her eyes. Luck regretted the day he’d ever called her a brown mouse. Her sensitive nature had found the phrase offensive when he had actually used it with teasing affection.
All Eve knew about what he was feeling she saw in the displeasure written on his features. There was a vague sensation that he had kissed her, but she thought she had dreamed that.
“What time is it?” There was a crick in her neck from sleeping in the chair. She rubbed at the stiffness as she uncurled her legs.
“It’s nearly one.” His answer was abrupt, “I’m sorry I was so late getting back.”
“It’s all right.” Eve smiled in his direction without actually meeting his gaze.
“You didn’t have to wait up for me.” It almost sounded like a criticism. “You should have lain down on the couch.”
“I didn’t plan to fail asleep. I was reading and…I guess I dozed off,” she explained selfconsciously.
“Let me check on Toby, then I’ll drive you home,” he said.
Luck disappeared into the darkened hallway leading to the bedrooms as Eve forced her cramped body out of the chair. She noticed his suit jacket and tie on the sofa when she retrieved her purse from the coffee table. She remembered how incredibly handsome he’d looked when she’d opened her eyes and seen him standing there, bent over her to wake her. He must have seen the rush of love she’d felt. There didn’t seem to be any other explanation for the way he’d withdrawn from her — his sudden shortness. He probably thought she was going to start fawning all over him and didn’t want the embarrassment of her unwanted attentions. She resolved not to let him see the way she felt toward him, not again.
When he returned to the living room, Eve managed to appear very calm and controlled-and very casual. Yet there wasn’t any approval in his inspecting glance. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yes.” She had to look away from him before she was affected by his blatant masculinity. “Is Toby all right?”
“He’s sound asleep,” Luck replied. “He’ll be okay alone until I get back.”
“Of course,” she murmured, and moved toward the front door.
Outside, a full moon bathed the night with its silvery light and the sky was atwinkle with stars. A breeze whispered through the pines, scenting the air with their freshness. Eve paused beside the passenger side of the car while Luck opened the door for her.
Nervousness made her say, “It’s a lovely evening, isn’t it?” The ambience seemed too romantic for her peace of mind.
“Yes, it is,” Luck agreed, and waited until she was inside before closing the door.
Her gaze followed him as he walked around the car and slid behind the wheel. When he started the motor, Eve faced the front. Her nerve ends quivered with his nearness, making the silence intolerable.
“How did your business go today?” she asked, to make conversation.
“Fine.” It was a noncommunicative answer, but Luck made it easier by asking, “Did Toby give you any trouble today?”
“None,” Eve assured him. At this time of night there was no traffic on the road to her parents’ lake cottage. They had it all to themselves. “We played catch — and didn’t break a single window,” she added with feigned lightness.
“You’re luckier than I am.” He slid her a brief glance, one side of his mouth lifting in a half smile, his voice dry with amusement.
“We were careful about the area we picked,” she explained, relaxing a little under the humorous overtones of the subject matter.
It was a short drive to the cottage. Part of her regretted the quickness with which they covered the distance, and another part of her was relieved. When they drove in, Eve noticed her parents had left the porch light burning.
“I hope they weren’t worried about you,” Luck commented as he stopped the car.
“I doubt it,” she replied. “They’ve accepted that I’m a big girl now. My hours are my own,”
Letting the engine idle, he shifted
All Eve knew about what he was feeling she saw in the displeasure written on his features. There was a vague sensation that he had kissed her, but she thought she had dreamed that.
“What time is it?” There was a crick in her neck from sleeping in the chair. She rubbed at the stiffness as she uncurled her legs.
“It’s nearly one.” His answer was abrupt, “I’m sorry I was so late getting back.”
“It’s all right.” Eve smiled in his direction without actually meeting his gaze.
“You didn’t have to wait up for me.” It almost sounded like a criticism. “You should have lain down on the couch.”
“I didn’t plan to fail asleep. I was reading and…I guess I dozed off,” she explained selfconsciously.
“Let me check on Toby, then I’ll drive you home,” he said.
Luck disappeared into the darkened hallway leading to the bedrooms as Eve forced her cramped body out of the chair. She noticed his suit jacket and tie on the sofa when she retrieved her purse from the coffee table. She remembered how incredibly handsome he’d looked when she’d opened her eyes and seen him standing there, bent over her to wake her. He must have seen the rush of love she’d felt. There didn’t seem to be any other explanation for the way he’d withdrawn from her — his sudden shortness. He probably thought she was going to start fawning all over him and didn’t want the embarrassment of her unwanted attentions. She resolved not to let him see the way she felt toward him, not again.
When he returned to the living room, Eve managed to appear very calm and controlled-and very casual. Yet there wasn’t any approval in his inspecting glance. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yes.” She had to look away from him before she was affected by his blatant masculinity. “Is Toby all right?”
“He’s sound asleep,” Luck replied. “He’ll be okay alone until I get back.”
“Of course,” she murmured, and moved toward the front door.
Outside, a full moon bathed the night with its silvery light and the sky was atwinkle with stars. A breeze whispered through the pines, scenting the air with their freshness. Eve paused beside the passenger side of the car while Luck opened the door for her.
Nervousness made her say, “It’s a lovely evening, isn’t it?” The ambience seemed too romantic for her peace of mind.
“Yes, it is,” Luck agreed, and waited until she was inside before closing the door.
Her gaze followed him as he walked around the car and slid behind the wheel. When he started the motor, Eve faced the front. Her nerve ends quivered with his nearness, making the silence intolerable.
“How did your business go today?” she asked, to make conversation.
“Fine.” It was a noncommunicative answer, but Luck made it easier by asking, “Did Toby give you any trouble today?”
“None,” Eve assured him. At this time of night there was no traffic on the road to her parents’ lake cottage. They had it all to themselves. “We played catch — and didn’t break a single window,” she added with feigned lightness.
“You’re luckier than I am.” He slid her a brief glance, one side of his mouth lifting in a half smile, his voice dry with amusement.
“We were careful about the area we picked,” she explained, relaxing a little under the humorous overtones of the subject matter.
It was a short drive to the cottage. Part of her regretted the quickness with which they covered the distance, and another part of her was relieved. When they drove in, Eve noticed her parents had left the porch light burning.
“I hope they weren’t worried about you,” Luck commented as he stopped the car.
“I doubt it,” she replied. “They’ve accepted that I’m a big girl now. My hours are my own,”
Letting the engine idle, he shifted
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