Bound by Honor. Diana Palmer

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СКАЧАТЬ expression went thunderous again. Lorna watched as his stern mouth moved to shape a succinct profanity.

      Melanie’s, “Oh my gosh!” was as fervent as if she’d actually heard the silent word across the phone line. “I’ll be right over.”

      “We’ll give him five minutes, then come over.”

      “And you’ll explain why you gave him five more minutes when I get over there, right?”

      “Right.”

      Mel hung up and Lorna reached over to put the receiver in its cradle.

      “You need to leave now, Mr. Ellery,” she said as she leaned back in the chair and looked up at him. “My friend lives across the hall, she doesn’t own a can of pepper spray, but she’s fiercely loyal and very protective.” She couldn’t help a weary smile. “You could very well find yourself on the drive home reeking of either cooking spray, furniture polish or the soap scum remover she might substitute.”

      “Can she make you a sandwich? Get your blood sugar up?”

      The questions were another surprise and hinted that he felt at least a particle of genuine care. And that touched her. Lorna felt her resentment toward him mellow.

      “I’m sure she can do better than a simple sandwich. She’s a fabulous cook. Which reminds me. She might bring over a wire whisk or a potato masher. Have you ever seen what a wire whisk or a potato masher can do to the average tyrant? They’ve done all sorts of studies, and the photographs are pretty gruesome.”

      His formidable expression eased, and she sensed something in his stern personality give way. The faint curve of his harsh mouth was probably as close to a real smile as she’d ever see from him. But if he was truly amused, he didn’t remark on it.

      “She’ll look after you tonight?”

      The caring that implied was suddenly painful for her and her faint smile dropped away. “Why on earth would you care?” The words were out before she’d thought them through.

      Suddenly he bent down and braced his big fists on the chair arms. His face was very close now and the thrill that whirled over her was shockingly sexual.

      “If not for this thing with Kendra, I might have found you…interesting.”

      It was a blunt admission that shocked her to her toes. She fumbled for a way to answer that.

      “And what will you find when the blood test proves that Kendra is my sister?”

      Now he was angry again because his expression seemed to turn to stone in front of her. “It won’t.”

      “It will, Mr. Ellery. And when it does, it won’t change a single thing, because Doris will never acknowledge it.” Saying that out loud sent a flood of old hurt surging up and she felt her eyes sting. She struggled to defy it, her gaze never wavering from the harsh lights in his as she declared, “In fact, unless I miss my guess, Doris will never submit to a blood test herself.”

      “She will because it’ll put an end to you.”

      She’d made him angry again and saying that was his retaliation. The smile she gave then was not a true smile, it was more of a grimace that eased some of the painful pressure in her heart.

      “She sent you here with a check to put an end to me. That’s the only end she wants.”

      He straightened, his dark eyes cutting into hers as if he was measuring her in some way.

      “Get something to eat. I’ll be in touch.”

      Lorna didn’t respond to that and he reached over to pick up his Stetson from the coffee table. He put it on and tugged down on the brim. It was a cowboy version of goodbye that was almost polite.

      “You’ll hear from me about the test,” he said, his low voice now almost a warning.

      “I’ll look forward to it,” she said. “But don’t hold your breath waiting for Doris’s consent.” She’d nicked his temper again, because his dark eyes glittered with it.

      As if he was making a silent declaration, he pulled the folded check out of his jacket pocket, then tossed it to the lamp table out of her easy reach before he turned and strode out of the apartment without a backward glance.

      Aggravated about the check but relieved he was gone, Lorna got up and walked to the bathroom. The small swelling was so minor it was almost nonexistent. It was merely a faint graze and would probably be completely healed by morning. Why had he fretted over it as if it was some grave wound?

      She heard Melanie call out as she entered the apartment, so she called back, “I’ll be out as soon as I change my clothes.” Lorna stepped into the bedroom and shakily found a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She gave her mussed hair a quick brushing, then went out to join her friend.

      “I was watching at the peephole, so I saw him,” Melanie reported as Lorna came into the living room. Mellie lifted her light brows and made her green eyes go wide. “And wow. Kinda like a mix of John Wayne, Tommy Lee Jones and a Minotaur. Not handsome, but…awesome. And, dare I say it? Sexy,” she declared with a sparkling glance. “No need to explain the extra five minutes, amiga, but are you all right?”

      Lorna laughed at that, suddenly feeling worlds better than she had in ages. She’d survived Mitch Ellery and he’d virtually decreed the blood test that, if nothing else, would prove she wasn’t a liar—or at least that she was willing to have her honesty put to a definitive test. Perhaps it was good that he’d left the check. It would feel even better giving it back to him a second time than it had the first.

      “I’m fine,” Lorna said. “Pretty great, actually. I’ll tell you all about it over pizza. You can choose the toppings this time.”

      “Sounds good. You want to call or should I?”

      “I’ll buy, so you can make the call.”

      While they waited for their pizza to be delivered, Lorna began to tell her dearest friend almost everything about Mitch Ellery. Almost everything, but the stunning attraction she felt.

      Why she suddenly couldn’t confess that one thing when she’d confessed nearly everything else in her life to Melanie—was a surprise.

      If not for this thing with Kendra, I might have found you…interesting.

      It shocked her to realize how tantalizing that was. And how much she’d like to be the focus of his interest.

      Mitch’s iron-willed protectiveness toward her sister—even though it was aimed at protecting her sister from her—was as much an indication of his character as his formidable personality and his reluctant, kind care when she’d fainted.

      Men like Mitch Ellery were all too rare; she’d understood that five years ago. He’d scared her then, and he’d scared her today. But the glimpse of tenderness in him tonight had deeply affected her.

      I might have found you…interesting.

      What would it have been like to capture his interest? If she’d caught his eye in the usual way women caught men’s eyes, what would he have been СКАЧАТЬ