Read Online Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) by Stacey Brutger - Free Book Online
Authors: Stacey Brutger
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for a weak moment, and snatch me. You won’t even know I’m gone until it’s too late.”
Sorrow pooled in her eyes, and Gabriel grasped her shoulders, wanting to shake her for giving up so easily. “You have proof he is a fraud. If we can get our hands on that book, you will be free.”
A spark of interest ignited in her eyes before she doused it. “No, there is no we in this. I will be the only one taking action. You will not get anywhere near that man.”
Gabriel gritted his teeth, the infuriating woman making him want to growl in frustration. “Why are you giving up? Why won’t you accept my offer of help?”
Diana swallowed hard as she stared at the man so determined to protect her.
She wasn’t giving up.
She was protecting him.
And if he even suspected the truth, he would never rest until he extracted her from the pastor’s clutches or got himself killed in the process.
“You’re big and strong, but you’re not invincible. Everyone has a weakness.”
Her heart thumped hard at his silence. Even though it was for the best, her chest ached at the thought of not seeing him again.
Gabriel touched her chin and lifted her face up to his. “Let him come after me. I’m more than capable of handling him.”
Hope surged through her at his determination, leaving her almost giddy at the chance to spend more time with him, and she ruthlessly squashed it. “You’re underestimating the man. He’ll use your daughter as bait. You and I both know what will happen if you’re forced to make a choice between me and her.”
With the memory of his daughter’s disappearance still so fresh, it was a low blow, but she wasn’t above using it to keep him safe. She turned away from him, rubbing the ache in her chest, wishing she could feel the belonging she’d lost when she had been forced to leave her friends behind. “He’ll convince others that you’ve been duped. That the only way to protect you will be to hand me over.”
Misery threatened to drag her down the dark alley of her thoughts, and she allowed herself the luxury of touching him one last time, her fingertips barely brushing his arm, refusing to imagine what could have been between them. That way would only lead to madness. She sucked in a startled breath when sparks tingled up her hand at the contact.
It was harder to ignore the fierce desire to stay and get to know more about this man. She was lucky that she’d been allowed to stay as long as she had. “You’ve protected me. You’ve done enough.”
“And you underestimate me if you think for even a moment that I’d give up at the first sign of trouble.” Gabriel crossed his arms, widened his stance, a mulish expression on his face. “I can handle Williams.”
His belief that he could help made her feel old and tarnished.
She lived in a world where good didn’t always win.
Gabriel eased closer, and she backed up, nearly stumbling over a chair as she tried to put distance between them.
She would not be charmed, nor would she give into the novelty of being attracted to a man for the first time.
“The nanny had an unexpected illness in the family and had to leave on short notice. I want to offer you her position.”
Diana could read between the lines. He fired the woman for losing track of his daughter, not that she could blame him. She wouldn’t have let the twit off so easily. “You and I both know your plan won’t work.”
“You’re right.” Gabriel purposefully stepped in her path again, demanding attention, his look speculative as he gazed at her. “But there is a way we can cheat him.”
“What?” Diana’s head snapped up. She studied his face, his determination warming the deep chill that had taken root in her soul. “How?”
“It’s simple. We marry.”
Diana froze, stunned to incredulity by his words, her mind sputtering as she tried to string two thoughts together.
To never be alone.
To never have to run again.
To have a family of her very own to love.
He
Sorrow pooled in her eyes, and Gabriel grasped her shoulders, wanting to shake her for giving up so easily. “You have proof he is a fraud. If we can get our hands on that book, you will be free.”
A spark of interest ignited in her eyes before she doused it. “No, there is no we in this. I will be the only one taking action. You will not get anywhere near that man.”
Gabriel gritted his teeth, the infuriating woman making him want to growl in frustration. “Why are you giving up? Why won’t you accept my offer of help?”
Diana swallowed hard as she stared at the man so determined to protect her.
She wasn’t giving up.
She was protecting him.
And if he even suspected the truth, he would never rest until he extracted her from the pastor’s clutches or got himself killed in the process.
“You’re big and strong, but you’re not invincible. Everyone has a weakness.”
Her heart thumped hard at his silence. Even though it was for the best, her chest ached at the thought of not seeing him again.
Gabriel touched her chin and lifted her face up to his. “Let him come after me. I’m more than capable of handling him.”
Hope surged through her at his determination, leaving her almost giddy at the chance to spend more time with him, and she ruthlessly squashed it. “You’re underestimating the man. He’ll use your daughter as bait. You and I both know what will happen if you’re forced to make a choice between me and her.”
With the memory of his daughter’s disappearance still so fresh, it was a low blow, but she wasn’t above using it to keep him safe. She turned away from him, rubbing the ache in her chest, wishing she could feel the belonging she’d lost when she had been forced to leave her friends behind. “He’ll convince others that you’ve been duped. That the only way to protect you will be to hand me over.”
Misery threatened to drag her down the dark alley of her thoughts, and she allowed herself the luxury of touching him one last time, her fingertips barely brushing his arm, refusing to imagine what could have been between them. That way would only lead to madness. She sucked in a startled breath when sparks tingled up her hand at the contact.
It was harder to ignore the fierce desire to stay and get to know more about this man. She was lucky that she’d been allowed to stay as long as she had. “You’ve protected me. You’ve done enough.”
“And you underestimate me if you think for even a moment that I’d give up at the first sign of trouble.” Gabriel crossed his arms, widened his stance, a mulish expression on his face. “I can handle Williams.”
His belief that he could help made her feel old and tarnished.
She lived in a world where good didn’t always win.
Gabriel eased closer, and she backed up, nearly stumbling over a chair as she tried to put distance between them.
She would not be charmed, nor would she give into the novelty of being attracted to a man for the first time.
“The nanny had an unexpected illness in the family and had to leave on short notice. I want to offer you her position.”
Diana could read between the lines. He fired the woman for losing track of his daughter, not that she could blame him. She wouldn’t have let the twit off so easily. “You and I both know your plan won’t work.”
“You’re right.” Gabriel purposefully stepped in her path again, demanding attention, his look speculative as he gazed at her. “But there is a way we can cheat him.”
“What?” Diana’s head snapped up. She studied his face, his determination warming the deep chill that had taken root in her soul. “How?”
“It’s simple. We marry.”
Diana froze, stunned to incredulity by his words, her mind sputtering as she tried to string two thoughts together.
To never be alone.
To never have to run again.
To have a family of her very own to love.
He
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