Looking for a Hero by Patti Berg Page A

ignore that cheek, afraid of disfiguring his face any further. She’d also wanted to ignore that side of his face because it reminded her that he was dangerous, that she shouldn’t have allowed him in her house, near her, near Casey. But it was that side of his face that intrigued her the most.
    She took a deep breath, rested the razor near his hairline just above his ear, and slowly dragged it downward, easing it over the scar, until she’d scraped away the last remnants of beard.
    She took the razor back to the bathroom and returned with a warm washcloth. Sitting beside him again, she gently bathed his face and throat. She applied fresh, cool compresses to his forehead and neck, studying his face as she worked.
    Long black eyelashes curled upward instead of resting on his skin, and dimples at both corners of his mouth softened a face made dangerous looking by the scar. She knew better than to think it, but he really did look like a pirate—a handsome one, now that he was shaved.
    The patch over his eye fascinated her nearly as much as the scar. How he must have suffered, if he’d indeed told the truth about someone carvingout his eye. She couldn’t begin to imagine the pain, couldn’t imagine someone doing something so horrid in this day and age, but the thing she wondered most was if someone had cared for him afterward. If anyone had comforted him. Slowly, she smoothed her fingers over his cheek, lightly caressing the length his scar. It was raised only the slightest bit. Smooth, oh so very smooth, like the rest of his cheek.
    Her fingers accidentally brushed the bottom of his patch, and lingered. What would it hurt to take a quick peek? He was asleep; he’d never know.
    Swallowing hard, she slid her index finger just under the edge of the patch. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest, and a lump grew wild in her throat. Don’t do it, Kate. Don’t do it . But she’d gotten this close; she couldn’t stop now. Besides, it was just a little patch, and so easy to lift.
    She expected to see a gaping hole, skin that was thickened and scarred. Instead she saw an eyelid, and curling lashes. She hadn’t given any thought to the fact that with his eyelids closed he’d look like a normal man, that the scarring would be hidden from view.
    What she was doing was crazy. She didn’t need to see any more of his scars, but curiosity pushed her on. Gently she touched his lashes, his eyelid.
    It will only take a second, Kate , she told herself. Just one second, then you can put the patch down again .
    She took a deep breath and started to lift thelid. Suddenly it jerked open, and the azure eye beneath it twinkled.
    Morgan Farrell winked.
    â€œDamn you!” she sputtered, as a grin slanted across his face. “You are the biggest liar I’ve ever met, and I want you out of my house. Now! ”
    The grin faded to a softened smile. His eyes closed, and he drew in a deep breath. “I have barely the energy to speak, madam, let alone leave this bed.”
    â€œBut you lied! You told me your eye had been cut out!”
    â€œAnd you said you didn’t want me anywhere near, yet you’ve cleaned my wound and shaved my face. Who’s the liar, madam?”
    â€œDon’t call me that.”
    â€œAh, Katie.” His hand inched out from under the covers, and he reached toward her cheek. She pushed away from the bed and walked to the window, not wanting to know his touch, not wanting to get any closer to him than she’d already allowed herself. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked back at him.
    His smile had drained away. His Adam’s apple rose and fell, and he took a deep breath before he spoke. “I apologize for the ruse. ’Tis difficult to tell the truth when one has lived a lie for many years.”
    â€œWhat other lies have you told me?”
    â€œMost of my life has been a fabrication, but one of my own design. Now my life has