There was a movement behind them, and Hannah looked over her shoulder.Darryn had finished his call and was sitting down at the kitchen counter.
“Good, because I’m also staying right here,” he said.
Hannah swallowed.The very idea of Darryn staying under her roof after he’d held her and kissed her had her all worked up and confused.It had been so easy to be angry with him while he’d believed Stephen’s stories, but now that everything was out in the open, now that he’d apologized—well, sort of—she wasn’t sure how to behave around him.
A taciturn Darryn she could handle, but a remorseful and nice one who kept touching her was a completely different story.Add to this the fact that after all this time, he still managed to reduce her to a puddle with a mere look from his chocolate-brown eyes, and she was in trouble.Fortunately, Don and Caitlin would be close by.
“That’s really not necessary, I…” she began, but Darryn’s eyes darkened.
“While that bloody lunatic is still out there, I’m staying close to you, okay?”
“But why?You usually can’t stand the sight of me and…”
His stood up quickly.“I think we’ve established that isn’t the case, don’t you agree?”he asked silkily, sauntering closer.“But I’m happy to demonstrate my changed attitude again if you want,” he said bending his head.
Hannah stared, mesmerized, at Darryn’s descending mouth, but just then Don called him.With a groan, he brushed his hand against her face before he turned away.
She exhaled slowly, her eyes on his retreating body.
“Let us be there for you, please?”Caitlin asked, her eyes twinkling.
Hannah sighed and rubbed her arms.“I don’t mind you and Don staying here, but Darryn?He makes me crazy!”She groaned and hugged herself.
Caitlin cocked her head.“What exactly is going on between you and Darryn?It has always been…let’s say, interesting, for lack of a better word, to watch the two of you together.He’s obviously smitten with you, has been since the time you spent together two years ago.‘Fell for you’ was how he put it when he talked to us about the three days you spent together.”
Dumbstruck, Hannah stared at her sister for a few minutes before she shook her head.“That was two years ago.I don’t think it’s true any longer.He feels bad about his behavior at the time and is trying to make up for it.That’s it.Remember who we’re talking about—Darryn Cavallo.The guy who changes women like he changes shirts.”
Caitlin cocked her head.“That doesn’t tell you something?”
“It tells me he isn’t interested in settling down with one woman, ever.”
“I’m not so sure about that.Maybe he was trying to find another you?Why do you think—”
“Of course he wasn’t,” Hannah said curtly.
Caitlin stared at her.“How do you feel about him?”she asked softly.
Hannah didn’t want to meet her sister’s gaze.
“Hannah?”Caitlin insisted, grimacing.
Hannah looked up.
Caitlin giggled.“Hmm, thought so.”She smiled and hugged Hannah.“Why don’t you tell him?He knows now what really happened two years ago and—”
“No, thank you,” Hannah said adamantly.“What if the next insecure guy tells him stories about me?”
“Well, according to Don, Darryn had a bad experience with a model way back, just after he started his fashion photography.This womandidsleep around, so you should probably give him a break, don’t you think?”
“He didn’t give me one two years ago!”
Caitlin chuckled.“Typical male and typical Cavallo.”She touched Hannah’s hand.“When they fall in love, their strong feelings tend to freak them out.Darryn looked a bit dazed when I told him that.”
“He’s not in love with me, he—”
“Just immediately flew across a continent to get to you when he heard what happened to Sophie.He didn’t even pack.What does that tell you?”
She stared at Hannah for minutes.“He had a suitcase with him…”
