“Calm down,” Don said, pushing Darryn down onto the closest chair.He looked over his shoulder.“You’re upsetting the women, you idiot,” he said softly.
Darryn threw his head back and swore softly.“I’m sorry, but…”
“Give them a chance to do their job, please?”Don said.“Didn’t someone mention food?”
There was a knock on the door.Caitlin smiled as she walked toward the door.“They’re just in time, it seems.”
*
Hannah sat staringat nothing in particular as Caitlin and Don unpacked the food and opened the wine.She should get up and help—it was her apartment after all.But her throat ached, her thoughts kept jumping all over the place, and it was difficult to do simple things.
She didn’t have high hopes that the police would be able to do much.From what she’d experienced so far, Stephen White managed to stay hidden until he decided to strike next.And it seemed as if his bouts of anger had escalated.He had tried to push Sophie in front of an approaching car!
“Don’t,” Caitlin said and crouched in front of her, taking her hand.“Nothing can happen tonight.Let’s try and forget about that horrible man for a few hours and relax.You need to eat, please.”
With an effort, Hannah tried to smile, but she didn’t think she was pulling it off.Caitlin looked worried.The bloody man was not only affecting her life; what he was doing was also a burden on her family.
“It smells wonderful,” she said as she stood.
“Come and see,” Caitlin smiled and pushed her toward the dining room table.
Caitlin had set the table beautifully, and Hannah swallowed against the lump in her throat.She’d missed her family.Having Caitlin here was such a comfort.
Don looked at his watch and pointed outside.“It’s nine o’clock and the sun is only setting now.Shall we leave the curtains open to watch the sunset?”
“It’s not going to be for a while yet, so let’s leave it open.It’s a beautiful evening,” Hannah said as Darryn pulled a chair out for her.
As she sat down, his hand moved over her shoulders before he pressed down softly on her arm.She blinked furiously.She absolutely refused to cry just because Darryn was being nice to her!
Chapter Seven
Someone pushed herviolently from behind, and the yellow scarf came loose as she staggered forward, trying to regain her balance.She cried out as she saw the scarf falling, falling, falling…
Hannah’s eyes flew open and, scrambling upright, she covered her mouth.With shaking hands, she switched on her bedside lamp just as her door flew open.
Darryn stormed into her room shutting the door behind him.She barely had time to register that he was only wearing a pair of jeans before he was on the bed beside her and had gathered her close.
“What happened?Are you okay?Why did you cry out?”he demanded as his hands stroked unsteadily over her back.
“Bad dream,” she got out, but didn’t move away immediately.Her heart was beating frantically, and she wasn’t sure whether it was because of the dream or because of the very sexy near-naked man holding her.
Gulping in a hysterical giggle, she pressed her face against his body.She’d just had a bad dream; she should still be in shock, not lusting after Darryn Cavallo.He pulled her head onto his shoulder.
Her hands splayed over his muscled torso and she leaned against him.It would only be for a minute.She stared at her hands.At least while touching him, they weren’t shaking.
She closed her eyes.It was so good to be able to literally lean on someone.To have a physical body with her to chase away the bad dreams.
Her hands moved, exploring each hard muscle.He inhaled sharply and, beneath her fingers, his heart skipped a beat.She stilled.
“Hannah,” he whispered, and she lifted her head, unable to do anything else.
He kissed her softly, his tongue gently stroking her lips, and she shuddered.
“You’re killing me,” he groaned, and folding his hand behind the back of her neck, pulled her closer.
*
He shouldn’t bedoing this.She’d had a bad dream and his brother and sister-in-law were two doors down, but the moment Hannah’s lips opened and she invited him into her mouth, he forgot about everything else.He finally had his arms around the woman he’d been dreaming about for two damn years.
