She blinked. “You do?”
“Of course. You have good ideas, and I’m told you love reading.”
She let out a short, breathy laugh. “Evidently I don’t have a good idea for naming the library.”
Yuri ran a hand through his dark hair. It should have caused him to look disheveled. His hair was already thick and unruly, with several strands falling over his forehead. But somehow the movement only drew attention to the strong lines of his face and the warmth of his brown eyes.
Did he realize how handsome he was, with his easy smile and tousled, wind-blown hair? With that strong jaw shadowed with just a bit of stubble?
She swallowed. She had no business thinking Yuri Amos was handsome.
“Did your father put you up to suggesting the library be named after the most generous benefactors?” he asked.
“Yes, but it looks as though I’m not going to be able to get the building named after him, am I?”
“I doubt it.”
She tangled her hands in her skirt. She could already feel the pain in her ribs, or maybe her other arm, wherever he decided to take out his anger. Hopefully it wouldn’t be on her wrist. That was still sore.
She might even have a punishment waiting for her when she got home, since she hadn’t gotten the name voted on tonight. She could tell her father they were voting on the name next week in hopes that she’d get only one beating, but there was no saying whether that plan would work.
“Are you all right?” Yuri stepped into the recessed doorway. “You look upset. Do you need something? Is there anything I can do to help?”
She swallowed again and shook her head. “Why are you being so nice to me? I’m supposed to be furious with you, and you’re making it impossible.”
His brows pulled together. “Furious with me? Why?”
“Because of the letters. Because I told you not to tell anyone. And now your whole family knows.”
“You were supposed to meet me before I left for San Francisco, and I didn’t...” He took a step back and raked a hand through his hair. “I hated leaving Sitka the next morning not knowing what had happened.”
“Why? We’re not very close friends. You just help me from time to time. That might make you a good man, but it doesn’t make us friends.”
“I say it does.”
“You don’t understand. Your family knowing about the letters increases the chances that my father will find out.” She wanted to pace, to release some of the frustration building inside her, but there was nowhere to move. Yuri was still crowding her into the small space between the hallway and the door, and he was so close she could smell the scent of rain on his coat.
And she wasn’t scared. Even if she did slap him for betraying her, she somehow knew he wouldn’t hit her back, and that just made her want to cry.
Because her father would definitely hit her back. More than once.
“I’m sorry.” He stepped closer, crowding her even more.
She couldn’t bring herself to care. If anything she wanted him to step even closer, and maybe to wrap one of those long arms around her.
It took all her effort to focus on his words rather than his nearness. Had he just apologized? “What are you sorry for?”
“For causing you to worry. I didn’t mean to make things harder by explaining the letters to my family, but I didn’t have much choice after Bryony opened one of them and started reading. She showed the letter to Mikhail before telling me what she’d found, and by the time Mikhail asked me about it...” He buried his head in his hands. “It was all such a mess.”
That’s why he was apologizing? She’d told him she was angry, yes, but she hadn’t expected him to actually apologize. She thought he’d come up with some sort of excuse. Some reason why he was right and she was worrying over nothing.
That’s what her father always did.
“I didn’t know what else to do, I promise.” He reached out and gripped her hand, the touch light and casual, almost as though she were one of his sisters and he was giving her fingers a little squeeze.
But it still caused pain to radiate up her wrist. She gasped and tugged her hand back.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” His brow furrowed. “Wait. Bryony said you hurt your wrist, and that was why you missed our meeting. I take it your wrist is still bothering you? Can I see it?”
