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“Of course. I never meant it any other way.”
“You sure? Sounded like a weird invitation to me.” She pushed at her whisps of hair that had escaped her braids and closed her eyes again.
“Oh, no, you don’t. You’ll be much more comfortable in your bed, honey.”
“By myself.”
Laughing, Beau added, “Are you worried I might change your mind?” When he heard her scoff indignantly, he added, “You’re exhausted, and we need you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for tomorrow.”
“Shouldn’t have let me drink that last beer.”
“You only had one at the bar.”
“After the champagne and wine at dinner.”
“Man, that was hours ago.”
“Doesn’t seem to matter. Got no head for booze. Don’t ever drink… usually.”
“Okay, now you’re just stalling.” Beau got out and came around to her side of the truck and lifted her in his arms. “Don’t wriggle. I’m just getting you inside. Where’s your key?”
She lowered her head to his shoulder and snuggled her face close to his neck, her breath fanning his skin. Lordy, the man smelled good, his aftershave light but mansy.Okay that isn’t even a word. What was he saying? Right. A key. “Don’t got one.”
“Hey, you’ve gotta have a key. Is it in your purse?” He lowered her to stand, leaning against him while he rifled through her small bag. “Seriously, Lori, where is it?”
She reached out to the ledge above them and fumbled until his fingers joined hers and found the key. “Why would you leave it there for… look, never mind. Let’s just get you inside.”
He steered her into the dark room, putting an overhead light on and turning it off again when she groaned her dismay. Stumbling in the dark, the quick bit of brightness showed a lamp by the chair that he reached for. “Oh, no, you don’t.” As soon as he’d let her go, Lori had flounced onto her dad’s lazy boy and curled up like a kitten.
“I’m fine. You can go now. Won’t be the first time I’ve slept here.” In her tired mind, memories of the many nights she’d spent next to her dad’s hospital bed, sleeping in this same chair came back to her and emotions welled.
“What? Why are you sad?”
Had he sensed her feelings? How? She didn’t open her eyes, couldn’t let him see her painful thoughts. “I’m just tired. Really, you can go. I’m fine.”
His voice became tender, and she hated her reaction, just couldn’t help herself. Sympathy had been a long time coming and she soaked it up like a dry sponge in a sink full of hot, soapy water.
Of their own accord, her arms rose, and he picked her up and then sat back again, cradling her next to him like a tiny child. “You’ve been through so much lately, haven’t you darling?”
Lori began to recall, sharing her thoughts out loud. “Dad became unconscious here. Before the ambulance arrived, I thought he’d died. It’s not like I haven’t seen bodies before. Until Dad, I’ve never experienced such grief. That tore me apart. Yet I was thankful he wouldn’t have to suffer any longer, trying to breathe. Poor guy missed my mom so much. I believe his favorite times with me were when I’d sing for him, her favorite songs, and he’d close his eyes and pretend I was her.”
“The first song you played tonight at the bar, “Bird on a Wire”, did she sing that one?”
“Often. They both loved that movie, had the DVD, and played it so many times I wondered how it hadn’t gotten worn out. They’d laugh so hard every time they rewatched it. I think Mom had a thing for Mel Gibson in those days. And Dad liked to tease her about his own Mr. Wiggly.” Her face wreathed in tenderness, she looked up at his chin and asked, “Have you ever watched it?”
“I don’t remember. Should I?”
“If you like slapstick comedy. I saw it multiple times and kinda got the humor… but not as much as they did, sitting together, holding hands. I loved watching them.”
When Lori kind of giggled, her tearfulness changing to sad yet happy reminiscences, he just held her, smoothed her hair from her face and let her ramble on.
Feeling warm and cared for, she admitted to herself that it had been a long, long time since she’d experienced such tenderness. Uncaring that she was breaking her own rules, she took his hand, held it to her heart and slept.
Many hours later, she woke in the same chair alone, a blanket tucked around her, and a pillow placed behind her head. Warm and cozy, she let her mind drift back to the night before.
In seconds, she realized what she was doing and stopped. Pushing away those forbidden emotions, she rose and began to get ready for the day.
Agent Beau Sexier-than-hell Walker had gotten through her defenses last night, but she’d be very careful it didn’t become a habit.
