Read Online Breaking the Silence by Katie Allen - Free Book Online Page B

from Will at this, “so I may have prevaricated a little.”
    He flicked her another questioning glance.
    “Okay, so I may have lied just a squish and said that I was dating someone and didn’t tell the office people because it was special and I didn’t want to ruin it but that was before I met you so some people there might think that you’re that someone and I hope this doesn’t freak you out because normally I’m a very honest person,” Jenny finished in a rush, before finally sucking in a breath. “Really.”
    “Okay.”
    “That’s it?” She had expected his reaction to be a little more—something.
    He shrugged.
    Okay , Jenny thought. I guess that’s it. Relieved that the explanation was over, she settled back into the leather seat. “Oh—turn into that parking lot. We’re here.”

    Will hadn’t really thought about the part of the date that involved going to the reception. All he had been focused on was the fact that Jenny had actually asked him out and that meant he was one step closer to getting to touch her.
    If I actually get up the nerve , he thought in self-disgust. He’d been so close in her kitchen, just breaths away from brushing against her before he had chickened out.
    As they crossed the parking lot, Will saw light reflecting off an icy patch just as Jenny’s boot lost traction. She regained her balance quickly but Will was already reaching his hand out to her. Jenny walked on, unconcerned with her small slip, and Will almost dropped his arm but caught himself, determined not to keep missing these opportunities to touch her.
    He rested his open hand just barely on her lower back. Jenny slowed when she felt the contact and moved infinitesimally closer, fitting herself into the space by his side. They walked together, connected. Will’s hand shifted with her back muscles as they moved in rhythm with her stride, the motion obvious even under her coat and sweater. He hadn’t expected her to feel the way she did. He didn’t know what he had expected but the reality of it surprised and fascinated him.
    She’s so…alive , he thought, amazed by the motion he felt through her clothes. It made him desperate to touch her skin, to delve even deeper than that. He wanted to burrow into the innermost part of her and live there, protected, rocked to sleep by her heartbeat and the rhythm of her breathing.
    Will was flushed and prickly with want, flooded by such a deep desire to be connected with this woman that he was a little afraid. If a touch through her coat could inspire these intense feelings, what would happen if he kissed her, if he touched her bare skin?
    Caught up in his thoughts and the feel of Jenny’s back beneath his hand, Will blinked a few times when they passed through the glass doors into the well-lit reception area. He was startled by the number of people and his uneasiness with the actual party part of this event, forgotten in his obsession over Jenny, returned. When he hesitated, Jenny grabbed his hand, giving him a reassuring smile.
    “I know I dragged you to this thing where you don’t know anyone. I promise not to abandon you and we’ll only talk to the fun people, I swear.” She towed him through the knots of partygoers standing and chatting in groups of three and four, greeting people, introducing him quickly but not stopping.
    A tall blond man suddenly swooped down on them and grabbed Jenny around the middle, trapping her arms to her sides and lifting her a few inches off the floor. Will made a jerky movement toward the pair as a surge of jealousy and protectiveness flowed through him but the man released Jenny as quickly as he had snatched her up.
    “Finally!” The man looked Will up and down, his eyes widening. “You must be the gorgeous William. That’s a direct quote, you know.” At this, Jenny turned bright red and smacked the blond man on the arm.
    “Christian, you shouldn’t be allowed out of the house,” she retorted, turning to Will. “As you might