Unfinished Hero - Raid Part 51

He pulled it open and pushed out the storm door, stepped on the front porch, turned right and stopped dead.

There was Hanna. In a wool sweater, scarf wrapped around her neck, wide flannel headband holding her hair back, but wrapped over her ears keeping them warm. The rest of her was wrapped in his black cashmere afghan that she took off their bed. Their swaddled son, also under the throw, was lying asleep on her chest.

She was in her swing, one leg up and bent, one foot to the porch, swaying them.

His chest burned at the sight.

Her eyes came to his and she smiled.

His chest eased.

He walked her way and sat in the wicker chair closest to them.

"Sick of winter. I want my bike," she informed him once he settled in.

"Time to plan a vacation to a beach," he replied.

"A beach where they have places to rent bikes," she amended, and he grinned.

He'd give her that.

He'd give Hanna Miller anything.

Her eyes dropped to his mouth and her lips tipped up.

That lip tip meant she knew he'd give her anything.

Then she turned her head, bent her neck and touched those smiling lips to the baby beanie covering Clay's head.

After that, her gaze moved to the yard.

Raid stretched out his legs, crossed them at the ankles and didn't take his eyes off his wife and child.

They stayed that way for a while. Silent. Comfortable. Together.

Hanna broke the quiet.

"It was a dare," she announced.

"Come again?" he asked.

She didn't move her eyes from the yard when she answered, "I've been thinking about it and figured it out. She knew what I'd do when she told me you were dangerous."

Raid felt his shoulders tense.

"What?" he asked.

Finally, her eyes came to his. "Grams. She loved you. She respected you. She wanted me to have you. She knew exactly who you were. She knew everything. And she was worried I might not go the distance. So she warned me off you, knowing the minute she did I would not back down. She did this by scaring the pants off me then telling me that if I saw it through, I'd know nothing sweeter in my whole life," she snuggled Clay closer before she rocked his world, "than the love you'd give to me."

Raid held her eyes.

"She was always right," Hanna finished, and that burn came back into his chest.

f.u.c.k.

f.u.c.k, but he loved his wife.

And he missed her great-grandmother.

"Raiden?" she called even though his eyes were locked on her.

"Right here, baby," he answered quietly.

"I figure she thought she knew something else and I have to know if she was right about that too."

"What?" he asked.

"Only you can answer," she told him.

"What is it, honey?"

She gave it to him.

"She knew you'd know nothing sweeter than the love I give to you."

Jesus, f.u.c.k.

"Was she right?" Hanna asked.

Raid held her eyes.

Then he unfolded his body from his chair, taking her in swaying on her porch swing with his son held close to her chest, wrapped up in home, warmth, comfort, nurture.

Love.

He got near and bent deep, put his face close to hers, looked into her pretty blue eyes and curled a hand around the side of her head.

Only then did he reply, "Absolutely."

Author's Note Readers of the Unfinished Heroes Series and loyal readers of my books will note that in Raid, I revisited a theme I have touched on before in other books, including the first book in this series, Knight.

This theme being Hanna's issues with her figure, primarily her stomach.

In the editing phase of this book, my editor, Chas, and I discussed this repet.i.tion and I thought long and hard about deleting references to Hanna's "pouch" and the two scenes in Chapter 13, "That Kind of Love", that explored Hanna's hang-ups with her body and Raid's response.

In finalizing this book, I found that, even though I was aware of this repet.i.tion and my readers would certainly notice it, I could not delete it.

I'll explain why.

First, I need to go where my characters take me and Hanna had a variety of lingering, though vague, issues regarding Raid's attraction to her after she crushed on him so long. It was important that Raid have the opportunity to sweep these away, one by one.

Second, there was a nuance of difference regarding this theme in this book as it manifests itself during s.e.x when Hanna adjusted Raid's lovemaking unconsciously in order to take his attention away from a part of her body that she disliked.

It's a sad fact of life that many women have hang-ups about their bodies and these can manifest themselves during intimacy in not very good ways. At best, it can inhibit the experience for them and their partner. At worst, it can take them out of "the zone" so what is being shared isn't all it could be or even not enjoyed at all.

I have many heart's desires and one of them is the slim chance that my books will guide women to accepting themselves as they are, having confidence in their bodies, brains and beauty and letting all that poison go so they can enjoy their lives, including s.e.xually. I know I'm drilling this home by repeating this theme. But I decided it was important enough to do it. So I left those bits in.

And last, those scenes in Chapter 13 are funny, sweet and hot. I liked them. Hanna liked them. Raid liked them. So we left them.

For my loyal readers, I hope this didn't take you out of those moments. They were left in with intent and the intent was good.

Actually, I hope you were so into the book, you didn't notice at all.

But if you did, now you know why I did it.

About the Author.

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

Discover other t.i.tles by Kristen Ashley.

Rock Chick Series: Rock Chick Rock Chick Rescue Rock Chick Redemption Rock Chick Renegade Rock Chick Revenge Rock Chick Reckoning Rock Chick Regret The *Burg Series: For You At Peace Golden Trail Games of the Heart The Colorado Mountain Series: The Gamble Sweet Dreams Lady Luck Breathe Dream Man Series: Mystery Man Wild Man Law Man Motorcycle Man The Fantasyland Series: Wildest Dreams The Golden Dynasty Fantastical The Three Series: Until the Sun Falls from the Sky With Everything I Am The Unfinished Hero Series: Knight Creed Other t.i.tles by Kristen Ashley: Fairytale Come Alive Heaven and h.e.l.l Lacybourne Manor Lucky Stars Mathilda, SuperWitch Penmort Castle Play It Safe Sommersgate House Three Wishes Connect with Kristen Online: Official Website: www.kristenashley.net Kristen's Blog: www.kristenashley.net/menu/blog.html.

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Table of Contents.

Raid BN Final for Publication.