Safe In His Arms

Safe In His Arms
Anna J. Stewart

She's pushed everyone away… …but is he her forever? Ex-soldier Kendall craves solitude after a heartbreaking accident, and she finds it in the small town of Butterfly Harbor. That’s until handsome writer Hunter MacBride moves into town with his orphaned niece, Phoebe. Their arrival triggers painful memories for Kendall of the family and life she lost—but Hunter also shows her the promise of a life she could still have, if she’s prepared to take the risk…

She’s pushed everyone away...

...but is he her forever?

Ex-soldier Kendall craves solitude after a heartbreaking accident, and she finds it in the small town of Butterfly Harbor. That’s until handsome writer Hunter MacBride moves into town with his orphaned niece, Phoebe. Their arrival triggers painful memories for Kendall of the family and life she lost—but Hunter also shows her the promise of a life she could still have, if she’s prepared to take the risk...

Bestselling author ANNA J. STEWART was the girl on the playground spinning in circles waiting for her Wonder Woman costume to appear or knotting her hair like Princess Leia. A Stephen King fan from early on, she can’t remember a time when she wasn’t making up stories or didn’t have her nose stuck in a book. She currently writes sweet and spicy romances for Mills & Boon, spends her free time at the movies, at fan conventions or cooking and baking, and spends most every night wrangling her two kittens, Rosie and Sherlock, who love dive-bombing each other from the bed...and other places. Her house may never be the same.

Also By Anna J. Stewart (#u950b5442-1c8e-5ede-bf35-5a1a95028e32)

Return of the Blackwell Brothers

The Rancher’s Homecoming

Butterfly Harbor Stories

Holiday Kisses

Always the Hero

A Dad for Charlie

Recipe for Redemption

The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor

Christmas, Actually

“The Christmas Wish”

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).

Safe in His Arms

Anna J. Stewart

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ISBN: 978-1-474-09748-2

SAFE IN HIS ARMS

© 2019 Anna J. Stewart

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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It was hard, Kendall thought.

She didn’t want to see a father and daughter curled up on the sofa, reading books and playing board games. She didn’t want to bond over a roaring fire or hot soup or cuddle up against the storm. She didn’t want to remember. Kendall tipped her head back and let the rain fall on her face. She didn’t want to forget. She wanted to just stay here, in this spot, and let the rain and wind take her away.

“Kendall.” Hunter’s hold eased. He stepped back, offered his hand instead. “Please.”

Kendall looked over her shoulder to where Phoebe stood in the window, her tiny nose pressed against the glass in between splayed hands. Kendall couldn’t do this. She couldn’t spend endless hours looking at a little girl who reminded her so much of the daughter she’d lost. She couldn’t...

She took a deep, shuddering breath, looked down at Hunter’s hand.

And placed her trembling one in his.

Dear Reader (#u950b5442-1c8e-5ede-bf35-5a1a95028e32),

From the time Kendall Davidson walked onto the page in Always the Hero, I could not wait to tell her story. Writing about a female veteran of the Afghan war was a responsibility I took very seriously; so seriously, I second-guessed myself, hoping I was doing my fictional military heroine a fraction of the justice so many of our servicemen and servicewomen deserve.

I knew it would require a special man to convince Kendall love was worth taking a chance on, but other than that, he was a blank slate. Correction: I knew Hunter MacBride would need an advantage in his fight to win Kendall’s heart—his niece Phoebe, a child in need of the kind of help only Kendall understands. The more books I write, the more I realize just how resilient the human heart is.

This story, like all the Butterfly Harbor romances, is about the healing power of love and acceptance, friendship, community and hope. Here’s wishing that Kendall and Hunter’s (and Phoebe’s) journey to their happily-ever-after finds a place in your heart.

Anna J

For Aimee Costa-Schmitz.