Read Online Draw Me Close by Nicole Michaels - Free Book Online Page A

he was going to use this situation to his advantage. There was no way he was going to walk away from her today without some kind of conversation taking place between them.
    â€œWhy don’t you watch Tanner go first?” Derek suggested. At his words, Tanner took off down the hill. They all watched as he disappeared over the steep slope, reappeared and then bumped a few times, and finally wiped out about eight feet from Anne and Erin. Tanner waved as soon as he got up.
    â€œThat doesn’t look too bad, does it?” Lindsey asked aloud, although Derek had a feeling she was trying to convince herself. “Okay, on three.”
    She began to count and on her mark, Lindsey pushed the sled over the crest and the girls instantly began to scream. The sound of Lindsey’s laughter sent an ache through Derek’s body. God, she had the most beautiful laugh. He hadn’t heard that sound in years, but it felt like yesterday.
    Derek stepped beside Lindsey. She was focused intently on Claire and Anne at the bottom of the hill, a faint smile teasing her lips. Her face was reddened from the cold wind, highlighting her cheekbones and drawing his attention to her eyes. She had the longest eyelashes. When she caught him staring her expression fell. Clearly she would be happier anywhere else but standing at the top of the hill alone with him.
    â€œYou look pretty today,” he said. Instantly he regretted opening with such a line. It was ridiculous considering their current state of affairs, but he definitely meant it. She always looked beautiful and he wanted her to know he thought so.
    She gave him a quick look of surprise that blurred into annoyance, but she said nothing.
    â€œOkay, no compliments. Noted.” Derek shook his head. “So, we going to talk? I think we both know it’s necessary.”
    â€œAbsolutely not.” She didn’t even bother looking at him.
    Derek’s shoulders dropped. “Lindse—”
    â€œStop.” She turned hard, pointing a finger into his chest. He could barely feel it through the bulk of his coat, but the fury in her eyes entranced him. “Don’t do it. I’m telling you now, you better stop talking.”
    He sucked in a breath, a little shocked at her outburst. “Okay. Fine.” Her hand dropped and Derek angled his head toward the woods at their back. “So you gonna grab a log to slide down on?”
    â€œI’ll just wait for Claire to come back up.”
    â€œOh please, that’ll take ten minutes,” he said.
    Just then her phone rang. As she looked down and then answered it, he happened to notice Anne at the base of the hill, her phone to her ear.
    â€œHey,” Lindsey said, her voice turning friendly as she stepped toward the trees. “No, everything’s fine.” A pause. “He what? Oh crap. Okay, bye.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Derek asked.
    â€œApparently your son informed Anne that we were probably up here fighting.”
    â€œDamn.” Derek put his hands on his hips and glanced back down the hill. Anne had led the kids away and was filling cups out of a thermos. He caught Tanner glancing up at him and Lindsey before he turned back to the group. His kid was obviously a lot more intuitive than he ever suspected.
    â€œHow old is he?” Her question sliced through Derek’s thoughts like a knife. He’d known the conversation was coming. Had wanted it. But the reality of facing her, telling her the truth, was going to kill him.
    Here we go.
    Derek blew out a breath and stood straight. He looked directly into Lindsey’s eyes. She deserved that. “Tanner will be eight in June.”
    Her lips twisted to the side and she began to shake her head. As if she were still working through the information.
    Or trying not to cry. She turned away once more but he ducked in front of her, effectively cutting her off.
    â€œLindsey, talk to me. Don’t pull away. I want to