Page 106 of Chasing Dreams
“Oh.”
She sat at the other end of the hearth, the firelight flickering across her shiny hair.
He’d never have a better opportunity. “Shaine, why are you here?”
She looked up at him, her heart stuck in her throat, and wondered if she had the courage to say the words. He could turn her down. He could laugh at her silly hopes. But somehow she didn’t think he would.
She was tired of losing the people she loved. She’d fought for Jack, and she would fight for Austin, too, even if it meant losing. At least she’d know she’d tried. “You made a promise to me,” she said.
He frowned. “What promise?”
“That you’d teach me to turn this thing off.”
His expression softened. “And that’s what you want?”
She nodded.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll teach you.”
Shaine nodded her satisfaction at his agreement. There would be time for him to see their love wasn’t a threat. She wouldn’t let it threaten him. If he’d thought it odd that she’d come, bringing Jack, he didn’t say so.
“Okay, then,” she said. “We’ll be staying awhile.”
His expression revealed nothing and her resolve quivered.
“Have you been all right?” he asked.
“Yes. Having Jack with me is...well, I can’t even describe how happy it makes me.”
“Good,” he said softly. “I always want you to be happy.”
Then kiss me, she thought desperately. Take me in your arms and let me know how much you want me.
“How are the Pruitts and the new baby?” he asked.
Shaine changed mental gears. “They’re doing great. Craig is so crazy about that kid. It’s fun to watch them together.”
“I like Craig,” Austin said. “Both of them. Your friends are good people.”
“Yeah.” She moved to get comfortable on the sofa beside Jack. She’d been up late the night before, getting ready for the flight. Waiting in terminals with Jack and hauling all his accessories around had worn her out.
Austin brought her up to date on his interaction with Ken and the progress of recovering the children. He noticed when her eyelids grew heavy, and she snuggled down by her nephew.
By the time he went for a pillow and returned, he had to raise her head and tuck the pillow beneath. His fingers lingered in her silky hair, stroking it back from her temples, and he admired the sweep of lashes against her cheek, the delicate bow of her kissable lips.
Seeing her with Jack gave him great pleasure. She did seem happy. But she’d come back. Perhaps her new life still wasn’t complete.
He didn’t dare let himself think it.
He unfolded the lap robes and spread the throws over the woman and child who made his log house seem like a home. Kneeling, he unlaced Shaine’s boots and gently tugged them off. He studied the boy’s tiny feet in blue socks with trains on them. Her brows rose, and she burrowed more comfortably into the covers, but she didn’t awaken.
Austin ambled into his office and tried to work for a while, but couldn’t concentrate, not with her so close. Thunder rumbled overhead, peculiar for this late in the year. He shut down his computer and added a log to the fire to keep the living room warm. He watched Shaine sleep until Daisy wanted out, then he let the dog out and dried her coat off when she returned.
Rain came down in earnest, now, pummeling the roof and the window panes. The wind gusted. If this turned to ice, Shaine would be trapped here for a while.
The thought didn’t disturb him in the least.
He had unperishables in the storage room downstairs, firewood to last, and a back-up generator. He’d been snowed in many times.
