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Annie shook her head, staring at him.
"I don't like most people, but I like you and your mom. And Cupcake."
Annie burst into a big smile. "I like you, too."
"Me, too," Phoebe said. "I guess we're all weird, then."
"I love being weird," Jacob said.
"Me, too," Phoebe agreed.
"Me, three!"
Relief rushed through Jacob at Annie's exuberance. They'd pulled her through the stress of the transition and meeting Lucas. The kid was relaxed and happy. He made a promise to himself that he was going to make sure she stayed that way. He was going to keep her safe, both physically and emotionally. Maybe he could save her from a life of shadows in a way he'd never been able to save himself. "Anyone want to go meet the horses?"
"Yes!" Annie clapped her hands. "Where are they?"
He nodded. "Ask your dog."
They all turned to see Cupcake sniffing around the door of the barn and whining. Jacob had been keeping an eye on the dog the whole time they'd been talking, ensuring he didn't wander or get into trouble. That dog was Annie's lifeline, and he was going to make sure the pup was safe.
"Cupcake!" Annie jumped to her feet and raced across the grass toward her puppy.
Jacob started to stand up to go after her, but Phoebe stopped him with her hand to his arm. "Jacob."
He turned to Phoebe, surprised by the softness in her face. "What's up?"
"The way you and your brother transformed her terror into confidence was incredible. Thank you for that."
He grinned and put his hand over hers. "Every Hart was Annie at one point in our lives. We understand that, and we're all hardwired to try to help kids through it."
Phoebe smiled. "Well, then, we're pretty freaking lucky that some sociopath chased us into your life." She leaned forward and gave him an impulsive kiss on the cheek, before hopping to her feet and jogging after her daughter.
Jacob didn't move for a long moment, stunned by her kiss.
It had been nothing more than a fleeting touch, but it had struck him in his gut. He couldn’t remember the last time he'd let a woman touch him, let alone kiss him. He didn't trust anyone enough to let them that close, except his family.
But with Phoebe, it was different. He could still feel her lips on his cheek, her hand on his arm, and he loved it. He wanted more. He wanted more from Phoebe, from this family, from life.
But the moment he thought it, Jacob knew he had to let it go.
Phoebe and Annie deserved so much more than the broken fuck-up he was. He had to keep his distance. Keep them safe. From whoever was after them, but also from him.
CHAPTER SIX
The man who Eliana had sent to rescue them might be an angel.
Phoebe stood in the doorway of the first stall with Annie, watching as Jacob greeted his horse, Freedom.
The horse was a massive animal. Pitch black. Scars across his chest and on his front legs. He was a little underweight, his coat still a little dull, but the light in the animal's eyes when Jacob had walked into his stall had been heart-melting.
The horse had practically run across the large, clean bed of shavings and buried his face in Jacob's chest. Jacob had stood there with the horse for a long moment, talking softly, while Annie clung to Phoebe's hand, watching the incredibly intimate moment.
Annie tugged on Phoebe's hand, bouncing in place as she waited for her turn.
She didn't say anything, and neither did Phoebe. She felt like they'd been given a secret glimpse into a private moment.
After a few minutes, Freedom pulled his head away from Jacob's chest and looked over at Phoebe and Annie.
