A Family Forever by Helen Scott Taylor Page A

idea why your father treats her badly."
    "Of course. I wish I knew a way to stop him."
    "Don't worry about that. I have that under control."
    Felicity eyed him curiously. "I hope you succeed. Vicky's lucky to have you in her corner. Are you staying in the village?"
    "It's too far from London for me. Well, thanks for the chat. I'd better get back to Larchfield."
    Adam wandered to the window and watched Harry working for a few minutes. How could a man cut off his child and grandchildren? He couldn't think of anything that would make him stop loving his son.
    No wonder Andrews was a lonely, bitter old man.

Chapter Seven
    "Victoria."
    The sound of Adam's shout from the front of her cottage set Victoria's pulse racing. She hadn't been sure if she'd see him today. When they'd parted on Monday, nothing had been said about when they would get together again.
    She went to the door of the shed and called to him. "I'm out back with the hedgehogs."
    A few moments later he appeared around the side of the cottage, ducking beneath the overgrown shrubs and bushes that hung over the path, which were long overdue for a trim.
    He grinned as he came towards her. "I did knock but you obviously didn't hear me."
    She devoured the sight of him as he strode along the path, brown eyes crinkled with pleasure, the sun gleaming off his dark hair. She really should stop staring at him or he'd get the wrong idea. Retreating back into the shed, she finished mixing the milk for the baby hedgehogs.
    At the open door, Adam braced a hand on each side of the frame. His blue dress shirt stretched across his chest, the open buttons at the neck revealing a tantalizing glimpse of skin.
    "Did you get a chance to check out any more hedgehog release sites?" she asked.
    "No, sorry. I've had rather a busy day. We're going to eat at the pub tonight. I wondered if you and Sophie wanted to join us?"
    Victoria was torn. She'd love to spend time with Adam, but she had students' work to grade and a woman booked to bring in an injured hedgehog. "What time?"
    "Soon. I want to eat early before I move Harry and myself back into the pub for the night. The contractors have started work on Larchfield Hall and we're in the way."
    "I'd love to, Adam, but I don't think we can. Soph's not home yet. She has ballet class after school on Tuesdays." Victoria peeled back the top of her glove and checked her watch. "I'm not expecting her home for another hour, then I'll be busy."
    "Okay." He wandered closer, a hand in his pocket, and peered in the box at the baby hedgehogs she was about to feed. "I've got a few minutes. As your little helper isn't here tonight, would you like a hand?"
    "If you're sure you have time. Do you want to feed one of the babies?" She tossed him a pair of gloves.
    Once he was ready, she set the small syringe filled with milk on the shelf in front of him. "Pick the baby up like this." Victoria lifted a tiny, prickly creature out of the box and cradled it in her hand. "Now drip the milk in its mouth, one drip at a time. They don't need much."
    He held the hedgehog up and dripped milk on his glove, the floor, his shoe, and finally hit the creature's mouth, more by luck than judgment.
    "Good job, there." Victoria bit her lip to hold back her chuckle.
    "Not as easy as it looks, is it?" He cast her a wry sideways glance. His warm brown eyes, full of pleasure, tugged at her heart.
    "Hey, little guy. Drink up. That's right," he said.
    Victoria picked up another baby and fed it, but her gaze kept roving back to Adam, to his strong hand holding the tiny creature so carefully. What would it be like to be intimate with this man, to feel his gentle hands on her body, his strength surrounding her? He did strange things to her, made her want a relationship that she hadn't thought she needed.
    "I think Prickles here has had his fill."
    "That's okay. Put him back in his box."
    Adam gingerly set the tiny animal down and it huddled in its towel over the heating pad. "You want the box lid