Unraveling Midnight Read Online Free

noticed her footsteps as well, but hearing her acknowledge him with such pleasure in her voice was a beautiful thing. He wanted to lay down with his head in her lap and have her scratch his sweet spot, right behind his ear. Or rub his belly. He wasn’t too proud for a damn belly rub, not if he could have it from Lucy. Of course, the rubbing would be mutual.
    Lucy came from behind a shelf full of yarn, looking as cute and cozy as the night before. “Scott? Are you okay?”
    He was staring. “Ah, yeah. How are you today?”
    The honey scent he’d been swamped in when he entered was replaced by a sadness so intense he felt weak. It was so pure. Not bitter or selfish, just completely sad.
    “I’m okay,” she replied, though her smile appeared strained. “Can I help you with something?”
    He closed the distance between them. The night before she’d been on his mind. Her laughter, her smile, the charming cluster of freckles on the swell of her left breast. Those things had kept him awake long after he should have been asleep. Seeing her smiling face had been his mission of the day, but a new job was presented.
    He stepped closer and though he knew he probably crowded her, he had to do something about the way she felt. “What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
    She didn’t step away and part of him rejoiced even as his wolf was still upset over her being so unhappy.
    “Well, I’m sorry it’s so obvious. I’m not really that upset, but today is sort of a sad one for me.” She stopped.
    “Why?”
    “Um.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, hesitating a long moment. “Today is an anniversary for me. Three years ago today my husband was killed.”
    “Husband?”
    “Yeah. He was my high school sweetheart. Brad went into the military right after we graduated. We got married before he left to make things easier and we were very happy together. He was gone a lot. I was in business school and we wrote each other all the time. He was deployed to Afghanistan and…he didn’t come back. Well, he came back, but it wasn’t the way I’d hoped.”
    She wasn’t crying, hadn’t shed a tear, yet her sorrow was palpable to him. When his arms reached toward her of their own accord, he let them, engulfing her in a hug. He hadn’t grown up in a demonstrative family, but werewolves were affectionate by nature. They needed to feel accepted and protected. He knew things in the human world weren’t always the same, but down to his toes he thought Lucy would appreciate the hug for what it was—comfort when there simply were no words to soothe the pain.
    Her arms looped around his waist and, like she was as comfortable with him as he was with her, she rested her cheek against his chest. “Oh, it was several years ago now, Scott. I appreciate the hug very much, but I’m really okay. It’s the kind of sad that comes and goes, but is more nostalgic than anything else.”
    “It still hurts you,” he muttered, breathing in the clean scent of her hair. Her trust in him warmed his heart and the curiosity and facination he’d been feeling for her turned deeper.
    She laughed a little and, though he didn’t want to, he let her pull out of his arms. She lightly wiped away a tear, a smile on her face. “You and your daughter, very empathetic. Jessie asked me last night why I was sad, but I managed to distract her with purling. Now, what can I do for you, Scott? I’m sure you had a reason for coming in.”
    The mess of yarn he’d thrown away came to mind. “Yes, I did have a reason. Jessie’s yarn was ruined last night by one of her brothers. He asked me to come pick something new out for her.”
    “Aw, what a sweet brother to try to fix his mistake.” Lucy held her hand to her chest. For a young woman, she had a lot of gentle, old-fashioned mannerisms. “I have a nice wool blend that will be good for Jessie. Oh, and maybe a little carrying case for her so there aren’t more accidents.”
    Scott nodded and followed