Discovering Stella Read Online Free Page B

chest for the second time that day. “Um ... yeah, I can and I do. Meg is my sister and this is our house.”
    Desperate to tear my gaze away from his body, I bent down to retrieve my clothes when my towel popped open and partly fell to the floor. “Shit!” I gasped¸ squatting completely and fumbling with one hand in order to cover up.
    I couldn’t reach the other end of my stupid towel without exposing more of myself, so I opted to just hug my legs instead. “Get out! Please, just get out!” I begged. Oh my god, this day could not get any worse.
    Lawson’s booted feet stopped before me, prompting an intake of warm, steam-filled air to my lungs as I took a deep breath. I couldn’t move. I was frozen solid, vulnerable and half naked in front of a stranger who had seen more of my body in the few hours I’d known him than I would have liked.
    Still crouched down, I flinched slightly when the towel I had abandoned was draped across my back, covering my body com pletely. Lawson then helped me stand, keeping his eyes locked on mine and not letting them stray like he had earlier that day. Straightaway, I noticed something different within them, some thing they conveyed that seemed to calm me instantly.
    “Stella, please don’t be afraid of me. The last thing I want is for you to be scared whenever I’m around for fear that I’m some sick pervert. Let’s get one thing straight right here, right now ... I’m not a sick pervert, okay? I had no idea you were in here. Swear to fucking god. And as for earlier today, I didn’t mean to cause whatever it was that happened between us by the side of the road. The way I acted was low. Really low,” he explained in a calm tone, tucking in my towel but keeping his eyes on mine, and his hands respectful. “So ... taking into account that we will be seeing each other a hell of a lot while you are staying here, how about we start this all over again?” He smiled coyly and held out his hand for me to shake. “Hi, I’m Lawson Drake.”
    I stared, dumbfounded, at his outstretched, calloused and slightly grease-smeared hand, deliberating whether or not to wipe the slate clean. He did seem genuinely remorseful and, to be honest, our faux pas introduction wasn’t entirely his fault.
    Tentatively, I placed my hand on top of his and smiled meekly, finding his light-blue eyes through my lashes. “Nice to meet you, Lawson. I’m Stella, Stella Walker.”
    He grinned and, for the first time since meeting him, I was able to really survey the man standing before me. Wow! He was cute. Really cute. Hot even, as in burn-my-nether-regions hot. Gruff, tanned, tattooed and completely ripped-as-hell hot. The well-defined muscles of his shoulders, arms, chest and abdomen indicated he had a friendly relationship going on with a set of weights. And his hair! His straight, dark-blond hair was free from the ponytail that had held it previously and now sat just below his chin.
    We both stood there smiling and shaking hands for longer than necessary when I realised I was still draped in a towel and not in a position to be making small talk. “Um ... do you mind waiting outside until after I’m dressed, please?” I asked, retracting my hand.
    Lawson took a couple of steps backward, finally dropping his gaze to my towel-covered body before turning around and heading for the door. “Yeah, of course. Take your time.”
    I giggled. “Thanks.”
    He stopped, turned to face me and displayed an incredible smile. “Now that was nice,” he said with amusement.
    Confused, I raised an eyebrow. “What was?”
    “That sound you just made.”
    I giggled again. “What sound?”
    “That one. It sounds nice. You should do it more often,” he answered before turning and leaving the room.
    Staring at the white-painted hardwood door he had just closed behind him, I was momentarily stunned, speechless. What the hell? A giggle? It sounded nice ... I should do it more often?
    “I do giggle, don’t I?” I