Falling for Love by Marie Force Page A

haven’t had much luck getting them to go outside today. They don’t like the storm.”
    “Of course they don’t.” She kissed Sam and put her down with the others. “Come on, guys. Let’s go out.”
    Grant watched in stunned amazement as she herded the menagerie out the bedroom door. They scurried after her like they’d known her forever. He wondered if they recognized a fellow traveler, someone who’d been mistreated herself.
    Riley, bringing up the rear, scooted himself along. He stopped to give Grant a searching look.
    “I know, man. She’s special. Don’t worry, I get it.”
    Seeming satisfied, Riley continued on his way to the back door.
    Grant felt like he’d been standing on a chair and someone had kicked it out from under him. His equilibrium was all out of whack, and he had a sudden, uncomfortable feeling that the young woman with the difficult past and a way with animals might be the only one who could help him recover his balance.
     
     Even though it was pouring rain, Stephanie stayed outside until each of the dogs had at least gone pee. She came in the back door and removed her coat, hanging it on a hook to dry. The obedient animals trooped into their room and took to their beds, probably relieved to be out of the storm.
    Running her fingers through her damp hair, she contemplated the shadows in the dark hallway. The light from the fireplace flickering in the living room was all that kept the house from being totally dark.
    Stephanie was struck by a memory of being alone in the apartment she’d shared with her mother. The power had gone out because her mother hadn’t paid the bill—again. There’d been a storm, a lot like tonight, with wind and rain. Howling wind that had scared her. She’d been about six then.
    Her mother had been gone a long time that night. Hours. She could still remember the raw fear of the dark, the storm, the loneliness, the wondering if she might die there all alone.
    “Stephanie?”
    Grant’s voice startled her out of the reflection. Where had that memory come from? She hadn’t thought of that night in years.
    “Are you okay?”
    “Yes. Of course. I should probably go back to the marina.”
    “I couldn’t stand to think of you all alone in that big dark building with this insane storm going on.”
    “Why?” The second the word left her lips, she wanted to reach out and take it back.
    The question clearly took him by surprise, too. “What do you mean why?”
    Stephanie cleared her throat and forced her gaze to meet his. “I mean why do you care if I’m there alone? You don’t even like me.”
    Exasperated, he glanced up at the ceiling before he looked at her again. “I never said I don’t like you.”
    “All we do is fight.”
    “That’s not
all
we do.”
    The veiled reference to what had transpired the night before once again filled her with heat. Even though she was under no illusions that he was suddenly over Abby and interested in her, she still found him to be the most interesting—and attractive—man she’d ever known.
    “Where exactly am I supposed to sleep here?” she asked, giving voice to her most pressing question.
    “You can have the bed. I’ll take one of the sofas.”
    “They’re only like four feet long, and you have to be six-foot something.”
    “Three,” he said with a small grin, seeming amused by her discomfort with the sleeping arrangements conversation.
    She swallowed hard. “You can’t sleep on a four-foot sofa.”
    Shrugging, he said, “I’ll make it work.”
    Still holding the flashlight, he studied her with those eyes that made her feel naked even when she was fully dressed, as if he could see all her secrets and was having a laugh at her expense. No, that wasn’t fair. He wasn’t unkind. Clueless sometimes, but never unkind.
    “Let’s go sit by the fire for a bit.” He gestured for her to follow him into the living room and sprawled on one of the loveseats. “I don’t know about you, but I’m