lois.

“I’m tired,” he said to Ghost.

“I called Aunt Val. She should be coming over soon to get you,” Lois told her son and caressed his hair.

Just then there was a knock at the back door. Evan got up to answer it and saw it was Val through the screen. “Come on in.”

“Wow, this is gorgeous in here. You weren’t kidding when you said you had plenty of room for Lois to bake,” Valentina said and smiled. She said hello to all of them and then looked at Kenny.

“Are you all set?” she asked him.

Kenny looked at Lois and then Ghost, and then back to Lois.

“Will you be okay, Mamma?” he asked her and she smiled and gave him a hug. “Of course I will be. Remember, I’m right next door.” He nodded and hugged her and then looked at Ghost again before he grabbed Valentina’s hand and they headed out of the kitchen.

It was quiet once Kenny left. He glanced at his brothers and their eyes were on Lois as she wiped her hands and then stretched her sore muscles.

“Come here,” Laverty said to her.

She stared at him a moment. He smiled. Intimidating, quiet Laverty patted the seat between his legs as he sat on the high stool by the island and gave her a wink. Slowly, she walked over to him.

He turned her around and then ran his hands up her back to her shoulders. Her eyes closed a moment.

“You’re working so hard. You haven’t sat down in hours. No wonder you’re so tense.”

“You’ve been helping me, too. I appreciate it. I don’t know how I can thank you. For everything,” she said and turned her head toward Laverty. He smiled.

“Spending time with you is plenty thanks. Plus Kenny is getting more comfortable with us, too. That’s important.”

She tensed a moment and pulled away from him. He squinted his eyes at her but didn’t say anything. Ghost wanted to. He wanted to question her response to his brother’s kind words. It seemed like she didn’t want them to get close to Kenny, or to gain his trust.

“Those jelly-filled ones smell incredible, Lois. Are they ready yet?” Evan asked. She smiled. “I think so. I hope they taste good. I did use your mom’s jelly preserves she made.”

“They have to be delicious, combining your sugar cookie and the jelly. Let me try one,” Evan said to her.

She reached over to the tray and lifted a cookie off the sheet. She held it in her hand and then offered it to Evan, but Ghost was closer.