Page 33 of True Valor
Before she could speak, his mouth closed onhers, his body pushing her back against the counter.
It took only seconds for his kiss, so soft,so warm, to burst into flame.
His good hand caught in her hair, pulling hercloser.She pulled free from his mouth, throwing her head back,sucking in air.She opened her eyes to look at him.He hadn’t shuthis.
He backed away for a moment, his handscupping her face.There was nothing tentative in the movement or inhim.She’d never seen him so sure of himself.His eyes danced witha smile, and he kissed her again.This time it spoke more thandesire.It was almost reverent the way he held her face, the wayhis lips touched hers.
He gently stepped away, eyes closed, silentfor a moment.Then he opened his eyes, looking at her withintensity.
“Julie,” he whispered.He cleared his throat,kissed the top of her head, picked up his plate and walked to thetable.
Chapter Eleven
Julie dumped a second load of wood by thestove and brushed off her shirt.Then she headed back for another.Before returning to the woodpile, though, she plopped down on thestep inhaling the fresh air, hugging her arms to her chest.Thesmell of wood smoke had—since she was tiny—made her feel warm andprotected.It still did.
Nic came and sat beside her.She hadn’t heardhim come out.She could stay here forever.
If only...
“It’s a beautiful day,” he whispered.Then heheld his hand out to her and she placed hers in it.A shiver wentthrough her at the simple, sweet feeling of holding his hand.
It truly was a beautiful day.The sun shonebrightly on the pond out back, melting the snow that hadaccumulated on it.It was frozen nearly to the center.It must havebeen colder than normal to have done that.
“Are there fish in the pond?”
“Used to be.I was never into fishing.”Juliepointed at the rock outcropping across the pond from the cabin.“Imuch preferred climbing the rocks and just sitting up there.Jennwould never follow me.She was afraid she’d scrape a knee.”Julielaughed at the memory.
“I called it my chapel.”
“Julie’s chapel.”
Nic shivered suddenly.Julie turned andshooed him back inside, then grabbed another armload of wood.
By evening, after a short nap and with a fullstomach, Nic was beginning to feel almost normal.Movement hurt,but didn’t suck the life from him.He must be better, ‘cause all hecould think about was Julie.
The clank of dishes in the sink made him lookover.There she stood, wearing jeans and a huge flannel shirt,looking sexier than any woman had a right to.Her hands wereimmersed in steaming water and her hair fell down to shield herface.She was, no kidding, the most angelic creature he’d everseen.Angelic with a big dose of spicy.He wished again, for theumpteenth time, that he could freeze this moment in time.That theycould be here and enjoy each other’s company without the specter ofdeath and danger hanging over them.Who knows what they could be toeach other?
Nic woke with a start.The bed was emptybeside him and it was full light.He hadn’t slept so well sincethis whole thing started and it left him drowsy, slow.Truth betold, he hadn’t slept like that since before Joey died.And heshouldn’t have let himself sleep like that now.
A note on the pillow.
Didn’t want to wake you.I’ll be in after Ifinish digging out the car.Then I’ll make breakfast.
J
There was a smiley face beside the “J” at thebottom.
Apart from the damned impending sense of doomthat came when you waited for danger to show up, Nic couldn’tremember when he’d felt so good.That didn’t make any sensewhatsoever.And he’d be damned if he’d fall for some slip of a girljust because she looked amazing doing dishes and made him think offorever.From now on, he’d change his own bandages, too.
With that thought, Nic swung his legs overthe side of the bed and sat up.No dizziness.Good.He flexed hisright arm, rotating it slowly.Pain, yes.As bad as yesterday, no.Could he shovel?Not likely.
What the hell was she thinking anyway?
Nic glanced over at the table on her side.The .357 was gone.Well, at least she’d had the sense to take aweapon.That left the 9MM for him.Good.The grip on it might notfit her hand, but it sure as hell fit his.The downside—having onlysix shots.
Nic dressed, this time not struggling quiteso much to tie his boots.Before going out the door, he checked themagazine on the nine and stuck it in his waistband.If he couldn’tshovel, at least he could try to drive the damn car out.He hadplenty of experience with that.It would have been easier to get itout of the bank had it not been an automatic but Nic wasn’t sure hehad the strength right now to shift anyway.
As he walked down the road, his thoughts wentback to Julie.Holy hell!Even just thinking of last night balledup his gut and derailed his train of thought.Hell, thatwashis train of thought.And, after all he’d said about getting out ofhere, now he was thinking about making sure they spent anothernight here.Or maybe another week.Or maybe until their food ranout and they began to starve to death.At least he’d die happy!
