Merediths Awakening by Violet Summers Page B

in self-mockery, she booted up Marcus’ computer, pulled up a file, and went to work. At least this was something she could control.
    *
    Tony wasn’t sure how long he stood in the doorway watching the sunlight slanting through the window, bathing her in a golden glow. He just knew the sight of her, eyes locked on the computer screen while slender fingers flew over the keyboard, made his heart soft and his dick hard.
    It had caused him actual physical pain to watch the relaxation and enjoyment drain out of her when she’d answered the phone. He’d given her time to regroup, to do what she needed to do for her family and for the business. Now it was time for him to do what he needed to do. And he needed to take care of her.
    Leaning against the doorframe, he deliberately cleared his throat, and winced a little when she jumped violently. Silver eyes flew to meet his, but instead of relaxing when she recognized him, her shoulders seemed to tighten up even more.
    *
    “How did you find me?” Meredith knew her voice was thin and tight, but she couldn’t help it. Just when she’d managed to put him out of her mind, find blissful numbness, he appeared like a fantasy in the doorway.
    “Where else would you be?” He didn’t leave the doorway. It was as if he could sense her discomfort, and was trying to put her at ease. Then his words sank in. He barely knew her, had only spent a handful of hours with her—and very few of those were spent talking—and yet he’d known just where to find her. She doubted anyone but Marcus would have known so automatically.
    “Well, you’re here, you might as well come in and sit down.” She indicated the wide leather couch that was slanted to face the window, giving a breathtaking view of the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit River. She knew she didn’t sound particularly gracious, but his presence touched her deep inside. She just didn’t know how to express it.
    “Only if you’ll come sit with me.” He walked to the desk and extended one large, rough hand. “I know good and well you’ve been hunched over that computer for hours,” she cut her eyes away wondering again how he knew her so well, “and you’re as tight as a guitar string.”
    Slowly she reached out and took his hand, allowing him to pull her from her seat.
    She let him lead her to the couch, the whole time wondering what on earth she was doing.
    Hadn’t she decided being with him was a bad idea? Hadn’t she decided the emotions and impulses he called up in her were too dangerous to pursue? All of this was true, but somehow she found herself seated sideways on the couch while he knelt behind her.
    She cast a questioning look over her shoulder, and met his eyes and reassuring smile.
    Gently he directed her face forward again, and laid those huge, hard hands on her shoulders. She expected a caress, for him to slide those hands around and begin working on her buttons, but what he did was so much better. So much more destructive to her walls of ice.
    Tony began to knead her shoulders, at first softly but then as her breath drifted out in a sigh, with more force. He spread his hands around the base of her neck, feathering his fingers down and over her collarbone while his thumbs massaged a path up her nape, leaving tingles in their wake.
    When she gave a low moan and let her head sink forward he rewarded her by drawing his knuckles firmly down her spine. She felt every muscle of her back unwind just a little, and then a little more as his fingers began a deep, kneading walk up her back.
    His hands were so big, her back so narrow, that when he spread his fingers, they wrapped around her ribcage. When he reached her shoulders again, he spent long moments working the remaining tension from them before sending his hands on a deep, squeezing journey down her arms. He even massaged her fingers.
    Meredith felt her eyes sting and fought the tears viciously. It was just that no one had ever taken such care of her. No one had