Page 11 (1/2)

"See anyone?"

"No one’s there" He turned to face her, the breeze blowing his hair across his cheeks, softening his dark expression "What do you think you heard?"

"So a drawer"

Hunter dumped the sweats on the mattress and peered under the bed He set the lantern down, and then crossed the floor to the dresser When she sahat he was about to do, she hurried to help him move the furniture His muscles strained as he did the ht injure himself further

After they had blocked the ith the heavy rabbed the sweats and lantern

"He won’t be getting in that way again"

"Do you think I really heard hi the intruder hadn’t slipped back in as she led Hunter into her bedroom

"Could have been the wind I’ll board up thein theand replace it once we pick up a new one"

Brother, here she worried about hi her butt again The long-standing distrust of men she had didn’t help Not after her father had been one of the worst womanizers in the small community How herways she could never fathom

"I’ll leave this lantern on in the bathrooht" She noted he had put on a pair of pale gray sweatpants, but not the sweatshirt "Aren’t you going to be cold?"

He cast her a small smile and her cheeks heated Since he was so co off his nudity, he probably usually slept in the raw

"I’ll leave a spare toothbrush on the bathrooht out"

"Thanks, Tessa I’ll lie down until you’re through"

But he glanced at her bedroom , and she bet he wanted to check outside for the intruder "You’ve got to be exhausted, Hunter Don’t worry about hiy as he exuded, she wasn’t sure sleeping with hiood idea after all

But when she exited the bathroo on the bed, half-asleep, she found the roo up her velour robe, she hurried down the hall with lantern in hand to let hin of hi room She rushed to the pictureand peered out He couldn’t be out in this aeather

Not anywhere in sight Hurrying to the back door, she halfway expected hie up the hill with another enor for someone?" he asked behind her, his voice dark and husky

She squeaked and whirled around "My god, Hunter Where were you?"

He held up a shaving kit "I found it in the guest bathroom I hope your brother won’t mind if I shaved"

His skin was smooth as satin and she wanted to run her hands over his face, feel the velvety skin, smell the citrus spice aftershave, butkisses She chastised herself He probably had a wife

"He won’t lad you were here to watch over me And that you’ve offered to help me find Bethany’s killer so we can free him"

A subtle shadow fell over his face, and she wondered if he’d changed hiselse…"

He id air wasn’t the only thing that chilled her to the bone She had quickly become used to the idea she’d have a real man on her side to help her locate Bethany’s rabbed the tie to her robe, then apparently thinking better of it, she climbed into bed dressed in fluffy pink socks, polka-dot pink and green pajamas, and the emerald robe He had never seen a wo bad ould not eat her all up, unless she chose it and he was free to do so

She kept her distance, staying near the opposite edge of the soft queen-sized er But she needed so day--the trial, the intruder, finding a near dead man on the beach She cast wistful looks at him when she didn’t think he could see her in the dark

He took a long-suffering breath Patience was definitely not one of his virtues, but he needed a place to stay until he could sort out his situation The best thing he could do was ignore his cravings when it came to the woman who stirred his desire with a smile, a touch, and the scent of her subtle aroused state

Forget patience or the right or wrong of it "Join me, Tessa The room’s too cold I promise I’ll behave" At least that was the plan