Shiver(85)
She snorted. “Yeah.”
“Well, then you ought to apply it with Dad.” He absently rubbed the fur behind Senyea’s ears. “I know you want to tell me that kiss I interrupted didn’t mean anything, but we both know it did. I’ll promise to not see too much in it, if you don’t overanalyze everything. ‘Kay?”
“Whatever happened to having adult/child conversations with you?”
“One of us has to act the adult when the other doesn’t.”
“Hey.”
Fox looked at the snow-covered ground for a moment. “Sorry. It’s just…” He straightened his hat. “I’m frustrated, I guess. I know you love him. I just don’t understand why you won’t admit it.”
The kid was too observant. “It’s complicated.”
“So’s math, but I’m making an effort.”
She laughed. How did she argue with him? Did she even want to? “Come on. Let’s go watch that movie you wanted to.”
“So, I’m not going to get the ‘talk’?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“What? Disappointed? You want to have it now?”
“No. But why did you change your mind?”
“Maybe I want to try that ‘go with the flow’ thing you were talking about.”
He studied her for a moment. “You’re as confused as I am, aren’t you?”
“More so, I’m afraid.”
Aidan paced in front of the view in Raven’s living room. It was late. Fox and Raven had been in bed for hours. He’d given up tossing on the pull-out sofa and donned his jeans, leaving his shirt draped over the back of the couch.
More was keeping him awake than the thought of Raven a few feet down the hall. There needed to be a new plan, one that didn’t include members of the Maiski clan. This was Harte business, and a Harte would be the one who’d finish it.
One way or another.
“You’re going to wear a path in my wood floors.” Raven’s low voice drifted over the darkened living room.
He stopped and turned, his heart thudding hard in his chest at the outline of her in the dim room. The snow glowed out the window, reflecting the moonlight and the Northern Lights dancing across the midnight sky, but they weren’t strong enough to strip the shadows that hovered between them. “Did I wake you?”
“No.” She glided farther into the room, just on the fringes of the magical moonlight. He made out her soft shape wrapped in a robe, her bare feet. “I couldn’t sleep. I’m afraid of what you’re planning.”
“What makes you think I’m planning something?”
“You’re a man, aren’t you? Actions first, consequences later.”
He wondered what her consequences would be if he closed the space between them? “I don’t want anyone hurt because of me.”
“So you’ll go alone?”
He nodded. She’d find out eventually.
“You are many things, Aidan, but I never figured you for stupid.”
The stupid comment stung, but didn’t deter him. “If I can get Roland alone, I might be able to reason with him.”
“Since when are any of the Hartes reasonable?”
That stung deeper than the stupid remark. “You think I’m being unreasonable?”
“Yes.”
“You’d rather more of your family get hurt or killed because of mine?”
The silver moonlight reflected off her pale face, pain shown like slivers of ice in her eyes. Instead of retreating, she took another step forward. “I don’t want you hurt or killed either.”
“Don’t do this,” he growled, fisting his hands in order to keep from reaching for her. “Don’t come in here looking all soft and welcoming unless you want me to take you up on the invitation.”
“How’s the arm?” she asked changing the subject.
“Feeling less pain than my heart,” he ground out.
She swallowed. “Do you want me to leave?”
“What do you want, Raven?”
“I’m not sure.” She bit her lip. “Can we just…go with the flow?”
He gave a short, disbelieving laugh. “Go with the flow?”
“Uhm…yeah.”
“Last time we did that, you ended up pregnant.”
“Well, we could go with the flow…protectively.” Her blush bloomed like sweet, pink rosehips in the faint moonlight. He couldn’t help finding her irresistible.
“Are you asking me to share your bed, Raven Maiski?”
The roses in her cheeks deepened. “I’d rather you quit with the questions and sweep me up in your arms.”