Midnight's Captive(8)

CHAPTER THREE



Laura didn’t miss the misery on Charon’s face, and even though she usually kept her distance, she found herself reaching out to him.

Her hand rested on his arm. Beneath her palm she felt the steel of his muscles, the warmth of the man himself. She sucked in a startled breath but didn’t release him.

“Are you all right?” she asked when his dark brown eyes jerked to her face.

“Aye. Thank you,” he said and lifted the arm that held the carafe and the shirt.

She reluctantly dropped her hand, instantly missing his warmth. “No problem.”

Silence lengthened between them until she grew uncomfortable. She glanced down when she felt the cool night air on her toes and realized she had forgotten her shoes inside.

“The day ran smoothly,” she said as she turned to walk back into the office. Work was always a safe topic.

“That’s good.”

She heard the door slide shut and the lock click into place as she put her feet in her heels. “By the way, I sent another e-mail to Dreagan last week.”

His chuckle, deep and soft, filled the room. “You doona give up, do you?”

“No.” She found him standing in front of her, and that’s when she noticed the stains on his shirt. The material was dark, but the stains were obviously blood. She reached out to him again. “Are you hurt?”

Before she could touch him, Charon took a step back and tossed the tee over his shoulder so that it covered the torn section of his shirt. “Nay.”

Laura cleared her throat, wounded that he would lie so blatantly. “Um … anyway, I received an e-mail from Dreagan. They want to meet with you next week.”

“You’re worth your weight in gold. I really doona pay you enough.”

“You pay me plenty,” she said, but preened at his praise. “I told you I’d get you that meeting.”

“I think you need to come with me, then.”

She blinked. This was something knew. Charon always took these meetings himself. “You never take anyone.”

“I’m taking you this time. You need to learn that side of the business. I’m no’ always going to be around to take these meetings, and I need someone I can trust.”

She shook her head emphatically. Her stomach clutched, not at the thought of the meeting, but the idea that Charon wouldn’t always be around. “Oh, no. I’m much better drafting e-mails and letters than in person. Find someone else.”

“You doona see your own worth. Have you no’ noticed how men stare after you?”

“Me?” she asked with a frown. “Charon, no one looks at me.”

“They do.”

His words were softly spoken. The way he held her gaze told her he wasn’t lying, but she still couldn’t quite believe him. Because the one man she wanted to notice her, didn’t.

She looked away and reached for her purse. “I prefer to sit behind a desk for a reason. I’m really not good in front of people. I’m too shy, and some people think I’m rude or cold because of that shyness. In truth, they frighten the crap out of me.”

Charon’s snort had her lifting her gaze to him. “You can no’ even curse, can you?”

“I can.”

“Prove it. Say something.”

She adjusted her purse on her shoulder. “I have to be in the right mood,” she hedged.

“Bollocks. You doona like to curse.”

“Well, no. I think the point can come across using other terms.”

“I hate to tell you this, but there are times when ‘gosh darn’ and ‘crap’ just doesna cut it, lass. A good curse word solves the problem every time.”

As usual, Laura found herself entertained when she was around Charon. He had an affable way about him that had immediately put her at ease, something she thought she’d never feel after what her family had done.

Whereas it used to take her weeks to get up the nerve to talk to people, she had begun talking to him within an hour of arriving in Ferness.

The pint of ale might have helped as well. Mostly it was his charm and easy smile that had won her over as no one else ever had.

Regardless, Charon always made her cheery.

The smile faded when she caught another glimpse of his torn shirt. “I tried to call you.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, and set down the carafe. “I lost my mobile. Was it important?”

“Nothing I couldn’t take care of. I just like to keep you informed. I’ll be sure to get you another mobile tomorrow.”

With a nod, Laura turned and walked to the stairs that would lead her to the pub and out the front door.

“What am I going to do without you?”