Page 79 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
He lowered the washcloth and met her gaze.“You terrify me, Violet.”
She froze at his words, afraid to even breathe.
“Watching you run around Silver Falls, spying on me when I first arrived, had given me the first bit of amusement since the day Ruth died and it took me sitting in that jail cell to realize I’ve felt more alive the past few weeks than I have in years.And it’s all because of you.”
Tears burned her eyes at the words.What was he trying to say?
“Getting dragged into your drama and into a fake marriage wasn’t my idea of a good time, but I will admit…I’ve not hated a moment of it.Quite the opposite, if I’m being completely honest.”
Her heart was racing but nearly stopped when someone banged on the door, causing both of them to jolt, startled.Dread filled her stomach at the noise.
They both turned to the door.The last time someone had banged on it, he’d been taken to the jail, accused of murder.
Were they in for a repeat, just as he was being truthful about his feelings?Was she about to lose him all over again.
When whoever was outside banged on the door again, her stomach coiled into a knot.
ChapterTwenty-Three
“Iordered room service.”The startled look in her eyes disappeared at his words, “Hopefully that’s them and not the sheriff.”He prompted her to stand and yelled, “Just a moment,” as she climbed to her feet.
When they were both out of the tub, he wrapped a towel around his waist before handing her the other one that had been brought up with the bath.She hurried behind the door and he waited until she was covered before opening it.
The tray the woman on the other side of the door held was heavy.He gripped it with two hands, pushing the door closed with his foot.
“You know, hiding half-naked behind this door is starting to feel like a bad habit.”
He grinned at Violet’s words and ran his hungry gaze over her half clothed body.The desire to rip the towel covering her away was strong, but he ignored the impulse and carried their food to the table by the window.
She watched him as he set it all out, then sat down when he was finished.They both dug in to the food.She must have been as hungry as he was, because she never said a word as she ate.She did keep stealing glances at him, though, and blushed prettily when their eyes met.
His limbs still felt loose, his mind calm for once.Daring her to climb into the bath with him had been a spur-of-the-moment thing, but he was glad she’d not been too scared to see it through.
Loving her felt so—right.Not much did anymore, but being with Violet did.She made him laugh.Something he hadn’t done in years.Being with her broke his old habits of being bored and listless.Now, he looked forward to each new day.All because of her.
He wasn’t sure what he’d been trying to say in the tub before being interrupted, but now that he could think properly, he had to wonder—could he risk his heart again after everything he’d been through?
Silver Falls wasn’t Durango.Danger didn’t lurk on every street corner.The type of men who rode into town weren’t the criminals that Durango saw on a daily basis.She’d be safe.He’d make sure of it.
“What are you thinking about so hard?”she asked.
He lifted his eyes and smiled.“You.”
She blushed so prettily, her eyes seemed to sparkle.“Are you trying to flatter me?”
He huffed out a laugh.“Is it working?”
She cut into the meat on her plate and grinned.“Maybe.”She took the bite on her fork and chewed, swallowing before asking, “What are you thinking about so hard?”
It seemed as if she was still thinking about what he’d said in that tub, too.“I told you, I’m thinking about you.”
She laid her fork down and raised one eyebrow.“Really?What about me?”
The towel she had wrapped around herself had slipped.The top of her breasts were visible, and his mouth nearly watered at the sight of them.
She was beyond beautiful and he knew she was his for the asking.The real question was, did he take a chance on love one more time?
The answer whispered inside his head an instant later.
