Lawless by Cindy Stark Page A

imperative he keep a
level head.
    He tried to pull back, but she tightened her
grip.  "Please, can you hold me for just a minute longer?"
    How could he refuse?  "Of course."  His
words came out raspy with emotion.  She really was messed up by this whole
thing.  Who wouldn't be?  He leaned his chin on her head and stroked her soft
strands.  "I'm sorry I've made this more difficult for you than it had to
be.  I should never have let things between us get out of control.  I never
should have kissed you."
    She lifted away from his chest, meeting his gaze. 
"Do you regret it?"
    Her blue-green eyes burrowed into his soul.  He
wanted to tell her yes.  If he did, it would be a great first step to getting
them back to the protector-client relationship.  "No."
    Her mouth softened, leaving a hint of a smile, and
he yearned to claim another kiss.
    He drew his index finger across her bottom lip
even though his common sense screeched a continuous warning to him.  "It
can't happen again, Ariana."  He removed her hands from his waist and held
them between their bodies.  "No matter how much I want to, it would be
grossly unfair to you."
    "What if I want it, too?"  She searched
his face, her eyes begging him to agree.
    It killed him to shake his head.  "You're in
no condition to start anything.  Your current predicament has put you in a
vulnerable position, and I won't take advantage of it."  She started to
speak, but he cut her off.  "Not only that, but if I'm constantly thinking
about…us…"  Damn, he couldn't even go there in thought without getting hot
and bothered.  "Any distractions could be detrimental to you.  I need to
be focused on my job."
    Her smile slipped, but she nodded.  "I
understand."  She pulled her hands from his and crossed them in front of
her.  "I admire that you're dedicated to your job."
    He raised his brows, not certain of her sincerity.
    "No, really, I do.  I've spent plenty of time
around men with no scruples.  Your answer might not be the one I want, but I
respect it."
    He relaxed.  They should have had this talk the
first day she arrived.  "Thank you."  Already the tension between
them had eased.  "Now that we're both off the hook, maybe we can work
together to keep you safe and find ways to enjoy the time until your court
appearance.  Nothing says we have to be miserable while you're here."
    "I'd like that."
    The sound of Milo's doorbell ruined their
contented moment.  He hadn't heard anyone pull into the drive.  He grabbed his
handgun from the pantry door and tucked it into the back of his pants.  "Stay
in here, out of sight.  If anything were to happen, run like you did before,
back to the river and then head south.  It'll take you directly to my friend
Luke's ranch.  He could offer assistance."
    Fear darkened her gaze, and it ate at him that he'd
put it there. 
    "Don't worry.  That's a last resort.  No one
knows you're here, and I'm quite capable of handling things."
    She didn't look at all reassured as he headed out
of the kitchen, toward the front door.
    *        *        *
    Ariana put her fingers over her mouth, listening
as Milo greeted his friend, Scott.  This was bad.  Really, really bad.  She blew
out a guilty breath.  She'd tried to find a good time to tell Milo about her
excursion and meeting his friends, but they'd been at such odds, and she didn't
want to add to the tense atmosphere that had pervaded the house.  Another
choice she now regretted.
    When would she learn?  She was making decisions
based on her upbringing, but the people she dealt with now were thankfully
nothing like her family.  She needed to make openness and honesty her first reactions
instead of relying on hiding and secrets to protect her.
    "Where's the honey you've been hiding?"
Scott asked in a jovial tone.
    "Excuse me?"
    Ariana eyed the back door.
    "The woman I met at the river the other
day.  The hot little brunette who told me and Luke she was living with you.