Two Hearts, Slightly Used by Dixie Browning

Author:Dixie Browning
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1994-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Six

“They won’t bother you again,” said Brace. Scowling, he closed the door behind him. “They hadn’t bagged their limit. The longer it took, the more they drank. Those old blinds don’t offer much protection from the weather, so when the rain set in, they saw your light and decided to come calling.”

“I’m amazed they could even walk that far.” Except for an occasional tremor, Frances was no longer shaking.

Brace took in her pallor and the unnatural brightness of her eyes. With her arms wrapped tightly around her chest, she looked frightened, defensive and altogether too vulnerable.

“I don’t suppose you have any brandy?”

“No, and don’t offer me any of your bourbon. I’ll just put on a robe and nudge the thermostat.”

“Keegan’s bourbon, not mine. What about that sweet stuff you flavored the apples with the other night?”

“It was Madeira but I don’t need it. I don’t need spirits, I don’t need baby-sitting and I certainly don’t need—” She broke off at the sound of a sharp report just outside the window. “Oh, God,” she whispered, “they’re back!”

“Tree branch snapped off. Look, sit down before you collapse. If you’ll tell me where your bathrobe is, I’ll get it for you.” His voice was terse, his manner brisk as he filled the kettle and put it on to heat.

Not for a ten-pound box of Godiva chocolates would she have admitted it, but Frances was just as glad he hadn’t taken her at her word. She wasn’t fine. She didn’t want to be alone right now. Alone in a familiar house on a familiar street in a familiar neighborhood was one thing. Alone in a strange cottage on a deserted island where the closest thing to civilization was a boat ride away was quite another.

“I see you finally located your uncle’s stash of blankets,” Brace said as he emerged from the bedroom. He held the flannel bathrobe while she shoved her arms in the sleeves, then he lifted her bare feet onto the hassock and tucked a cotton blanket around her legs.

“Top closet shelf. I stood on a chair. I’m using all three, and it’s barely enough.”

“Enough for the occasional cool summer night. Not many calls for winter rentals, according to Keegan. It would mean turning on the water and then draining the system again. Incidentally, how’d you manage that first night?”

She sent him a wry look. “Common sense and a basic knowledge of plumbing,” she said as he tossed a double handful of tea leaves into the kettle of boiling water and sat it back on the burner. Frances liked her tea strong, but not caustic. “Milk in mine, please. Lots of milk.”

They sipped the powerful brew and listened to the keening wind. Frances wrapped her icy fingers around the mug and savored the warmth. Brace straddled a straight chair and gulped his own black tea as if it were water.

“You should’ve added milk. Undiluted tannic acid’s not good for the human digestive system,” she said. “Sorry. Another habit.”

“Anybody ever call you a busybody?”

“Everybody.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.