His Honour, Her Family. Tara Randel

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      “Makes sense.” He lifted the towel, glad to see the bleeding was minimal. “Let’s get the bandage on now.”

      Grace unwrapped the butterfly and within seconds had it secure. Blood seeped around it.

      “Still needs pressure.”

      Grabbing a box of gauze, she unrolled a long length and wrapped it around his palm with enough pressure to stanch any more blood flow. She tied it off, then looked up at him, a smile of victory curving her lips.

      Their gazes met and held. A ripple of awareness took him by surprise. Yeah, he’d noticed how pretty his new boss was when he’d applied for the job, but this? This was a feeling he hadn’t felt in far too long. He blinked as he tried to get his wayward thoughts under control. Her smile faded and she slowly backed away.

      “Um, that should do for now,” she said in a crisp tone as she packed away the supplies. “I suggest you see a doctor tomorrow.”

      “Thanks,” he said, striving to get his voice under control. “For everything.”

      She nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He inhaled a decidedly floral scent. Cherry blossom? Even her perfume suited her.

      “I should get going,” he finally said.

      “Right.” Grace led him to the door. “Sorry about nearly clobbering you in the head. I thought you were a raccoon. Or worse, a burglar.”

      “Serves me right for making a racket.”

      She tilted her head. “You’re not very good at breaking and entering.”

      He grinned and silence hovered between them again.

      “I should probably go get settled,” he said again.

      “Look, you don’t have to come in tomorrow,” she said, glancing down at his bandaged hand.

      “It’s okay. I’d like to learn about the company and find out what kinds of tours you have scheduled.”

      She nodded. “Then I’ll bring the coffee. It’s the least I can do.”

      “Thanks, Miss Harper.”

      “I think after tonight’s events, you can call me Grace.”

      “Deke.”

      “I remember.”

      “Then I’ll see you tomorrow, Grace.”

      She opened the door. “If you don’t feel well during the night, don’t hesitate to come over and wake me up.”

      “I can handle this.”

      “Then have a good night.”

      He nodded again and stepped outside to make his way to the cabin. As he walked across the loose gravel, then the damp grass, his eyes lit on a firepit between the two cabins, visible in the moonlight. The cool night air felt good on his heated face.

      Dipping his good hand into his jeans pocket to remove the key he’d slid there after Grace had found it, he unlocked the door. He turned on the light switch and made his way around, familiarizing himself with his temporary home. When he’d finished, he went outside to bring in his duffel from the back of the Jeep Wrangler. By now, his head ached along with his hand. He found pain reliever in the bathroom, popped two and finally sank down on the couch in the living room.

      Blowing out a breath, he muttered, “Great first impression, Matthews.”

      Getting cut might temporarily throw a snag in his plans, but thankfully Miss Harper—Grace—hadn’t told him he was fired before he started.

      Grace. Even the name suited her. She was tough and caring, a surprising combination that he’d do well not to let get the better of him. He was here to lose himself in work, not notice his new boss.

       CHAPTER THREE

      THE NEXT MORNING, the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted Deke as he walked into the office. Just what he needed after a miserable night of tossing and turning. His palm had throbbed, despite the pain relievers. After staring at the ceiling for hours, he’d gotten up at dawn to take a much-needed run through the woods. No sleep meant his mind was too busy obsessing over things he didn’t have the power to change, mainly Britt’s senseless death.

      When he’d made his way along the path that skirted his side of the lake before veering off to the woods, he’d gotten his heart rate high enough that all he concentrated on was breathing. He’d returned to the cabin, soaking wet and winded, then cleaned up the mess he’d made on the back patio. He couldn’t deny that the incredible scenery, tall pines and the water lapping the dank soil beside the lake, calmed his spirit. More so than Atlanta or even his childhood home in Florida. He needed to get his head in the game, not keep dwelling on the past. His brothers were depending on him to find information on James Tate and he was determined to carry through.

      Grace was on the phone but pointed to the cup waiting for him on the counter. As he removed the lid, a burst of steam escaped before he took his first slug of the morning. Inwardly sighing, he hoped the caffeine would soon do its magic.

      “Yes, sir, we have available openings for that date.” A frown pinched her pretty face. “I can’t promise that Nathan will be leading the group, but I will certainly put him as your first choice. Thanks so much for booking with Put Your Feet Up vacations.”

      She jotted a few notes before looking up. “We’re getting busy.”

      “Good to hear.”

      She took her soda can and rose from the desk. Again, she’d dressed in a power suit. Yeah, he recognized one when he saw it. Today she wore a navy waist-length jacket and pants, with a white blouse. High-heeled pumps completed the look. Since he didn’t have to dress professionally for this job, he’d chosen a T-shirt, jeans and boots for comfort over presentation.

      “How’s the hand this morning?” she asked, nodding in that direction.

      “Better.” He’d tended to it when he got back from the run, happy the cut wasn’t going to give him problems and that the bruised fingers were no worse than last night. “Not as deep as you would have thought.” He held up his palm. “Just a large bandage today.”

      “Good. I felt really bad about what happened.”

      “It wasn’t your fault.”

      “No, but it is my uncle’s place.”

      “Serves me right for fumbling around in the dark.”

      She sized him up. “Why don’t I think that’s the case?”

      “What do you mean?”

      “I doubt you’re the type that fumbles around. You came in here yesterday knowing exactly what you wanted and didn’t back down.” She took a sip of her drink, then said, “Somehow you made arrangements with my uncle to СКАЧАТЬ