A SEAL for Christmas (Novella) by Lowery Jennifer

Author:Lowery, Jennifer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-12-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Donovan stared at Cloe’s closed bedroom door. It felt more like a barrier than a door. If it had a lock he bet she’d used it. The torment in her eyes before she bolted spoke volumes. She’d suffered. Still did. But she wasn’t willing to share.

That bothered him more than he cared to admit. Maybe because the women he dated usually volunteered information. Hell, he liked to listen. Cloe wasn’t like other women he’d dated. Jill had been good at conversation in the beginning of their relationship. It was in the end that she’d stopped talking. As she walked out the door without warning, without as much as a goodbye. Just a note that said ‘I can’t do this anymore’.

Did he really want to go through that again?

Cloe made him want to take the risk. This was more than a case of him doing the right thing and protecting her from harm.

Damn. How quickly things were getting complicated. He didn’t need complicated. Been there, done that. Hurt like hell.

He wanted to knock down that door. Kick it in and uncover her secrets. Take the hurt away. Carry it for her. Hold her.

Donovan raked a hand through his hair and turned back to the sink. He dipped his hands in the soapy water and finished washing the dishes. Then he dried them and put them away. All the while keeping an eagle eye on Cloe’s door. No sound came from the other side.

After hanging up the dishtowel, he sat on the couch and turned on the television. Her door opened and he glanced over the back of the sofa to see her carrying an armload of blankets toward him. He rose to his feet to accept them from her. Their hands brushed and she jerked away.

“I’m sorry for running out on you like that. There are just some things I can’t talk about.”

“I understand.” That, he did understand, as much as he didn’t want to. He’d seen good men fall in the line of duty, so he got it. Talking about things that were painful wasn’t easy for anyone. He sure as hell didn’t want to share his.

Her soft gaze met his. “You do?”

Aw, hell. Fair was fair. If he wanted her to open up he’d have to do the same. Earn her trust.

“We all have ghosts, Cloe.”

“Even you?”

He placed the blankets on the sofa. Then he took her hand in his. “My ex-girlfriend walked out on me while I was deployed. No warning. No note. No contact to date.”

Her eyes widened. “She left without telling you?”

“She did.”

“While you were deployed. That’s just wrong.” Her fingers tightened in his. “I’m so sorry.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Her sharp, indrawn breath made him hide a smile. As much as she tried, she wasn’t immune to the chemistry between them.

“I appreciate that, cara.”

This time she didn’t pull her hand away. Instead, she leaned toward him until her breasts touched his chest.

“I like it when you speak Italian,” she murmured.

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