Trust in Me Read Online Free Page B

shit.
    He looked up, all the intensity of him—intensity she’d felt in his arms, had willingly drowned in and craved ever since—fixed on her. Only Locke could offer everything of himself in just a look. Words just weren’t his thing, but oh…the man could stare entire conversations. Then, probably just because it would kill her, he spoke, low and husky as a whisper could go. “I’m willing to take the risk.”
    Would he? When she told him the truth? When he knew the secrets she’d purposefully kept from him? When she told him why she could never give him in return what he offered so freely?
    Yes, she realized, looking into the calm depths of his gaze. He would still risk everything on her.
    Somehow, that made it so much worse.
    She swallowed, but the lump in her throat refused to budge. There wouldn’t be any budging him either, but she had to try. “You need to find yourself another girl, Jackman. One who doesn’t make you miserable.”
    “Why would I do that when I like the one I’ve got just fine?”
    Her harsh spurt of laughter caught her by complete surprise, along with a wave of relief she didn’t want to analyze. She was too tired to analyze anymore tonight. “ Why do I find your bullshit so charming?”
    “Not sure, but I’d be a damn fool if I didn’t make use of it.” To her shock, he disentangled their hands and put hers back over her spoon. “How about this? We’ll eat. We don’t have to talk. Just eat. After that, you can throw me out if you want to and I’ll go without a word.”
    She narrowed an eye at him. “If I want to?”
    Only a man who’d spent his entire life being stoic as stone could have looked at her so evenly and said, “I’ll even keep the bullshit to a minimum, so you won’t be tempted to keep me.”
    She just barely held the smile in before she finally turned to the food and ate.
     
    So far, so good…
    Locke silently measured the improvement in Susie’s color with each spoonful of the rice-chicken soup. Blooming pink now, after two steaming bowls. The kids had all liked this soup when they were sick, and the best part was that it pretty much had to be made in bulk, so there was plenty for her to reheat later. Watching her sop up the remnants with the garlic bread just made him feel better about pushing his way into her space. She might be the most independent person he ever met but damn if the woman didn’t need a keeper.
    Her fridge had been in serious need of a hazmat investigation. If she’d slept another hour, he wouldn’t have been able to keep himself from calling Jimmy’s Grocery and getting them to do a delivery for him. All she seemed to have was instant oatmeal, salad fixings and watermelon. How the hell was she living on that ? But if a man wanted to keep his balls, he didn’t ask questions like that of Susie Packard. Which was why Locke generally preferred not to bother with the inconvenience of unimportant questions. Still, he had to tread carefully. This was the closest she’d allowed him in months and he couldn’t afford to blow it.
    “You’re thinking again,” she murmured, those gorgeous eyes of hers looking sleepy and sexy and almost too tempting to ignore. Would she let him put her to bed before she melted right there at the table? Or should he wait until she finally fell asleep? Then he’d get the bonus of carrying her. Maybe even another of those sighs with his name in it…
    “I’m always thinking.”
    “You’re thinking about me ,” she added, a small frown trying to pucker her brows together. It wasn’t getting much traction. She’d be out in seconds if he could get her to shut up.
    “When’s the last time you had a good night’s sleep?”
    Her mouth quirked with what she’d probably call irritation. “You’re not sidestepping my question, Jackman.”
    “I think it qualified more as an accusation.”
    “Which means you heard it and chose to ignore it.”
    “I always ignore accusations.” Didn’t everybody?
    She