Whirlwind by Nancy Martin

Author:Nancy Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Harlequin Special Releases
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2015-07-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

ALTHOUGH SHE HATED to admit it, Liza was afraid to go back to her bed for what was left of the night. She was too churned up—sexually as well as psychologically. The idea of a ghost rattling around in Margaret’s attic made sleeping alone impossible. But the chances of sleeping with Cliff were even more remote. She didn’t dare press him on that.

Exhausted and still drugged with cold medicine, Liza couldn’t keep her eyes open, however. She crawled onto the sofa in the lounge and tried to stay awake while theorizing with Cliff about her grandmother, but it was a losing battle. At last she crept into Cliff’s arms, put her head on his chest despite the immediate tension she felt in him and fell soundly asleep.

Sometime during the night she was aware of Cliff pulling something warm over both of them.

“Don’t go,” she murmured. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“I’m not leaving,” he whispered back, taking her languid body into his arms again and settling into the cushions once more. His long legs tangled with hers, and Liza’s hand lay over his heart. “Go back to sleep.”

Before she lost consciousness, Liza wondered if Cliff had slept at all. Perhaps he’d sat up all night, holding her, watching her sleep, still afraid to let his guard down.

In the morning, she woke and found herself alone. She pushed the mop of her hair back from her face and checked the time. Nearly ten.

“Cliff?”

No answer.

Liza pushed out from under the tattered blanket he’d carefully used to cover her, and called his name again. Hearing no response, she padded to the kitchen for a large glass of orange juice.

“At least I’m starting to feel better,” she noted, sipping the juice.

On the kitchen counter sat a bottle of cold tablets, and Liza picked them up. “I guess Cliff isn’t so lucky.”

Cliff. She shook her head, remembering the events of last night. She had learned so much about him. Yet there was more to learn. Much more.

Had he meant what he said when he’d told her he didn’t trust himself? She wondered if he feared suffering a flashback at the wrong moment. Had he abstained from love—from life itself—because he was afraid he’d go crazy and hurt someone?

The need to find out everything there was to know about the man burned inside Liza like a candle flame.

“He’s going to be okay,” she murmured to herself. “I’m going to make sure of it.”

She poured another glass of juice and went looking for him. The sound of a tractor engine drew her outside, and she stepped through the front door.

Liza hoped to find Cliff on the veranda.

She didn’t expect to find her mother there.

“Mom!”

Liza almost panicked. She wasn’t ready yet. Too many years of turmoil between herself and her mother couldn’t be resolved easily. She needed more time to prepare!

“Mom—”

Alyssa Ingalls Baron had turned hastily. She looked lovely, of course. She always did, Liza thought. She was wearing immaculate white trousers with a starched white shirt, a simple belt and large gold earrings.

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