Page 54 of Sheltering His Second Chance

He had kind eyes, like Raven’s.

She took a step back and out of her peripheral she saw him shift. He wore a grin. Just as she thought, he didn’t seem disgruntled in the slightest at how they’d been caught.

“Bonnie wanted me to tell you both that she went to lie down and will talk to you later,” Parker said.

“I think I’m going to take my leave. If you hear anything just give me a ring.” John touched the brim of his frayed cowboy hat and made his way toward the beat-up truck. He waved before he slid inside. He backed out and honked his horn, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The headlights feathered over Raven’s face. He was watching her.

She leaned against the rail, inches from Raven. Close but far enough away that she couldn’t accidentally touch him. He was very good. “That was embarrassing.”

Raven had swiped off his hat and rested it on a hook in the wood. “I would say you have no reason to be, but I don’t think it’d do any good.” His eyes were understanding.

“That’s not the first impression I wanted to make.” Her mind was going a hundred miles per hour.

“If you’re worried, you should know neither of them saw anything, but I guess that doesn’t matter.”

“Oh my gosh. Did you ask him?” She groaned.

One corner of his mouth lifted. “I don’t need to. He can’t see a damn thing without his glasses. He’s stubborn and only wears them when he really needs to, like when he’s driving.”

“I don’t think it matters that they didn’t see anything. It matters because I’m supposed to be here professionally.” She pressed her fingertips against her temples.

“Do you regret what we did—or would have done?”

She had to be honest, not only for him but for herself too. “No. I just wish…I wish that we would have been in the bedroom.”

He nodded. “Me too. But it happened. Pa and Bonnie have probably already let it go, so we should too.” He reached for her hand.

Leaning into him, it felt natural and right. “I don’t regret what we shared.”

He used his thumb to lift her chin higher. “I don’t regret what happened either.”

“I truly don’t. But we should be careful. There are risks involved.”

“There are risks in everything. Hell, I could walk off this porch and break an ankle.”

She nodded. “Yes, but…”

“What?” He dropped his hand, the corners of his mouth lowering.

“There are things about me that you don’t know,” she said softly and took a step back, needing space because being near him caused her brain cells to act like a freak show in the circus.

“Did you murder someone?”

She blinked? “What? No. Of course not.”

“Are you a Russian spy?”

She smiled, seeing exactly where this was going. “No.”

“Then nothing you can tell me can make me not like you.” He shoved his hands into his back pockets.

God, how did he do this to her? He took things with an easy acceptance that she never before saw with anyone. “My ex was having an affair and I didn’t care. I mean, I cared, but not like a wife should.”

“Oh shit. Call the police. That’s appalling,” he teased.

“That’s not the worst part. I didn’t marry him because I loved him. I married him for financial stability.”

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