Read Online Come Gentle the Dawn by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lindsay McKenna
Ads: Link
his features and gave what he hoped was his best puppy-dog look. “We had a rough start. How about if we both get a good night’s sleep to put us in good stead for tomorrow?”
She wasn’t prepared for the sudden pleading look in Linc’s eyes and felt like a heel for trying to turn him down. “Oh, okay,” she grumbled. “But I warn you, Tanner, I won’t be your cook or bottle washer. Tomorrow’s Sunday, our day off. I don’t want to have to jump out of bed and feed your growing-boy appetite in the morning.”
Linc tried to look properly grateful. “No problem. All I like in the morning is coffee, anyway.”
Brie shot him a disparaging look. “At least we agree on that.”
Allowing a bit of a friendly smile, he murmured, “Not bad for two people who are opposites, eh? I’m impressed, too.”
“Well, just don’t expect the Ritz, Tanner. You make up your own bed on that lumpy couch. I’m going to grab the shower first, then hit the sack. You’re going to have to wait your turn. I’m dead on my feet.”
“No problem,” he said. “Ladies first, anyway.”
Brie wrinkled her nose, trying to figure out how to short-circuit the nightmares that stalked her. She still had some sleeping pills left from her stay in the hospital. But what if there was a haz-mat call? She wouldn’t be able to function properly in that groggy state, and Jeff wouldn’t be returning until tomorrow afternoon. Groaning, Brie shut her eyes, trying to think clearly and not succeeding.
Following her directions, Linc found her small white home with green trim on the outskirts of North Canton. The one-story house was hidden by a long gravel driveway lined with oaks, elms and maples. A large overhead sulfur lamp lit the entire front of the house, which was embraced by blossoming white and purple lilac bushes. They stood window-height in some places. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths were in full bloom in front of the shrubs.
“Nice place,” Linc murmured as he shut off the engine. He’d meant it.
“This is Camelot, the place where I go and hide when the world gets too much to take,” Brie said, climbing out. She fished for the key from her purse and opened the door.
“Come on in,” she invited Linc, who was hanging back. Was it her imagination or was he looking aroundthe entire area as if he were an investigator? Brie shook her head, not caring. Throwing her purse on the Formica counter in the small kitchen, she headed for the linen closet in the hall near the bathroom. She found sheets, a pillow and a blanket, and put them in Linc’s waiting arms. “The living room is that way,” she said, pointing. “I’m getting my shower then going to bed.”
He gave her a nod. “Sounds good. Good night. And thanks”
Brie barely responded, going to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of chablis instead of downing a sleeping pill. In the bathroom, she shed her clothes, dying for a bath, but it was too soon after her burn injuries to subject her tender, still healing flesh to it. With a sigh, she stepped into the warm shower and scrubbed her hair and body. By the time she finished, she was so groggy she could barely stand. After she slipped into a pale apricot silk nightgown that brushed her slender ankles, Brie opened the bathroom door and padded down the carpeted hall to her bedroom. Before the accident, she had always worn gowns that showed off her shoulders. Since then, because of the terrible scars, she wore only gowns with high necklines that hid the telltale scars. Some of them were still visible, but a robe would hide them from her eyes as well as Linc’s curious, always penetrating gaze.
Bed had never looked so inviting as she quietly shut the door. Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the east side of the room; the pale ivory sheer curtains lent a radiance to the scene. But Brie couldn’t appreciate any of it tonight. The instant she snuggled beneath the quilt her grandmother had made for her, she
She wasn’t prepared for the sudden pleading look in Linc’s eyes and felt like a heel for trying to turn him down. “Oh, okay,” she grumbled. “But I warn you, Tanner, I won’t be your cook or bottle washer. Tomorrow’s Sunday, our day off. I don’t want to have to jump out of bed and feed your growing-boy appetite in the morning.”
Linc tried to look properly grateful. “No problem. All I like in the morning is coffee, anyway.”
Brie shot him a disparaging look. “At least we agree on that.”
Allowing a bit of a friendly smile, he murmured, “Not bad for two people who are opposites, eh? I’m impressed, too.”
“Well, just don’t expect the Ritz, Tanner. You make up your own bed on that lumpy couch. I’m going to grab the shower first, then hit the sack. You’re going to have to wait your turn. I’m dead on my feet.”
“No problem,” he said. “Ladies first, anyway.”
Brie wrinkled her nose, trying to figure out how to short-circuit the nightmares that stalked her. She still had some sleeping pills left from her stay in the hospital. But what if there was a haz-mat call? She wouldn’t be able to function properly in that groggy state, and Jeff wouldn’t be returning until tomorrow afternoon. Groaning, Brie shut her eyes, trying to think clearly and not succeeding.
Following her directions, Linc found her small white home with green trim on the outskirts of North Canton. The one-story house was hidden by a long gravel driveway lined with oaks, elms and maples. A large overhead sulfur lamp lit the entire front of the house, which was embraced by blossoming white and purple lilac bushes. They stood window-height in some places. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths were in full bloom in front of the shrubs.
“Nice place,” Linc murmured as he shut off the engine. He’d meant it.
“This is Camelot, the place where I go and hide when the world gets too much to take,” Brie said, climbing out. She fished for the key from her purse and opened the door.
“Come on in,” she invited Linc, who was hanging back. Was it her imagination or was he looking aroundthe entire area as if he were an investigator? Brie shook her head, not caring. Throwing her purse on the Formica counter in the small kitchen, she headed for the linen closet in the hall near the bathroom. She found sheets, a pillow and a blanket, and put them in Linc’s waiting arms. “The living room is that way,” she said, pointing. “I’m getting my shower then going to bed.”
He gave her a nod. “Sounds good. Good night. And thanks”
Brie barely responded, going to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of chablis instead of downing a sleeping pill. In the bathroom, she shed her clothes, dying for a bath, but it was too soon after her burn injuries to subject her tender, still healing flesh to it. With a sigh, she stepped into the warm shower and scrubbed her hair and body. By the time she finished, she was so groggy she could barely stand. After she slipped into a pale apricot silk nightgown that brushed her slender ankles, Brie opened the bathroom door and padded down the carpeted hall to her bedroom. Before the accident, she had always worn gowns that showed off her shoulders. Since then, because of the terrible scars, she wore only gowns with high necklines that hid the telltale scars. Some of them were still visible, but a robe would hide them from her eyes as well as Linc’s curious, always penetrating gaze.
Bed had never looked so inviting as she quietly shut the door. Moonlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the east side of the room; the pale ivory sheer curtains lent a radiance to the scene. But Brie couldn’t appreciate any of it tonight. The instant she snuggled beneath the quilt her grandmother had made for her, she
Similar Books
