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Authors: Laura Taylor
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looked far more rested than she had any right to after what he knew had been a very restless night. Clad once again in her leggings, sweater, and hiking boots, Hannah resembled a model in an advertising campaign for the all–American woman.
Although his instincts insisted that she was as harmless as she appeared, past experience continued to urge him to err on the side of caution. Ulterior motives possessed the power to pervert the most decent of people.
"Eggs and bacon?" she asked.
"I see you’ve made yourself at home." His chagrin underscored every word.
A hint of wariness showed in her expression as she returned his gaze. "I love exploring new places. Besides, your kitchen is very organized, so I didn’t have any trouble finding what I needed."
"Obviously."
Nicholas watched her place the full platter in the center of the table, settle into a chair, and reach for her napkin. Although he noticed the slight tremor in her fingers, he said nothing.
"Please join me." She smiled as she looked up at him. "We really do need to talk."
His grip tightened on the mug he held. He recalled her sweet taste and the feel of her shapely body as they’d explored the passion that had exploded between them. He forced himself beyond those sensory memories, reminding himself that she couldn’t remain in his home.
"Wrong. You need to listen. I suspect it will be a new experience for you."
He heard her soft sigh and saw the instant that the hopeful expression disappeared from her heart–shaped face. His body responded to the sound, his emotions to her disappointment. Nicholas loathed the idea of hurting Hannah, but he considered his response to her a weakness fueled by sexual desire. Nothing more. It couldn’t be anything more.
The lives of those who resided in the more remote sections of his property depended upon his vigilance. Their loyalty and friendship, not simply their collective need for a retreat from the world of violence they’d endured and survived, made him willing to carry the burden of protecting them. It didn’t matter that he no longer commanded them on battlefields across the globe. What truly mattered was that he considered them his family, and he would guard against anyone he deemed capable of harming them.
Nicholas refocused on Hannah’s face. When he noticed her curious expression, he felt a reluctant kind of gratitude that she didn’t feel compelled to hammer at him with questions about the current state of his mind.
"I’m more than willing to listen to what you have to say, but conversation is a two–way street where I come from, so I’ll expect you to return the courtesy." Hannah took a sip of her orange juice before reaching for her fork.
"Don’t hold your breath."
She smiled gently. "The eggs are getting cold."
He joined her at the table, flashed a quick glance at the platter, and then peered at her as he set aside his coffee cup. "I thought you said you couldn’t cook."
"Breakfast is the sum total of my skill in the kitchen."
He sipped his coffee while she sampled each item of the breakfast she’d prepared. Only then did he indulge his own hunger and serve himself. They ate in silence.
Nicholas noticed with no small amount of surprise that Hannah had the appetite of a linebacker. For such a small woman, he wondered where she put it all. He also noted that she seemed suspiciously unruffled by his close scrutiny as she concentrated on her food. Halfway through their meal, she retrieved the pot from the coffee maker.
Nicholas clenched his fists in his lap when she approached his side of the table. Her fragrance, something light and far too alluring, teased his senses. By the sheer force of his will, he managed not to touch her as she refilled his cup.
A tremor of nervousness in her hand caused her to splash coffee on the table as she poured. Nicholas didn’t let himself react. He waited until she stepped away, then blotted the small puddle with his napkin and finished his meal,
Although his instincts insisted that she was as harmless as she appeared, past experience continued to urge him to err on the side of caution. Ulterior motives possessed the power to pervert the most decent of people.
"Eggs and bacon?" she asked.
"I see you’ve made yourself at home." His chagrin underscored every word.
A hint of wariness showed in her expression as she returned his gaze. "I love exploring new places. Besides, your kitchen is very organized, so I didn’t have any trouble finding what I needed."
"Obviously."
Nicholas watched her place the full platter in the center of the table, settle into a chair, and reach for her napkin. Although he noticed the slight tremor in her fingers, he said nothing.
"Please join me." She smiled as she looked up at him. "We really do need to talk."
His grip tightened on the mug he held. He recalled her sweet taste and the feel of her shapely body as they’d explored the passion that had exploded between them. He forced himself beyond those sensory memories, reminding himself that she couldn’t remain in his home.
"Wrong. You need to listen. I suspect it will be a new experience for you."
He heard her soft sigh and saw the instant that the hopeful expression disappeared from her heart–shaped face. His body responded to the sound, his emotions to her disappointment. Nicholas loathed the idea of hurting Hannah, but he considered his response to her a weakness fueled by sexual desire. Nothing more. It couldn’t be anything more.
The lives of those who resided in the more remote sections of his property depended upon his vigilance. Their loyalty and friendship, not simply their collective need for a retreat from the world of violence they’d endured and survived, made him willing to carry the burden of protecting them. It didn’t matter that he no longer commanded them on battlefields across the globe. What truly mattered was that he considered them his family, and he would guard against anyone he deemed capable of harming them.
Nicholas refocused on Hannah’s face. When he noticed her curious expression, he felt a reluctant kind of gratitude that she didn’t feel compelled to hammer at him with questions about the current state of his mind.
"I’m more than willing to listen to what you have to say, but conversation is a two–way street where I come from, so I’ll expect you to return the courtesy." Hannah took a sip of her orange juice before reaching for her fork.
"Don’t hold your breath."
She smiled gently. "The eggs are getting cold."
He joined her at the table, flashed a quick glance at the platter, and then peered at her as he set aside his coffee cup. "I thought you said you couldn’t cook."
"Breakfast is the sum total of my skill in the kitchen."
He sipped his coffee while she sampled each item of the breakfast she’d prepared. Only then did he indulge his own hunger and serve himself. They ate in silence.
Nicholas noticed with no small amount of surprise that Hannah had the appetite of a linebacker. For such a small woman, he wondered where she put it all. He also noted that she seemed suspiciously unruffled by his close scrutiny as she concentrated on her food. Halfway through their meal, she retrieved the pot from the coffee maker.
Nicholas clenched his fists in his lap when she approached his side of the table. Her fragrance, something light and far too alluring, teased his senses. By the sheer force of his will, he managed not to touch her as she refilled his cup.
A tremor of nervousness in her hand caused her to splash coffee on the table as she poured. Nicholas didn’t let himself react. He waited until she stepped away, then blotted the small puddle with his napkin and finished his meal,
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