McIver's Mission. Brenda Harlen

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СКАЧАТЬ didn’t ask for his compassion, but he felt compelled to offer it. He set his mug on the counter and moved toward her, breaching the few-foot gap that separated them to take her in his arms. She resisted at first, her back straight, her shoulders stiff. But he continued to hold her, running his hand down her back, his fingers roaming over the silky fabric of her blouse.

      Would her skin be as soft? He chastised himself for the wayward thought. He was supposed to be offering her comfort, not speculating about the feel of her naked skin beneath his hands.

      She didn’t cry again, but she finally let out a long, shuddering breath and relaxed against him.

      “She came to me for help,” Arden said, sounding completely dejected. “She was counting on me, and I let her down.”

      “You did everything you could for her,” he said, knowing it was true, and knowing she would find no comfort in that fact.

      Arden pulled out of Shaun’s arms. She didn’t want to talk about Denise and Brian, she didn’t even want to think about them right now. When Shaun went home, when she went to bed, she’d think about them then. She wouldn’t be able to stop. Nor would she be able to stop the nightmares that plagued her sleep.

      “Why don’t we take our coffee into the living room?” she suggested.

      “Okay,” Shaun agreed.

      She was grateful that he didn’t ask any more questions or try to appease her with useless words or platitudes. Nothing anyone could say or do could make up for what had happened.

      She moved over to the sofa and curled up in her usual spot at one end, then wished she’d chosen a chair when he sat down beside her. She wasn’t sure why she was so unnerved by his presence today. She’d spent a fair amount of time in his company over the past few years. When Arden had been living with her cousin, Nikki, and Nikki’s daughter, Carly, Shaun had visited often to spend time with his former sister-in-law and his niece. Maybe that was the difference. It was just the two of them tonight, and being alone with him felt strange to Arden.

      “This is great coffee,” Shaun said.

      Arden was grateful for the change of topic. “It’s Jamaican. I don’t share it with everyone, but I figure you earned it. Putting up with me this afternoon, buying me dinner.”

      “It was my pleasure.”

      She managed a smile. “I doubt it, but thanks.”

      “That’s what friends are for,” he said easily.

      She propped her feet up on the coffee table, crossing them at the ankles as she settled back against the cushions. “I don’t need anyone to take care of me, McIver.”

      “Did I suggest you did?”

      “No, but I think your sudden offer of friendship was inspired by the fact that I cried on your shoulder. Believe me, it was a one-time thing.”

      “That’s too bad,” he said. “I thought it was a pretty good excuse to hold you in my arms.”

      “I wouldn’t think you needed any kind of excuse to hold a woman. Aren’t they lining up for the privilege?”

      Shaun grinned. “I wasn’t talking about any woman. I was talking about you. You fit in my arms, Doherty.”

      She rolled her eyes.

      “I noticed it before, when we danced at Colin and Nikki’s wedding.”

      Arden didn’t want to be reminded of the dance they’d shared. Of the way their bodies had melded together, like two pieces of a puzzle. It had made her wonder if they would mesh so perfectly if they were horizontal.

      “Anything you want to share?” Shaun sounded amused.

      “No,” she snapped, conscious of the flush in her cheeks.

      “I’ve never seen you blush, Doherty. It’s…endearing.”

      “I don’t blush.”

      “Yeah.” He stroked a finger down the curve of her cheek, and her breath caught in her throat. “You do.”

      She pulled back, stood up. “Do you want more coffee?”

      His smile was lazy, satisfied. “Sure.”

      Arden retreated to the kitchen, chastising her overactive hormones. All he’d done was touch her, and her skin had burned. She took several deep breaths before returning to the living room with the pot of coffee. She refilled his mug, conscious of his gaze following her even though she avoided looking at him. She wasn’t sure she understood what was going on here, what the undercurrents were about. She was probably experiencing some kind of emotional meltdown—a normal reaction after the kind of day she’d had.

      Somewhat reassured, she returned to her seat on the sofa.

      “What’s in all the boxes?” Shaun asked, gesturing to the stack against the dining room wall.

      “Books.”

      “What kind of books?”

      “Textbooks, case law.”

      “Why aren’t they unpacked?”

      “I don’t have any shelves.”

      He looked around, visually confirming her statement. “I could build some for you.”

      She frowned. “Why?”

      “I like to work with my hands,” he said.

      The innocent comment brought to mind erotic images of things she’d like him to do with those hands, and building shelves wasn’t in the top ten. “I’m sure you have better things to do with your time,” she said, sounding just a little breathless.

      “Not really. And it would give us a chance to get to know each other better.”

      “Why?” she asked again.

      “Why not? We’re friends, aren’t we?”

      “I guess so,” she agreed, not completely convinced.

      “I built the shelves in Nikki’s den,” he told her. “In case you have doubts about my abilities.”

      No, Arden had no such doubts. “Fine, you can build shelves for me if you want to.”

      “Great. I’ll come by tomorrow to take some measurements. Think about what kind of wood you’d like.”

      As if she would know the difference between maple and mahogany. She smiled. “All right.”

      “You have a beautiful smile, Doherty.”

      Arden tried to shift away from him, but her hip was already against the arm of the sofa. “Thank you.”

      “Why does that make you uncomfortable?” he asked.

      She СКАЧАТЬ