Gold by Maureen A. Miller

Author:Maureen A. Miller [Maureen A. Miller]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maureen A. Miller
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

There wasn’t much sleep.

Not on his part.

At some point, Sara had conked out, and in doing so, lolled against him with a little half-snore. Luke adjusted his body into the corner of the couch and drew her down onto his chest, all without waking her. His arms wrapped around her as he breathed in the scent of coconut on top of her head.

What am I doing?

Over her hair, he stared into the gaping shadows of the kitchen. Beyond them, a man slept. Tim.

Jealousy?

Not Luke’s style.

Animosity?

Not really in his character.

But if the man ever hurt Sara—

Why was she with the guy? It sure didn’t seem like a whirlwind romance.

His arms tightened protectively.

This woman deserved better.

And Luke wasn’t better. He was not going to provide a stable relationship. He sure as hell didn’t like to mingle with someone associated with his job.

So what was Sara doing in his arms right now? How in the hell did he justify kissing her?

She came to my room.

Not an excuse. You know better.

Sara mumbled in her sleep and curled in tighter. He pressed his lips to the glossy crown of hair. His palm smoothed down the long stretch of her back.

An image of her looking up at him out of the spiked pit sent a tremor through him.

Dammit.

That happened because of me.

Did it?

Yes.

What happened to her when she moved to Juneau? Were you there then?

Stupid argument.

He was here to find out what happened to Fred Perkins and Liam Carlson. He was not here to fall for the innkeeper—and definitely not here to jeopardize her safety.

Sara shifted as nightmares wormed into her docile sleep. What were they filled with? Spiked pits in the earth? Shape-shifting beasties looking to haul her to some netherworld? Or were they more realistic beasties?

Luke whispered into her hair. “Easy, babe.”

How nice it would be to hold Sara like this. To whisper in her hair while she was sleeping. To feel her soft breath against his throat. To comfort her when sleep wasn’t always a restful place. How rewarding it would be to have all that.

But, it could never happen.

So, instead, he must kiss this sweet-smelling hair one last time.

The clock on the mantle struck 6am. The London office would be waiting for his report.

Budging carefully out from beneath her, he settled Sara’s head back down on the throw pillow.

“Luke,” her sleepy voice called.

That sound gutted him. To hear his name—from drowsy, kiss-swollen lips. Sara’s lips.

“Shhh.” He crouched down and traced his fingers over her hair. “Go back to sleep. I just have to make a call.”

One eye cracked open to peek at him from under crooked bangs. Her lazy smile made his muscles clench in need.

“Come back,” she whispered, her eye dropping closed.

Luke brushed her bangs and dipped down to touch his lips to the warm patch of skin on her forehead.

“Soon,” he replied.

But she was already asleep.

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