by Jeannie Moon
He understood that work made her late for dinner, he chronically worked late, but it didn’t mean he hadn’t been disappointed. When she walked in during coffee, he was sure her parents could see that he wanted her. Something about the way she smiled, the look in her eyes, the ease of her body made him realize Leah was someone he would never tire of seeing. And his dick was certainly happy she was home. Injured or not, the response to her was automatic. Just the sight of the woman made him remember all the places she liked to be touched.
Opening the door of the cottage, Tristan grabbed her hand and pulled her inside. She was pressed against him, which was certainly at odds with their decision to keep things platonic, but he focused on the fact that there was no pain. If there was, he wasn’t feeling it. Leah’s fingers gently stroked his jaw and a tiny grin lit up her freckled face.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Better now that you’re here. Your mother is lovely, but she’s been hovering.”
“She’s worried about you. I know you’re going to be fine, and so does she, but . . . I don’t know if Nate told you about my older brother, Will?”
“Your older brother? No, he hasn’t.”
Leah drew a deep breath. Saying this was never easy. “Will. Older than me by five years. He was killed in a riding accident when he was seventeen. It devastated all of us. She’s going to hover.”
“Good Lord, I had no idea. That must’ve been awful. I can’t imagine.”
“We’ve never really recovered. Nate had the worst of it. He and Will were very close. I don’t know how my parents managed. Amy and I were numb.”
He led her to the large sofa, which dominated the living space.
“I guess I’ll let your mum hover over me, then. If it makes her feel better.”
“Thank you. She’s more fragile than I ever remember her being. You’re giving her something to fuss over.”
“And you? Are you here to fuss over me, too?”
“I am if that’s what you want. Otherwise, I just thought I’d keep you company. Watch the Mets game, maybe? It’s the playoffs.”
His heart skipped a beat when she smiled. She really was lovely. “No fussing needed, but the company is very much appreciated.”
“Good. I’ll make some popcorn and grab some drinks. Do you want to watch here or in the bedroom?”
Tris hesitated. He really liked the idea of getting into that nice big bed and stretching out. But could he handle having Leah in there with him?
If he was honest with himself, as much as being with her was appealing, he was in no condition to do anything, just friends or not. “Bed sounds good. I can ice my ribs if I’m lying down.”
“You go get settled and I’ll be there in a minute.”
* * *
Coming up to the cottage was the right thing to do. Leah liked helping Tris; she liked spending time with him. It kept her mind off all the other things swirling between them. And there was a lot of stuff out there, a lot of feelings and electricity and chemistry. The two of them were on a collision course unless they could reset their relationship and set it safely in the friend zone. Leah was not a clueless woman, and she had no delusions about this man. He had the potential to destroy her in ways she’d never known, which was why they could never get involved.
Grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge, she put the popcorn in the bowl, and managed to grab an ice pack with two free fingers. Fortunately, it wasn’t a long way to the bedroom, and she took a second to admire the very handsome man who was sitting against a pile of propped-up pillows, flipping channels with the remote.
“There it is.” He looked up at her and smiled. “Found the game.”
“Great. Here’s your ice, and your water.”
“Bah. No beer?”
Leah eased herself onto the bed, sitting cross-legged. “Are you nuts? With the medication you’re on there will be no alcohol.”
“Just one?”
“No, drink your water.”
“Killjoy,” he muttered.
“Ok, shush. Kevin’s up at bat. He’s been having an amazing year.”
“I’ve met him a few times. Great chap. I love watching Harper turn into a lovesick girl when he’s around.”
“Right? It’s adorable. Him too, though. He adores her.” She picked at the popcorn. “I love happy endings. It’s nice to know there are men who just love their women. No games. No bullshit.”
“I’m sure there are more than you think.”
“Then I’d like to find the island where they’re hidden because I’ve had no luck.”
Tristan laughed, wincing and grabbing his ribs. “Fuck me,” he growled. “These ribs are going to be the end of me.”
“You’re being a little dramatic, don’t you think?”
“My brother said the same thing today.” Tristan shook his head. “I told you, I think. He’s a Royal Marine, has been shot twice while deployed. Told me to suck it up.”
“Oh,” Leah said. “Sounds like he might be the only one who could get away with that.”
Tris grimaced. “He said I should stop acting like a pansy.”
The temptation to laugh was so strong, but she just couldn’t do it to him. He was being a bit of a pansy, but she had no objection to him wallowing a little. Pain was pain.
“Tell me about your family,” she said. “I want to know everything.” Without thinking, Leah moved toward Tris and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Let’s see. I know I’ve told you some of this. My brothers Nick and Geoff are Royal Marines. Officers. Both have been in hot zones in different parts of the world. Nick will be in New York next week, so you’ll get to meet him. Then there’s me. I’m dead in the middle. My brother Nigel is a researcher at Cambridge. He’s a neuroscientist, and my parents were ridiculously proud of some of the groundbreaking work he’s done. Finally, my sister is a preservationist at the British Museum. She’s an expert in textiles.”
“Wow. All so accomplished. Your parents must be proud.”
“My father passed a few years back. Cancer. It could have been treated, but he ignored it. The man was the absentminded professor. By the time he was diagnosed, he only had a few weeks left. It was hard on my mum. On all of us. He was a kind, kind man.”
Quiet and reflective, Tris spoke of his family with fondness and love. He was right, he had told her tidbits here and there, but now he was diving into stories. Leah loved how much his family was like hers. Different, but the same. It told her so much about him and that the two of them, so driven with their careers, really came from similar places.
“My mum would like you. She doesn’t suffer fools, and she’d like how no-nonsense you are. It’s amazing she married my father, who was such a scatterbrain.”
“My mother was a refined debutante, my father a loud Scot. But they love each other like nothing else,” Leah said. “They sound lovely, your parents. And what an idyllic existence, growing up on a school campus.”
“Idyllic? I don’t know. It was one step above a poorhouse, but we did get excellent educations. My father left Mum with some debt, and no nest egg, when he died.” He was thinking. “We never had much. We lived in a house the school provided the headmaster. The place was old, filled with books. Looking back it’s a miracle it didn’t burn to the ground. We played together, did our schoolwork, and did our chores.”
“That doesn’t sound so different than my growing up.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t have to worry about the roof over your head leaking. Lovely people, my parents, but flakey as hell.” Maybe so, but the affection in his voice was obvious.
“So your mum lives alone? No family nearby?”
“I bought her a cottage in town. She still has friends there and my aunt lives just a few streets down. But she does miss us. I’m supposed to go there for Christmas.”
>
“I’m glad you’ll get to see them. Are any of you married?”
“No, and Mum is dying for grandchildren.”
Leah thought about her own mum, who was over-the-moon happy about her first grandchild. It made Leah a little sad. She’d always wanted children. Now she didn’t know if she’d ever have them. Settling against his shoulder, Leah loved how easy it was to be with him. She admitted to herself a couple of weeks ago that Tristan was damn near irresistible.
But she had resisted him, and she’d continue to do so.
* * *
Waking up to the bright sunshine streaming through the bedroom windows, Leah stretched and rolled her head around as her eyes adjusted. A deep moan from next to her reminded her that she wasn’t alone, but as the sleep fog vacated her brain, and she began to come awake, the truth slapped her upside the head. She’d fallen asleep in Tristan’s bed.
“Shit!” She bolted upright, startling Tristan awake.
“What? Ahhh! Damn. I shouldn’t have moved so fast.” His arms were wrapped around his midsection. “Shit.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
It took a moment, but he managed to draw a deep breath and ask a question. “What’s the problem?”
“It’s daylight. Damn. Eight-thirty.” Leah was up and out of bed, though, thinking more about the fact that the entire farm was awake and there was no way for her to get back in the house undetected. Yes, she was thirty years old, and nothing happened, but she was the baby of the family and her father was an overprotective bear. “He’s going to kill me.” She stopped. Turned. “No. No. He’s going to kill you. Oh. My. God. What was I thinking?”
Trying to get her hair to behave, she suddenly felt his arms wrap around her from behind. The contact, the warmth seeped into her. “It’s fine.”
This was a dangerous position. He wasn’t being suggestive, or inappropriate—he was trying to calm her down—but she could feel his morning erection pressing into her. And it was delicious. All she had to do was turn around . . .
“He’s not going to kill me, as you say.”
“No?” she asked, unsure.
“No. Now please calm down. It’s going to be fine. Nothing happened. I’ll tell him the truth. You came up to keep me company and we both fell asleep.”
Without hesitation, Leah turned and wrapped her arms around his waist. She wasn’t planning on it, but it seemed like the only thing to do, and without hesitation, he pulled her in, holding her close. She’d never felt more content in her life. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“I’m batshit crazy most of the time. I’m too intense. I jump to conclusions. You just . . . you just seem to get me.”
Tris tilted her face toward his and dropped a soft kiss on her lips. God, she loved his kisses. It was the kind of kiss meant to soothe and comfort, but between them, it was dangerous. “I find the craziness, the intensity, quite wonderful, actually. You’re passionate and loyal. And you’re never boring.”
Leah felt the heat rise in her face. “Really?”
“Don’t ever doubt how much all that means, Leah. Women who lead with their hearts are a rare breed these days.”
She didn’t mention to him that there weren’t many men who did either. It made it hard to tell who could be trusted. “I should go. I have to call in and let them know I’m working from home today.”
“I think I’m going back to the city. I feel well enough, and I’ve imposed on your family long enough.”
“You don’t have to leave. My family is very happy to have you here as long as you need, and I’d like you to stay one more day. You’ve even gotten Sally’s seal of approval.”
“Did I?” He grinned looking quite pleased with himself. “What did she say?”
Leah went up and gave him a peck on the cheek. “She said I could do worse. I didn’t have a chance to tell her we’re just friends.”
“High praise.” His hands made slow movements from her shoulder to her elbow and back again. Over and over. “Alright, one more day. But only if you’ll be here for dinner.”
“I’d love it.” She moved in to kiss him. It seemed like the thing to do, but she stopped herself. “But, um, I’m going to go face the music and get the inquisition over with.”
“Alright. I’ll change and see you in a bit for breakfast.”
“Breakfast? You don’t have to . . .”
“You have to face them, so do I. Now get going; I have to shower.”
“This is going to be awkward,” she groaned. “We did nothing and it’s still going to be weird.”
Tris shrugged and chuckled. “Probably a little, but you’re tough, you can take it.”
She left him with a last kiss and a shake of the head. “You surprise me at every turn, Tristan Wade.”
The second she opened the cottage door, Sally stepped out onto the back porch, hands on her hips and an ear-to-ear grin.
“Good morning, Sally!” Looking back over her shoulder, Leah discovered Tristan was behind her, waving from the doorway. “Are you of a mind to feed me this morning, even though I’m just an English bastard?”
Sally’s eyes narrowed, amused. “I’ll have to think about it. I might have some stale biscuits for ya.”
“Lovely. Be there in a bit.”
The man was smooth, she couldn’t deny that, and he had Sally wrapped around his little finger. Grinning to herself as she made her way to the house, Leah admitted she was pretty much under his spell, too.
“Leah?” Uh oh. Da.
Her father was standing at the corner of the house, fingering some ivy that was making its way up a trellis. “Morning,” Leah said. “Any sign of our foal yet?”
“Not yet.” He was quiet. Unusual for her father. “Leah, I know you’re an adult and that you have your own life.”
“Da, I—” He cut her off with a shake of his head.
“Please indulge your mother and me. While you’re under our roof, let us believe you are still our sweet, innocent child.”
“Da, nothing happened. I went to keep him company and fell asleep. That’s it.”
“Oh, Leah, please don’t lie.”
“I’m not lying.”
“It’s not only awkward with you, but with Tristan as well. He is friends with Nate . . .”
Leah didn’t know how to respond to her father’s concern. Especially since nothing had gone on except a baseball game and a whole lot of sleeping. A week ago she might have shot off her mouth about her brother being the golden child who could do no wrong, but today, wanting to keep the peace she was forging with Jenna and her brother, she didn’t lash out.
“Da, I understand what you’re saying, but Nate’s life and mine are separate. Could you please give me that consideration? I’m sure he would agree with me.”
He would. He might not have liked her relationship with Tris, but her brother was an extremely fair man and he understood that Leah could make her own decisions. But the staid look on her father’s face told her this wasn’t going to be easy for him to swallow. She definitely got the feeling there was something else going on.
“Da, is everything alright? This isn’t like you.”
He looked away, a sure sign he was hiding something. “I don’t know whatcher talking about.”
Leah reached out and took her father’s hand. “Okay. You’ll tell me when you’re ready,” she said. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, my stubborn girl. But the same goes. Maybe you’ll give some thought to telling us what has you so sad. I don’t want you hurt again, Leah. And don’t deny it. I know someone broke that heart of yours.”
She hadn’t been expecting that. But then, her father had always been good at surprising her. There was nothing to say, unfortunately. Nothing she could do to ease her father’s mind or help him understand what had forced t
he change in her three years ago.
She hated keeping secrets from him and her mother. They’d always been her biggest cheerleaders, and every time they asked a question, and she didn’t give a straight answer, she felt guilty.
“Leah darlin’, please mind your heart. You really don’t know him.”
Slipping her arms around his waist, she rested her head on his chest and squeezed tight.
“I’ll be fine, Da. I will. But think about it, how well do you really know anyone?”
He didn’t say anything further, which meant she’d made her point. However, Leah knew her father well enough to know he didn’t believe her—not for one second. But he accepted what she said enough to let the issue drop. For now.
Chapter Seven
Leah was poring over a case that would be better served by arbitration between the parties. However, one of the partners had gotten involved in the case she was working on, so there was no easy way out of this. The investor, who was a friend of her boss, got greedy, and the financial advisor had a history of making very risky buys. The result was the investor got burned. Stupid people shouldn’t have access to so much money, but there had been nothing illegal about the deal. Sure, there was language that needed to be clarified, but it was nothing more than someone losing money in the market.
It happened every day.
Ginger Kyle was in the office continuing the work she and Leah had started at the Long Island office, and Leah didn’t like her any better here than she did out east. There was something disingenuous about the woman, and Leah couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Her assistant, Sarah, popped her head into her office. “Leah, you have a visitor.”
“A visitor? Did I have an appointment?”
“No, he said he’s a friend of yours and to tell you he and his brother wanted to take you to lunch. His name is Tristan Wade?”
