Read Online Heart of the Raven by Susan Crosby - Free Book Online Page A

breath. Just slightly panicked, she looked around the room. Was she pushing too much by opening every drape and blind? If he didn’t like it, she’d already figured out a way to get him to leave the blinds open. She’d also set the back porch table for breakfast. Too pushy, again? Probably. She didn’t care. Whatever it took to help him get back to living. Danny needed that from him. What was he going to do—fire her? At least it would be a distraction from the almost-kiss.
    It was almost eleven o’clock. Danny hadn’t slept much during the night but had been asleep now for over two hours. Every fifteen minutes or so she would tiptoe in and check on him. He must’ve worn himself out finally.
    She heard Heath coming down the staircase, his footfalls slow and steady. Her heart rate picked up. She wanted to see his face when he saw the outside light pouring in, to gauge for herself his reaction.
    He came into the kitchen, his eyes riveted on the view.
    She pulled the warm platter filled with pancakes and bacon from the oven to add the final pancakes. “Breakfast is ready,” she said, her pulse tripping, when he remained silent for too long. “I thought we could eat on the back porch.”
    He met her gaze then didn’t break the connection for several long seconds. “You’ve really moved in.”
    She didn’t miss all the implications of his words. “That’s what you hired me to do.”
    â€œIt’s my house, Cassie. My choices.”
    She went to the refrigerator and took out the fruit plate she’d put together. “Well, I don’t want to alarm you, but Danny looks a little jaundiced to me. He needs sunlight.” Although not much could break through his forest, anyway.
    He gave her a look of disbelief, but would he call her on it?
    â€œDo you drink coffee?” she asked quickly, not letting him take the conversation further.
    â€œYes.”
    Tension continued to build, evident in the way his back went straighter and he crossed his arms. His jaw twitched.
    â€œLet’s fill our plates here then take them outside,” she said, undaunted. “Everything will get too cold otherwise.”
    She grabbed the carafe of coffee she’d already brewed, and added cream and sugar and maple syrup, placing everything on a tray. “Butter for your pancakes?” she asked lightly, as if not noticing how distant he looked.
    â€œNo. Thanks.”
    â€œWould you mind carrying the tray out? I’ll fix our plates.”
    She nudged the edge of the tray against his midsection. He grasped the handles. “I know what you’re doing,” he said, his eyes almost a forest-green they’d darkened so much.
    Well, she never thought he was stupid. “Is it all right?”
    He made her wait an interminable amount of time. “I’m not sure yet.”
    She rubbed his arm. His warmth penetrated his sleeve to heat her palm. Her heart raced.
    â€œThis is a bad idea,” he said quietly.
    She pulled her hand back, disappointed but also surprised. She thought she’d begun to understand him.
    â€œI don’t mean your touching me,” he said. “Although that’s part of it….” He let the sentence fade away. “I need you here. I don’t want to do anything that would make you feel like you had to leave before everything is settled. I know you’re here because of Danny.”
    â€œPartly,” she said honestly. “I’m always a champion for kids. But….”
    â€œBut?”
    â€œThere’s you, too.” She couldn’t say more than that, because she didn’t know what more to say. The jury was out on him. She only knew that she was drawn to him for a lot of complicated reasons and a few simple ones.
    â€œI’m not attracted to you because I’ve been without a woman for so long,” he said. “You need to know that. Women come and go in my life,