Fugitive Mom by Lynn Erickson

Author:Lynn Erickson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

THE MORNING SUN outside the window of the Grand Junction motel was ferociously bright. This was the desert, Luke had to remind himself, and not the mild, sea-influenced coast he was used to.

He felt so much better this morning he almost laughed out loud. God, what a fool he’d made of himself yesterday. Up all night, then hungover, falling asleep in the car. Missed most of Nevada and half of Utah while Grace drove. He cringed mentally. No one had ever driven his car before—never.

And then she’d pulled that “I’m a good listener” crap, that psychological mumbo jumbo, and he’d blabbed like a total wimp.

Damn, he was embarrassed. He had poured his guts out to that woman. He’d never let anyone see that deep inside. Not his wife, not even his cop buddies. Ever.

He got into the shower, remembering yesterday morning in Reno, how Grace had stayed in his room while he’d showered, how horrible he’d felt. What a mess he’d made of this situation so far. He was a jerk.

And Grace. He realized he had no idea anymore what to make of her. Sure, there was still that shy, bookish side to her, which was utterly alien to his experience. But there was another Grace Bennett he hadn’t allowed himself to recognize. A strong Grace, a woman abounding with insight and compassion.

She was filled to overflowing with goodness and courage and sacrifice. The enormity of what she’d given up for her foster child amazed Luke.

She’d been really annoyed with him yesterday, and he didn’t blame her, yet still she’d listened, not making fun of him, not even venturing one word in judgment. Was that her psychology training or her?

It was her, he decided. He’d seen the way she was with Charley; he knew what Big Bob thought of her. Grace was purely and simply a worthy human being.

Unlike Judith. Unlike him.

It occurred to Luke as he shaved that it must be hellishly difficult for Grace to spend all this time with him, to be stuck—trapped, really—with a man so different from what she was used to—college professors. Gentle, intellectual, tweedy types.

His brain was spinning as he confronted emotions he’d never touched on before. Seeing the world, himself, from another person’s point of view. And he felt a dart of misgiving stir inside him somewhere, because he admired Grace, he respected her.

Goddamn, he had even grown to like her. Never in a million years would he have figured he’d be attracted to her type.

Grace? With that scraped-back hair and those glasses and her innate shyness and timidity? Impossible.

Ouch. He’d nicked his chin. He stanched the blood, stuck some tissue on the cut and finished shaving.

Professor Grace Bennett. Crazy.

He decided right then that the only way to handle this situation was to clam up and reestablish the distance between them. Yeah, he’d slip back into his old comfortable shell. He convinced himself he’d be doing her a favor.

Nevertheless, there was tomorrow and a whole lot of tomorrows ahead. With her.

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