noticed she hadn’t done so in a while. He turned his regularly, reading faster than she did even when she wasn’t distracted.
Laura wondered if the electric current of attraction that she felt vibrating between them was only on her side or if he felt it too. He’d matched her joking flirtation, but she didn’t know if he’d meant it seriously. He’d held her hand, but had done nothing more.
Never get involved with a man with more problems than you , Dad had advised her.
Roy did seem to have more problems than Laura, which was impressive in a way. He obviously had his hands full, with no time for romance. Though he seemed discouraged about his future, Laura was sure he’d find a way to get back on his feet again. He’d end up with some exciting job that required courage and strength and lots of time outdoors, with no computers necessary. Maybe he’d become a naturalist and study wolves… as a wolf!
She sobered at the thought that whatever his future held, it surely had no room for a semi-reformed con artist with blood on her hands.
Maybe he was attracted to her. Weirder things had happened. But a man whose first thought for a second career was being a knight in shining armor had to want a real relationship, not a one-night stand. He was obviously Mr. Truth, Justice, and the American Way—the last man in the world who’d get involved with a criminal. She could never be honest with him, and she wouldn’t sucker him into a relationship based on lies.
Roy glanced up at her. Laura immediately flipped a page in her book. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him rest the book in his lap and lean his head back against the sofa. His eyes fell shut, and his breathing slowed. After a few minutes, his head began to tip to the side until it was resting against Laura’s shoulder.
She held still, not wanting to wake him and enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. But his position looked awkward and uncomfortable. He’d wake up with a crick in his neck. And he seemed to be sleeping so deeply that she didn’t think it would disturb him if she moved slowly.
Laura edged along the sofa, easing Roy down as she went, until he was lying with his head in her lap.
The night before, his face had been taut with pain, even in sleep. But now he lay unguarded and unaware, all the tension smoothed out of his face and body. He looked younger, as if she was catching a glimpse of his boyhood self.
Last night she’d been struck by his strength, even when he’d been so physically spent. But now that he’d recovered more, she was acutely aware of his vulnerability. She was holding him as his buddy DJ had held him when he’d almost died on the sand, half a world away from home. A surge of protectiveness welled up in her. She put her arms around him, as if that could keep him safe.
He had bruised circles under his eyes, and his lashes stood out long and dark against his pale skin. His black hair fell tousled around his face, with one lock hanging into his eyes. She brushed it back. It was damp from the shower, and stayed in place once she moved it.
Roy gave a soft sigh and turned his head into her hand, pressing his cheek against her thigh. Laura froze, but he didn’t move again. He’d only shifted in his sleep. She stroked his hair, feeling it part and slide under her hand, soft and cool. He breathed more deeply, seeming to sink further into sleep.
Every minute she sat and held him, she knew that she needed to lay him down before he woke up and discovered what she was doing. And every minute, she told herself that she’d just hold him one minute longer.
Finally, she forced herself to slide a pillow under his head and get up. He didn’t stir.
Laura fetched him a blanket, then puttered restlessly around the cabin. She tried reading in the armchair, but ended up watching Roy over the book.
He was still asleep by lunch time, but she decided not to wake him up. He was obviously exhausted, and probably needed sleep more
Laura wondered if the electric current of attraction that she felt vibrating between them was only on her side or if he felt it too. He’d matched her joking flirtation, but she didn’t know if he’d meant it seriously. He’d held her hand, but had done nothing more.
Never get involved with a man with more problems than you , Dad had advised her.
Roy did seem to have more problems than Laura, which was impressive in a way. He obviously had his hands full, with no time for romance. Though he seemed discouraged about his future, Laura was sure he’d find a way to get back on his feet again. He’d end up with some exciting job that required courage and strength and lots of time outdoors, with no computers necessary. Maybe he’d become a naturalist and study wolves… as a wolf!
She sobered at the thought that whatever his future held, it surely had no room for a semi-reformed con artist with blood on her hands.
Maybe he was attracted to her. Weirder things had happened. But a man whose first thought for a second career was being a knight in shining armor had to want a real relationship, not a one-night stand. He was obviously Mr. Truth, Justice, and the American Way—the last man in the world who’d get involved with a criminal. She could never be honest with him, and she wouldn’t sucker him into a relationship based on lies.
Roy glanced up at her. Laura immediately flipped a page in her book. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him rest the book in his lap and lean his head back against the sofa. His eyes fell shut, and his breathing slowed. After a few minutes, his head began to tip to the side until it was resting against Laura’s shoulder.
She held still, not wanting to wake him and enjoying the warmth of his body against hers. But his position looked awkward and uncomfortable. He’d wake up with a crick in his neck. And he seemed to be sleeping so deeply that she didn’t think it would disturb him if she moved slowly.
Laura edged along the sofa, easing Roy down as she went, until he was lying with his head in her lap.
The night before, his face had been taut with pain, even in sleep. But now he lay unguarded and unaware, all the tension smoothed out of his face and body. He looked younger, as if she was catching a glimpse of his boyhood self.
Last night she’d been struck by his strength, even when he’d been so physically spent. But now that he’d recovered more, she was acutely aware of his vulnerability. She was holding him as his buddy DJ had held him when he’d almost died on the sand, half a world away from home. A surge of protectiveness welled up in her. She put her arms around him, as if that could keep him safe.
He had bruised circles under his eyes, and his lashes stood out long and dark against his pale skin. His black hair fell tousled around his face, with one lock hanging into his eyes. She brushed it back. It was damp from the shower, and stayed in place once she moved it.
Roy gave a soft sigh and turned his head into her hand, pressing his cheek against her thigh. Laura froze, but he didn’t move again. He’d only shifted in his sleep. She stroked his hair, feeling it part and slide under her hand, soft and cool. He breathed more deeply, seeming to sink further into sleep.
Every minute she sat and held him, she knew that she needed to lay him down before he woke up and discovered what she was doing. And every minute, she told herself that she’d just hold him one minute longer.
Finally, she forced herself to slide a pillow under his head and get up. He didn’t stir.
Laura fetched him a blanket, then puttered restlessly around the cabin. She tried reading in the armchair, but ended up watching Roy over the book.
He was still asleep by lunch time, but she decided not to wake him up. He was obviously exhausted, and probably needed sleep more
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