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“This won’t work, you know,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Don’t worry about tomorrow.”
“Someone has to.” Reluctantly she wrenched herself free of his arms and straightened her coat. “I came here to find your father because you refused to see me.”
“My mistake,” he conceded wryly.
She ignored his insinuation. “That’s the only reason I’m here. I didn’t intend to overhear your argument with your son, nor did I expect to get this close to you. I hope you understand.”
The smile that slid across his face was seductively charming. “I understand perfectly,” he responded gently, and Sheila felt herself becoming mesmerized all over again. He was powerful and yet kind, bold without being brash, strong but not unyielding—the kind of man Sheila had thought·didn’t exist. Her attraction to him was compelling, but her feelings were precarious.
“I have to go.”
“Stay.”
“I can’t.”
“Because of your daughter?”
“She’s one reason,” Sheila lied. “There are others.”
His smile broadened, and she saw the flash of his white teeth. “Come on, let’s go inside. You’re getting soaked.”
“At least I’m wearing a coat,” she taunted, noticing the way his wet shirt was molding to the muscular contours of his shoulders and chest.
“I didn’t expect you to run out into the rain.”
“It was a stupid thing to do,” she admitted. “It’s just that I didn’t want to intrude. I didn’t think you—”
“Have problems of my own?”
Embarrassment crept up her throat. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. I should have been a little more discreet when Sean came home. I lost control when I saw him drunk again.” Noah wiped the rain from his forehead as if he were erasing an unpleasant thought. He touched her lightly on the elbow and guided her back into the house.
It was difficult for Noah to ignore any part of her; he couldn’t help but notice the quiet dignity with which she carried herself, the curve of her calf as she walked, or the shimmer of her chestnut hair, which had darkened into unruly curls in the rain.
“Thank you for seeing me,” she said softly. “I don’t suppose you would consider telling me how to reach your father?”
“I don’t think that would be wise.”
Sheila smiled sadly to herself. “Then I’ll be going. Thank you for your time.”
“You’re not really planning to drive back to the valley tonight?” he asked, studying the tired lines of her face. How far could he trust her? She seemed so open with him, and yet he felt as if she were hiding something, a secret she was afraid to share.
“No. I’ll drive back in the morning.”
He stood with his back to the fire, warming his palms on the rough stones. “But your daughter. I thought she was expecting you.”
“Not tonight. She’s probably having the time of her life. That grandmother of hers spoils her rotten.”
Noah rubbed his chin and his dark brows raised. “I didn’t realize your mother was still alive.”
A pensive expression clouded Sheila’s even features. “She’s not. Emily is staying with my ex-husband’s mother. . . . We’re still close.”
“What about your ex-husband? Are you still close to him, too?” Noah asked, brittlely. Why the devil did he even care? He watched a play of silent emotions darken Sheila’s eyes, and without knowing why, Noah Wilder immediately despised the man who had caused Sheila so much pain. He could feel the muscles in his jaw begin to tighten.
“Jeff and I are civil,” Sheila replied, hoping to close the unwelcome subject.
