Read Online Key Of Valor by Nora Roberts - Free Book Online Page B

wouldn’t touch me that way right now.”
    â€œRight now?” He trailed his fingers back to the nape of her neck. “Or ever?”
    She wanted to stretch into that hand and purr. “Let’s start with now.”
    She started to push to her feet, but he was already up, her hand still caught in his as he drew her up beside him. “Just tell me this—Simon’s okay?”
    She could fight attraction. She could even fight the sexual buzz. But she was going to have a very hard time fighting his obvious and deep concern for her son.
    â€œYes. He’s fine. He really wanted to come today. He likes being with you—with all of you,” she added quickly. “But I didn’t want to talk about this in front of him. At least, not yet.”
    â€œThen let’s go down and talk about it, and I’ll come by and see him later this week.”
    â€œYou don’t have to—”
    â€œI like being with him, too. With both of you.” He brushed the side of her throat, her shoulder. “Maybe you could invite me to dinner again.”
    â€œWell, I . . .”
    â€œTomorrow. How about tomorrow?”
    â€œTomorrow? We’re just having spaghetti.”
    â€œGreat. I’ll bring some wine.” Obviously considering the matter settled, he tugged her out of the doorway. “We’d better go down and clean up.”
    She wasn’t sure when she’d lost her footing, or why it seemed so impossible to refuse. He’d boxed her in, Zoe realized as she scrubbed up for lunch. There was no question about that, but he’d done it so neatly the lid was on before she’d seen it coming.
    Besides, that was tomorrow. She had enough to worry about today without getting worked up about a plate of spaghetti.
    It might have been a work in progress, but the kitchen was the best gathering place. A sheet of plywood on two sawhorses served as a table, and there were buckets and ladders for chairs.
    Dana scooted a bucket over to her. “Is that peanut butter and jelly?” she demanded, eyeing the sandwich Zoe had unwrapped. “Chunky peanut butter and grape jelly?”
    â€œYeah.” Zoe started to lift one of the triangular halves to her mouth, and noted Dana practically salivating for it. “You want it?”
    â€œIt’s been much too long since I had a good pb and j. Half of yours for half my ham and swiss on rye.”
    They made the exchange, then Dana took a test bite. “Excellent,” she said around a mouthful. “Nobody makes these like a mom. So, are you going to tell us what’s going on, or do you want to eat first?”
    Zoe glanced up, then shifted her gaze around the room. Everyone was watching her. Waiting. “Am I wearing a sign?”
    â€œMight as well be.” Malory dipped a spoon into her carton of yogurt. “You looked upset when you came in this morning, but more like you were trying not to look upset. Then you shot straight upstairs. Plus you haven’t said anything about how the kitchen looks now that it’s painted.”
    â€œIt looks great. I meant to tell you.” Never easy with being the center of attention, Zoe tore her half sandwich in two. “And I wanted to wait until everybody was taking a break before telling you what happened last night.”
    â€œWe’re taking a break now.” Dana rubbed a hand over Zoe’s thigh. “What gives?”
    She took her time in the telling, wanting to make it clear, wanting to be sure she didn’t leave out any details. “It was different than it was with you. With everybody here who’s had an experience with Kane. Even different than what happened to us here in the house, the first month.”
    â€œDid you know it was him?” Jordan asked her.
    â€œThat’s the thing. I never stayed in any one of the three . . . places”—she supposed she should call them that—“long enough to