‘—Sorry.’ He hung back in the doorway, shielding the light from the mobile phone in his hand. ‘I guessed she’d have already been asleep.’ He gestured towards Polly. ‘She could barely hold her eyelids open.’
‘And me?’
His smile deepened in the flickering shadows. ‘You’re like me and your brain’s too wired to sleep. Johnny went out like the flamin’ lights.’
‘You should be resting. Your head must be hurting still.’
‘It’s been better but I’ll survive.’
Laura shivered. ‘I’d kill for a hot drink right now.’
‘I can’t conjure one out of thin air but I give pretty damn good hugs if you fancy takin’ the chance?’
Hadn’t she taken enough chances where Hunter McQueen was concerned already? He set down the light on the bookcase allowing them to see each other’s faces without disturbing Polly. With his hair untied and wearing baggy sweatpants and a loose, dark jumper he appeared more vulnerable, less imposing. Without a word she rested her head against his chest allowing the familiar hints of cedar and cinnamon to tease her senses while his comforting arms wrapped her in a tight embrace.
‘Warmin’ up?’
Laura met his obvious amusement. Of course he’d nailed her reaction to the heat radiating from him. ‘Tease.’
Hunter brushed away a couple of stray curls from her face and a slow smile inched down to linger around his mouth.
‘Isn’t this too dark for you?’
‘You keep the fears at bay.’
There were so many more questions she needed answered but the only thing that mattered right now was how soon he’d kiss her.
* * *
Since the grey, rainy day when he first set eyes on Laura, dripping wet but spirited as hell, he’d ached to kiss her and now he wasn’t waiting another second. He fought to keep the kiss gentle until a faint moan escaped the back of her throat. It didn’t help when her fingers explored under the hem of his jumper and stroked his hot, tight skin.
‘You’d better stop there unless . . .’
‘Unless what?’ Her husky whisper unravelled another layer of restraint.
With a pop the lights flashed back on and instead of giving thanks for the genius electricity workers, he could have groaned out loud. The only consolation came from the matching disappointment in Laura’s dark eyes.
Polly jerked awake. ‘What are you two . . . oh, daft old me.’ She smacked her head. ‘I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.’
Johnny stumbled into the room. ‘What happened to you? I woke up and you’d disappeared’
‘Mr McQueen sneaked down to make a move on my sister.’
‘That figures. I saw it coming in Princetown.’
‘Princetown? What on earth are you talking about?’ Polly waved her engagement ring in Johnny’s face. ‘The whole truth.’
‘Why don’t I put the kettle on?’ Laura offered. ‘I heard the central heating kick back on so the house should soon warm up.’
Hunter could think of more entertaining ways to stay toasty.
Five minutes later they sat around the kitchen table in a complete déjà vu moment except with mugs of tea instead of brandy while Johnny poured out the whole story of Thursday’s accidental meeting at the pub in Princetown.
‘They were practically drooling over each other.’ Johnny chuckled.
‘Don’t be daft,’ Laura blurted out. ‘He’d only arrived the day before. Who on earth do you think I am?’
‘A lonely woman in need of a good man.’
