way of explanation. “It always makes me want to seek out an attic.”
She smiled somewhat nervously as she noted that being away from him for a time hadn’t changed the way his presence made her heart race. As startled as she’d been to encounter Nico and despite her recent resolution regarding him, she was very glad to see him. “How long have you had this condition?” “Since I was a kid. Didn’t you tell me you used to like to poke around up here?”
“Yes, and as you can see, I still do.”
“Are you poking around for anything in particular?” “Yes, a chair. I thought I remembered it being in this room, but I’m not sure.”
She'd accepted his explanation without question, and he felt as if he were the worst kind of con man. He couldn't leave SwanSea yet, but there was a part of him that half wished she’d throw him out. "Maybe I could help you search for it.”
“If you like. It’s a pear-wood armchair with curved arms and legs, and cream-and-yellow upholstery.”
“I haven’t really looked around much, but it could be here. We could each search a different area if you like. ”
“Okay, but there’s no rush. ” She lifted her tightly linked fingers in an awkward gesture. “What were you doing? I mean, have you been up here long?”
He shrugged. “No, not really. Did you know there’s a great view from this window, even with the clouds and rain?”
She weaved her way around trunks, boxes, and an assortment of furniture until she reached Nico’s side. “You’re right,” she said, gazing out the window. “I’d forgotten how much more you can see from up here than down on the bluff."
Driven by a compulsion stronger than his will, Nico studied the pure line of her profile and discovered that her dark lashes feathered against her cheeks when she blinked. Charming. And her finely pored skin appeared luminous, even without makeup. Beautiful. And her lips parted slightly as she breathed in and out. Tantalizing. As he had all day yesterday, he relived the feel of her in his arms.
Without his being able to prevent it, she had gotten under his guard the night before last. He’d told her things about himself and his great-grand-mother that no one outside the family knew. The people he could really talk to were so few, he’d been left wanting to tell her more. But that was impossible.
He’d kissed her and hurt to go further. And of course that too was impossible.
On impulse, she unlatched the window and pushed outward on the frame. It didn’t budge.
“Stuck?” His voice was slightly husky.
She nodded, trying again. “It hasn’t been opened in years.”
“Let me see if I can do it." He gave the window one good shove, and it swung outward.
"Thanks. I thought the room could stand a little air.” She turned and looked at him, and the smile on her face slowly faded as she took in the intensity of his eyes. She shouldn’t read anything into the expression, she told herself. He just happened to be a man with intense eyes.
So he’d kissed her. He wasn’t the first.
So she’d melted when she'd never melted before. It meant nothing.
What’s inside you, and why do I care so much? she asked him silently. There were layers to this man that no one would discover unless he allowed it—she’d learned that much. And she had resolved that if something developed between them, he would have to make the first move.
But his nearness was sending jittery little thrills skittering along her nerve endings; she stuck her hand out the window and let the gentle rain cool her skin.
Before the cooling was done, he drew her hand in from the rain and brought the inside of her wrist to his mouth. He pressed his lips against the nearly translucent skin and felt her pulse race. Then his tongue darted out to lick away the rain.
"I missed seeing you earlier,” he heard himself murmur. What the hell, he thought wearily, he was simply trying to divert her. And licking rain from her wrist was as good a
She smiled somewhat nervously as she noted that being away from him for a time hadn’t changed the way his presence made her heart race. As startled as she’d been to encounter Nico and despite her recent resolution regarding him, she was very glad to see him. “How long have you had this condition?” “Since I was a kid. Didn’t you tell me you used to like to poke around up here?”
“Yes, and as you can see, I still do.”
“Are you poking around for anything in particular?” “Yes, a chair. I thought I remembered it being in this room, but I’m not sure.”
She'd accepted his explanation without question, and he felt as if he were the worst kind of con man. He couldn't leave SwanSea yet, but there was a part of him that half wished she’d throw him out. "Maybe I could help you search for it.”
“If you like. It’s a pear-wood armchair with curved arms and legs, and cream-and-yellow upholstery.”
“I haven’t really looked around much, but it could be here. We could each search a different area if you like. ”
“Okay, but there’s no rush. ” She lifted her tightly linked fingers in an awkward gesture. “What were you doing? I mean, have you been up here long?”
He shrugged. “No, not really. Did you know there’s a great view from this window, even with the clouds and rain?”
She weaved her way around trunks, boxes, and an assortment of furniture until she reached Nico’s side. “You’re right,” she said, gazing out the window. “I’d forgotten how much more you can see from up here than down on the bluff."
Driven by a compulsion stronger than his will, Nico studied the pure line of her profile and discovered that her dark lashes feathered against her cheeks when she blinked. Charming. And her finely pored skin appeared luminous, even without makeup. Beautiful. And her lips parted slightly as she breathed in and out. Tantalizing. As he had all day yesterday, he relived the feel of her in his arms.
Without his being able to prevent it, she had gotten under his guard the night before last. He’d told her things about himself and his great-grand-mother that no one outside the family knew. The people he could really talk to were so few, he’d been left wanting to tell her more. But that was impossible.
He’d kissed her and hurt to go further. And of course that too was impossible.
On impulse, she unlatched the window and pushed outward on the frame. It didn’t budge.
“Stuck?” His voice was slightly husky.
She nodded, trying again. “It hasn’t been opened in years.”
“Let me see if I can do it." He gave the window one good shove, and it swung outward.
"Thanks. I thought the room could stand a little air.” She turned and looked at him, and the smile on her face slowly faded as she took in the intensity of his eyes. She shouldn’t read anything into the expression, she told herself. He just happened to be a man with intense eyes.
So he’d kissed her. He wasn’t the first.
So she’d melted when she'd never melted before. It meant nothing.
What’s inside you, and why do I care so much? she asked him silently. There were layers to this man that no one would discover unless he allowed it—she’d learned that much. And she had resolved that if something developed between them, he would have to make the first move.
But his nearness was sending jittery little thrills skittering along her nerve endings; she stuck her hand out the window and let the gentle rain cool her skin.
Before the cooling was done, he drew her hand in from the rain and brought the inside of her wrist to his mouth. He pressed his lips against the nearly translucent skin and felt her pulse race. Then his tongue darted out to lick away the rain.
"I missed seeing you earlier,” he heard himself murmur. What the hell, he thought wearily, he was simply trying to divert her. And licking rain from her wrist was as good a
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