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He took a step closer. “I know. And for once, I believe you. That’s my point. Now, who did you think I was?” he asked again.
She lifted her chin to diminish the effect of his towering height. “It’s really none of your business.”
“Hold on, let me get this straight. You stole my wallet, lied to my friends and almost stabbed me before tossing me over your shoulder.” While speaking, he’d casually ticked off each offense on the fingers of one hand. Now he pinned her with a sharp gaze. “But it’s none of my business? Care to explain your reasoning?”
She flinched at the hard edge to his question. A mixture of anger, confusion and resentment made it difficult to hold eye contact. “I don’t understand why we need to go over this again. I apologized last night.”
“Actually, you didn’t.”
“Well, then, I’m sorry. In particular for…everything, I guess.”
He made an impatient sound. “You guess? The lack of sincerity is exactly what I’d expect from you.”
She swallowed an unexpected stab of hurt. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
He inclined his head, with the barest hint of a smile. “Now that sounded real.”
Kendra set
her jaw and said nothing.
He advanced until only inches separated them. “You haven’t answered my question.”
“You’ve asked so many,” she stalled.
The distance between them closed yet another inch. “Who did you think I was that you were willing to use a knife on?”
“I told you, a burglar.”
“Yeah, then you said it was none of my business.” He braced his hands against the wall on both sides of her head. “You’re not telling the truth…again.”
She drew a shaky breath because his nearness was really beginning to get to her. “I’ve answered your questions. Just because they’re not the answers you want—evidence of some scam you’re convinced I’m running—it’s not my fault.”
His gaze narrowed. She wanted to push him away, but didn’t trust herself to lay her hands on the bare skin of his chest. Already his heat was raising her body temperature to a crazy level. As she sought to draw more air into her constricted lungs, something flickered in his eyes and his gaze dropped to her mouth.
He leaned closer. She realized he intended to kiss her again. Rational thought fled. Anticipation raced through her veins. She even began to close her eyes in acceptance. At the last second, his gaze flicked to the left. He stiffened, shoved away, and backed into the kitchen with a deep frown.
“Ken? Is everything okay?”
Noah’s sleepy voice explained Colton’s abrupt retreat. And thank God! Thrusting aside a stab of guilt that she hadn’t even heard him get up, Kendra spun to see Noah rubbing his eyes as he shuffled toward the kitchen. “It’s fine, Noah,” she assured him. Good God, it sounded like she’d raced a mile at top speed. She took a breath and cleared her throat. “Go back to bed, it’s still early.”
“I have to go to the bathroom.” He switched direction, but after a few steps, he halted and looked back at her. “I saw the light and was worried.”
She hurried to give him a hug. “I’m okay, I just got up a little early, that’s all.”
“You didn’t sleep again.” Concern shone in his young eyes. “I heard you talking—you sounded upset…was it the dream again?”
A part of her wished it had been the dream—at least she knew how to deal with that. “I wasn’t upset,” she told him softly. “I was just talking to myself. Noah, you don’t have to worry about me, I’m okay. Now get going and get back to bed, you’ve got school in a few hours.”
Kendra waited until he’d closed the bathroom door before straightening with a sigh. He’d had to deal with more in his eight short years than most people did in a lifetime. She’d do whatever it took to protect him.
At the kitchen doorway, she met Colton’s gaze, not surprised to see new questions forming after what he’d just overheard. Not that she planned to give him a chance to ask those questions. She couldn’t handle another round with him just yet. “I’m going to get dressed.”
When she returned to fix her breakfast, she wore new jeans and regular cowboy boots, paired with a modest T-shirt that revealed not a wink of skin at her waist. Thankfully, the kitchen was empty. She wasn’t sure how she was supposed to face Colton. His intent had been clear. Her assent just as clear. If Noah hadn’t interrupted…
She grabbed a bowl, spoon, milk and a box of multi-grain cereal and decided she’d ignore the almost kiss. Pretend it didn’t happen and pray he did the same. About halfway through her breakfast, Colton strode purposefully into the kitchen. Her heart thumped as she took in the dark green T-shirt molded to his chest, tucked into a pair of faded, soft-looking jeans.
She shifted her gaze. It was caught by his hair, finger-raked to one side, with a few caramel-colored locks falling over his forehead. Man, if there were a law against looking so good, she’d consider calling the cops on him herself. In this case, the law might be less dangerous to her than the Lawe in front of her.
