Protecting Her Daughter (Wrangler's Corner) by Eason Lynette

Author:Eason, Lynette [Eason, Lynette]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-03-01T06:00:00+00:00

TEN

Zoe let out a low gasp. Aaron slid off the stool and made his way over to the couch where he dropped onto the cushion and let his hands dangle between his knees. His chin rested on his chest and he stared at the floor. Zoe came to sit beside him. “I thought he was going to be okay.”

“So did I.” He rubbed his eyes. “There’ll be an autopsy, of course.”

“Did he ever wake up?” she asked.

“No.” Her shoulders slumped, and he wrapped an arm around her and drew her to him. At first she resisted then she let him. He ignored the warning his brain sent his heart. He’d known her a very short time, but already he was finding ways to weave her and her child into his life, keenly aware of the possibility that he might be setting himself up for a hard and painful fall. He swallowed as another fact hit him. “I killed a man.”

She looked up. “Oh, Aaron, I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head. “It’s sad. I’m sad, but I couldn’t let him hurt Lance.”

“Of course you couldn’t. If you hadn’t shot Pete, Lance would be dead.”

“I know. I realize that of course, but it’s still...” He rubbed a hand down his cheek and knew she was right. It wasn’t that. He just didn’t have the words to explain the feeling. And he knew that if he could go back in time to the very moment he pulled the trigger, he’d have to do it again. Pete hadn’t given him a choice.

Her arms slid around his neck, and she laid her head on his chest. His breath caught and he closed his eyes, wishing things were very different. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted it until her lips were a fraction of an inch from his. And then he kissed her. A slow tender exploration that didn’t last nearly as long as he wanted. She didn’t resist, but he could feel her hesitation. When he lifted his head, she opened her eyes and looked into his. “Is this wise?” she whispered.

“Probably not.” Actually, it was definitely not. “But I won’t apologize. The more time we spend together, the more I feel...”

“I know, I feel the same, but—” she looked away then back “—I’m not staying in Wrangler’s Corner forever, Aaron,” she whispered. “Just until this is over.” She shook her head. “And maybe not even until then. I have a life to get back to. A business. A family. Of sorts. They’re my in-laws, but they’ve been good to me.” She gave a soft grunt. “Better than my blood family.”

“Yeah. I know.” He’d managed to convince her to stay this long, but every time he knocked on her door, he half expected to find her gone. The uncertainty was playing havoc with his emotions, and he knew he’d have to make a decision soon about keeping his heart out of the equation. He ignored the little voice that mocked him, insisting it was too late.

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