Read Online A Home by the Sea by Christina Skye - Free Book Online Page A

muscles flex sharply. “Look at me.”
    After a moment his dark eyes settled on her face, focused but completely unreadable. “I’m looking.
    But what is there to say?”
    She felt his muscles tense again and noticed there was a cut above his eyebrow that hadn’t been there before. “What happened to your face?” Without thinking, she touched the healing skin gently.
    â€œCut it shaving,” he said tightly. “So what did you want to tell me, Grace?”
    She felt low and cravenly, embarrassed at her behavior. “Look, I’m just trying to do the right thing.
    I didn’t plan to meet someone. I didn’t want to get involved when I’m still tangled up inside.” Grace looked down at her fingers, opened on his arm.
    â€œAnd then I met you. I saw how gentle and careful you were with the kittens and how far you went to make me feel comfortable with your family. And suddenly—” She stopped, feeling heat fill her face.
    But she owed him an explanation—and an apology.
    â€œSuddenly you were there, and I was being pulled in, caught up in emotions I couldn’t understand or trust.
    I couldn’t stay aloof or in control around you. So I chose not to call or have any contact. That was mydecision, and it was very badly done. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to forgive,” Noah said tightly. “You were protecting yourself in the only way you could. You were being practical.”
    â€œI wish it were that simple,” Grace said. “I should have explained and then trusted you to understand. I took the cowardly way out.”
    Some of the wariness left his eyes. “Yes, you should have trusted me. Because I do understand.” His eyes darkened. “And I suppose if I ask you to go for a walk, you’ll say no.”
    She didn’t want to say no.
    Surely she could handle a few minutes in his company without coming unglued. “I’d say yes, actually.” She hesitated, then slid her arm through his. “And you can tell me about the cats. I miss them.” She took a breath. “After that you can explain what really happened to your face. I don’t believe your story for a second.”
    Â 
    T HEY WALKED FOR FIFTEEN minutes, sometimes talking, sometimes silent. At first Grace felt uncomfortable and self-conscious, but slowly the silences grew more comfortable, like the kind between old friends. Feeling comfortable like this didn’t make sense.
    But maybe not everything had to make sense.
    â€œSo I want to know all the details about the little guys. Are they healthy? Growing a lot?”
    â€œMy mother has been giving them a special mixof broth and egg yolks. She swears it will help them grow. All I know is it smells nauseating. Then yesterday my father took Ivan the Terrible for a short walk on the back patio.” He gave a dry laugh. “Don’t worry. It was only for a few minutes, just enough to give the little guy a chance to work on his muscles. He’s the most uncoordinated animal I’ve ever seen.”
    As they walked it began to snow lightly. Grace watched car lights glow red in the twilight as commuters headed home or out to dinner or to the ballet and opera. It was all so different from the quiet harbor community where she’d grown up in Oregon. Back on Summer Island there were no secrets, no blessed anonymity. Everyone knew everyone else’s business.
    She had been thrilled to escape to culinary school in New York and then head on to the Cordon Bleu in Paris. The world had called to her and her year of study at the Sorbonne had been heaven. When work brought her here to Washington, she found the same kind of anonymity, and she had felt right at home.
    Except lately her trust level was at rock bottom. Since learning about James, she questioned every statement and every motive, her own as well as everyone else’s. She searched for odd nuances