Lesley turned off the burner and followed him into the living room.
“Sit,” he instructed, and gently settled her into the winged back chair that was positioned in the corner by the front windows.
Cole paced in front of her.Lesley’s neck hurt to look up at him, but she wanted to watch his face, study the emotion that came from the dark, fathomless eyes.With a hand at the base of her neck she rubbed some of the tension from the muscles along the back of the sensitive area.
“What’s wrong?”Cole looked down as if noticing her actions for the first time.
“I slept on the sofa last night without a pillow, and now my neck’s killing me.”
“Here, let me rub it for you,” he offered and walked around behind the chair.His hands felt warm against her skin, and soon a tingling heat was spreading over her.Lesley closed her eyes to the potency of his touch.Her bones seemed to melt as his fingers gently kneaded the area.
“How does that feel?”
Was she hearing things, or did his husky voice sound as disturbed as she was feeling?
“Wonderful.”The one word managed to make it past the sluggishness that affected her throat muscles.Feelings of languor, a tender dreamy state, took over her mind.“Oh, Cole,” she murmured softly.
“Crazy woman, what were you doing on the sofa?You should have been in bed.”
“I know,” His gentle, massaging hands continued the slow rotating movements that eased the coiled tension from her.“But I couldn’t sleep.”
“Because of me?”The question was issued softly, in coaxing tones.
“Yes,” she moaned softly.“Do we have to talk?Can’t you just let your fingers work their magic?”
His soft chuckle caused her eyes to flutter open.“Did I just say something I shouldn’t have again?”
“Again?”he prompted.
“I do that, you know.”
His hands kneaded her shoulders, his thumbs finding the spot between her shoulder blades.“Yes, that’s one thing I’ve noticed these last weeks.”
It seemed important that she gather her resolve.Slowly she straightened, yearning for his touch, yet actively breaking contact.“I...It feels fine now.Thanks.”
Cole moved around the chair and sat on the edge of the living room sofa.“You’d better explain what you know.”
Lesley folded her hands together in her lap, as if laced fingers would lend her the strength to speak freely.“I found your name at the library today.”He shrugged as if her knowing that didn’t trouble him.“You’re an important man, Cole Engstrom.”
“But stupid.”His eyes hardened and he seemed to look straight through her.
“Stupid?”she repeated.
Cole leaned forward and joined his hands.“Incredibly so.”
“Is that why you’re hiding?”Why couldn’t he just come right out and explain?Was she going to have to pry every bit of information out of him?
That hard, chiseled look came over his face again, and he stared at her stonily.
“Cole?”she prompted.
Lightly he shook himself.“It’s not what you think.”
“There is no recall?”
A poor replica of a smile briefly touched his troubled features.“Honey, if you had any idea how carefully each car, each model, is investigated before ever hitting a showroom floor you wouldn’t even suggest it.D.E.is proud of its record, and with good reason.”
“But...”
