less he knew about the power he’d held over her life, the better. ‘I’d rather not talk about it.’
His foot stopped bouncing, and his gaze grabbed hers. ‘I’m happy to provide you refuge. You can stay as long as you want or need to.’
‘I got the impression that you didn’t like the intrusion on your property.’
‘I didn’t,’ he confessed. ‘I wasn’t happy when I discovered you were staying at the lake house, but yesterday I was glad you were here.’
Because of the door? Or because of the sex?
Elena took a gulp of her wine, the flavour returning full and strong. There was a huge pink elephant standing in the middle of the room and they were both ignoring it. They’d had sex. Quick, can’t-get-to-it-fast-enough sex. They both knew it. The cook and the butler had to know it. Yet nobody was acknowledging it.
The air in the open room became heavy. Pulsing. It sparked when his hand covered hers where she’d braced it against the sofa.
‘I’m beginning to think it would be nice not to be so alone.’
Her eyelids dipped. She’d had to be strong for so long. For a moment, the tiniest of seconds, she let herself sink into the feeling of kinship. The wine, the comfortable surroundings and especially the handsome man at her side tugged at her. The offer of protection was seductive.
His fingers laced with hers, and his palm encompassed the back of her hand. His touch was warm while her fingers were cold. Her fingers curled, digging into the soft leather.
So tempting.
And so very wrong.
She pulled her hand away. He let her go, and she stood on unsteady legs. She tilted her glass for another sip, but discovered it was empty.
He stood in a motion that was so fluid, it made her take a step back. It still surprised her how tall and swift he was.
He took her glass from her chilled fingers. ‘Let me get you a refill.’
Not a good idea. She could already feel the effects. She hadn’t had much to eat since his unexpected invitation, and she was a lightweight. Literally. She was petite, and alcohol affected her more than others.
‘Maybe later.’ She smoothed her dress self-consciously. It had cost her a whole thirty-five dollars. The wine glass she’d just clenched like a lifeline was probably worth as much. ‘Can I get that book?’
She couldn’t sit on that luxurious sofa with him any longer. The cushions just made her want to curl into them … and him …
‘Of course. Right this way – but you know that.’
His touch settled again on the place on her back, although a little higher this time, under the sweep of her hair. Awareness unfurled in her belly as they began that long walk down the hall. The closer they got to the library, the more she focused on the day before. The sounds she’d heard … The desperation she’d felt in the air … That wounded man couldn’t have been further from the one she found today. This Alex Wolfe was quiet, composed and focused. Steel-like in his control.
Yet just as rawly sexual.
Which was the real Wolfe? Had she even met him yet?
The library was dark. Alex reached inside to turn on the light before allowing her to enter first. No matter how many times she visited the place, it still made her breath catch. There was no first-floor ceiling in this part of the house. The library went up a full three floors, with books in shelves circling on each level. It was a collection that went back hundreds of years yet still managed to keep up with the latest best-sellers. She didn’t know why, but she had an inkling that Leonard had something to do with that.
‘Which book was it you needed? Or was there a subject matter that interested you?’
The questions brought her out of her reverie, and she found her host watching her curiously. ‘I know what I need. It’s right over here.’
She went to the far wall and traced her fingers along the second shelf. She paused when she found an empty space where the book should be. ‘It’s gone.’
The oddest look
His foot stopped bouncing, and his gaze grabbed hers. ‘I’m happy to provide you refuge. You can stay as long as you want or need to.’
‘I got the impression that you didn’t like the intrusion on your property.’
‘I didn’t,’ he confessed. ‘I wasn’t happy when I discovered you were staying at the lake house, but yesterday I was glad you were here.’
Because of the door? Or because of the sex?
Elena took a gulp of her wine, the flavour returning full and strong. There was a huge pink elephant standing in the middle of the room and they were both ignoring it. They’d had sex. Quick, can’t-get-to-it-fast-enough sex. They both knew it. The cook and the butler had to know it. Yet nobody was acknowledging it.
The air in the open room became heavy. Pulsing. It sparked when his hand covered hers where she’d braced it against the sofa.
‘I’m beginning to think it would be nice not to be so alone.’
Her eyelids dipped. She’d had to be strong for so long. For a moment, the tiniest of seconds, she let herself sink into the feeling of kinship. The wine, the comfortable surroundings and especially the handsome man at her side tugged at her. The offer of protection was seductive.
His fingers laced with hers, and his palm encompassed the back of her hand. His touch was warm while her fingers were cold. Her fingers curled, digging into the soft leather.
So tempting.
And so very wrong.
She pulled her hand away. He let her go, and she stood on unsteady legs. She tilted her glass for another sip, but discovered it was empty.
He stood in a motion that was so fluid, it made her take a step back. It still surprised her how tall and swift he was.
He took her glass from her chilled fingers. ‘Let me get you a refill.’
Not a good idea. She could already feel the effects. She hadn’t had much to eat since his unexpected invitation, and she was a lightweight. Literally. She was petite, and alcohol affected her more than others.
‘Maybe later.’ She smoothed her dress self-consciously. It had cost her a whole thirty-five dollars. The wine glass she’d just clenched like a lifeline was probably worth as much. ‘Can I get that book?’
She couldn’t sit on that luxurious sofa with him any longer. The cushions just made her want to curl into them … and him …
‘Of course. Right this way – but you know that.’
His touch settled again on the place on her back, although a little higher this time, under the sweep of her hair. Awareness unfurled in her belly as they began that long walk down the hall. The closer they got to the library, the more she focused on the day before. The sounds she’d heard … The desperation she’d felt in the air … That wounded man couldn’t have been further from the one she found today. This Alex Wolfe was quiet, composed and focused. Steel-like in his control.
Yet just as rawly sexual.
Which was the real Wolfe? Had she even met him yet?
The library was dark. Alex reached inside to turn on the light before allowing her to enter first. No matter how many times she visited the place, it still made her breath catch. There was no first-floor ceiling in this part of the house. The library went up a full three floors, with books in shelves circling on each level. It was a collection that went back hundreds of years yet still managed to keep up with the latest best-sellers. She didn’t know why, but she had an inkling that Leonard had something to do with that.
‘Which book was it you needed? Or was there a subject matter that interested you?’
The questions brought her out of her reverie, and she found her host watching her curiously. ‘I know what I need. It’s right over here.’
She went to the far wall and traced her fingers along the second shelf. She paused when she found an empty space where the book should be. ‘It’s gone.’
The oddest look
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