Read Online Little Rainbows by Helena Stone - Free Book Online

been stroking her hair and bent his head to plant a soft kiss on her head.
    “Heather, I just don’t know.” He looked at the beautiful face and marveled she was still in his lap, leaning into his hand. “I can’t help it. I do feel responsible. I’ve allowed you to get hurt, and there are no circumstances under which that’s acceptable.
    She frowned and shook her head. “You’re still not getting it. I decided I was ready to come here, to take on this job. I could have said no when you suggested watching this scene. I felt the tension rising inside, knew what it meant and forgot to use my safe word.” She swallowed, hard. “Maybe I got it all wrong. Maybe it’s too soon for me to get back into this world. Hell, right now I think I may never be ready to get involved again. And that’s not the end of the world. I’m a party planner. I could plan other parties, weddings. It doesn’t have to be about BDSM.”
    Her voice sounded strong and determined, while her face crumbled.
    “You may have bet on the wrong horse. I’m sorry about that. You need someone who knows what’s she’s doing, capable of dealing with her working environment. I’ll pack my stuff and go. You have enough time to come up with a different solution for your party.”
    Her mouth tried to smile while her eyes teared up again. The sight all but broke his heart.
    “You’ve got such a wonderful place here you probably don’t need a planner at all, and even if you do, that person isn’t me.”
    Panic gripped Jason. He didn’t want to let her go. He’d only just found her again. He wanted her to stay. Not for the party. Right now he couldn’t care less about how that went. He wanted her to stay so he could get to know her better. Because he felt this connection to her he’d never felt with anybody else. Because he had this suspicion she might be the only woman who could stop him from falling apart. And he couldn’t tell her any of those things.
    “Let’s not make any hasty decisions, Heather.” Grateful he just about managed to keep the panic out of his voice, he plowed on. “This has been an emotional rollercoaster for both of us. We’ll sleep on it and talk in the morning.” He managed what he thought had to be a weak smile. “It’s too late for you to start driving back to Dublin now anyway.”
    He planted another kiss on her hair and gratefully accepted his reward when she snuggled closer.
    “We’ll have breakfast together tomorrow and see how we feel then. We’ll come up with a solution. I’m sure of it.”
    Holding his breath, he waited for her reply. He couldn’t see her face which still pressed into his shirt and had no idea what she might be thinking. Words were rolling through his head in a continuous loop of selfish prayer. “ Please stay. Please stay. Please say you’ll stay.”
    When Heather looked up at him he recognized the doubt in her eyes. Her deep sigh sent fear rushing through him.
    “Okay, Jason. Breakfast tomorrow. We’ll talk and then I’ll decide. I just don’t see how…”
    “Not now, Heather.” He couldn’t allow her to finish that thought. “Tomorrow. We’ll settle it tomorrow.”
    Neither of them spoke as they made their way to Heather’s apartment. The silence didn’t break until they were standing in front of her door and Jason lifted Heather’s face to look into her eyes.
    “If you need me, for whatever reason, I’m just across there.” He pointed at the door facing hers before looking down at her face again. So beautiful and so fragile. The need to comfort her, to show her he really cared overwhelmed Jason. He couldn’t have stopped himself for any reason and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips.
    She couldn’t be kissing him back. Surely that had to be his imagination.

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    She’d kissed him?
    Heather leaned against the door she’d just closed behind her. She’d accepted his lips and kissed him back? What was wrong with her? As if she didn’t