Falling for Frederick by Cheryl Bolen

Author:Cheryl Bolen [Bolen, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781611099683
Amazon: 1611099684
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

His heartbeat roaring, he stood frozen with fear for several seconds. She was so incredibly still. Was she dead? He couldn’t see if her chest was rising and falling without getting closer.

But he was paralyzed by fear.

He tried to assure himself that nothing was wrong with her. His worried gaze studied Antonia’s profile as half her face flattened against the chaise’s upholstered top. He drew in his breath as he watched her. She was just as beautiful in repose. The thick fringe of her lashes brushed the skin beneath her eyes.

What lovely skin it was, the creamy caramel of those with Mediterranean ancestry. Even her straight nose was perfection. Not too small, nor too large.

As if an alarm bleat had gone off, he rushed to her, suddenly cognizant that she might need him. What if she needed medical attention? Every second could count. He came to settle a hand on her slender arm, gently grasping it. Thank God it was warm. Her lids fluttered ever so slightly.

She was in a deep, alcohol-induced sleep. His normal heart rhythm was restored.

He couldn’t let her sleep there all night. Already it was getting chilly by the window. “Antonia?” He squeezed her arm, but she didn’t move. Dropping to his knees, he began to remove her boots. Then he went to the bed and pulled back the faded silk spread before returning to scoop her into his arms. She wasn’t as heavy as he’d expected someone of her height to be. In fact, she felt almost delicately frail, almost as delicate as her light lavender scent.

There wasn’t even the slightest flutter of lash when he placed her on the crispy white sheets. She merely rolled to her side and continued in a deep sleep. He stood there for several moments, drinking in her remarkable beauty and rather marveling that she was just as smart as she was pretty.

His glance moved to the other side of the bed. Where he would sleep. He crossed the room to get his bag, took it to the loo, and changed into his pajamas before heading to bed. This would be a first for him: the first time he’d chastely shared a bed with a woman. He closed the draperies, turned off the bedside lamp, and climbed up on the bed.

In total darkness, he lay there beside her lavender-scented body and was oddly reassured by the steady rhythm of her breathing.

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