A Marshal's Embrace by Dora Hiers

Author:Dora Hiers [Hiers, Dora]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grace Legacy Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

12

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” Danae smiled up at Ryker, giving his arm a playful bump with her shoulder, as the glass exit doors to the hospital swished open.

Her attempt at lightheartedness did nothing to erase the worry lines deepening on Ryker’s brow or the compressed lips. He raked a hand through his hair and glanced at her.

Then something magical happened. His face transformed into the most beautiful expression she’d ever seen. His golden eyes glowed, cheeks plumped, lips rounded on one side.

She gasped. She knew what to do with the “what kind of trouble are you in now?” look. This one, she couldn’t handle. “Where’s ‘the look’? The one you reserve just for me?”

Surprise showed in his arched eyebrows.

He didn’t have to spell it out. She was trouble, and she knew it. She sighed, feeling the smile slip, shoulders droop, steps halter. “I’m sorry, Ryker.”

“Sorry?” An arm slipped around her shoulders, leading them through the parking lot. “For what, Danae?”

“For causing you all this trouble.” Her words trembled out.

“You’re not the one causing trouble. Whoever is trying to scare you did this.”

“Yeah, but—”

“But nothing. I don’t blame you for this. I’m just glad I’m here with you, so you don’t have to be alone.”

He paused at the back of the rental car, his hand touching her arm, his lion eyes taking in their surroundings, cataloging people, cars, movement. Obviously satisfied nothing was amiss, he angled his head to one side. “How do you think I look at you, Danae?”

Did he not know? Really?

“You know. ‘The look.’” She mimicked his facial expression. Head cocked just so, lips pinched in a flat line, brows bunched together. “The look that says I’m in trouble. Or causing trouble. Or trying to get out of trouble. The look that says I’m just plain trouble. Period.” Pain leaked out in her voice, and tears swelled in her eyes.

His breath caught. Several seconds passed while he stared at her, unmoving, taking slow breaths, his jaw muscle clenching, unclenching. He blinked and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Danae. That’s not how I think of you. Yeah, maybe in the past. But not now. Definitely not now.”

His expression lightened. The lines around his eyes softened, and his lips curved. “Does this look suggest that I think you’re trouble?”

She shook her head, mute, afraid her voice would wobble.

He tugged her against his chest. She slipped both arms around his waist and rested a cheek against the pressed white shirt, listening to the boom-boom-boom of his heartbeat, wishing she had the right to snuggle against his chest. His chin settled on the top of her head, one hand around her back, the other stroking her hair.

She closed her eyes, savored the embrace, Ryker’s touch. Oh, why couldn’t this moment last forever?

He pulled back slightly. His hands framed her face, his thumbs caressing her skin, his lips a breath away. Was he going to kiss her again?

“Ryker?” she whispered.

“Yes?” His husky voice sounded unsure.

“If you’re going to kiss me again, no apologies this time, okay?”

“No apologies, Danae.

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