Longing and Lies by Donna Hill

Author:Donna Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kimani Press
Published: 2010-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Everything seemed different in the light of day, Elliot thought, as he stood under the pulse of the hot shower. Last night with the scent and sensations of Ashley deep in his pores he was liable to say anything. And he did. Truth be told, he was no knight in shining armor. He never had been and had no desire to be one now. But if he was nothing else, he was a man of his word. He wouldn’t back down from what he promised to do.

He held his face up to the steamy spray. He’d been a fool to get caught up in her tears. Drawn in by her need. Now he was sure she believed that there was something more to what happened last night than what it really was—just two adults satisfying their basic needs.

He turned off the water. That’s the way it had to be, he determined. When this case was over, they would go their separate ways and pick up their lives where they’d left off. Simple.

Elliot wrapped the towel around his waist. If it was so simple, why did it feel so complicated?

Ashley poured her second cup of coffee into her mug and sat down at the kitchen table. She heard the water in the shower stop, and instantly a vision of Elliot’s naked body emerged in front of her, rippled and dripping wet. She squirmed in her chair.

There was no question that the sex between them was exquisite. As close to perfection as she’d ever experienced, but that didn’t excuse the stupidity of it. She knew better. She’d felt raw inside. She’d needed comfort and he’d been there. They’d taken it further than they should have, and it was her fault. She acted like a cat in heat, disrobing for him, almost daring him to make love to her.

She took a sip of her coffee. But he should have seen how vulnerable she was. He should have walked away.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew at herself and at him. She regretted telling him anything about her sister. He’d probably try to use that against her as well. Dammit, she could kick herself.

“Morning.”

She jumped, sloshing coffee on the table.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He snatched a piece of paper towel from the rack above the sink and wiped up the spill. “Any more coffee?”

“Help yourself.” She kept her attention riveted on the designs on the mug. Last night they had so much to say to each other. This morning was a series of awkward silences.

“I thought we’d go over the list this morning and start making the rounds,” he said with his back to her.

“Fine.” She pushed back from the table and padded off barefoot to her room.

Elliot felt the air leave his body. He leaned against the sink. This is going to be bad, he thought.

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