A Husband To Hold. Cheryl Wolverton

to me so I’m around them more than just out here.”

      His grin melted Leah’s reserves, making her want to stand there and stare at him all night. He looked so mischievous grinning down at her as he leaned there against the doorjamb leading into the dining room. She couldn’t help but smile back. “You’re brothers-in-law,” she agreed.

      “Dinner’s ready!”

      Drawn out of the feelings that had kept the two of them isolated from the others in the area, Leah turned to see Cathi just finishing her chore of setting the dining room table.

      “Oh, dear. I didn’t even offer to help.” Leah clasped her hands together, worry creasing her brow.

      Mark reached out and caught her fingers. She jumped, almost pulling back before catching herself. Staring down to where he’d grabbed her hands, his darker ones covering her pale skin, she realized how long it’d been since a man had actually held her hands.

      “No reason to be nervous,” he said mildly. “That’s a bad habit of yours, clasping your hands whenever you’re worried.”

      She swallowed, reminding herself that Mark worked for Mitch—the sheriff. As handsome and attractive as Mark was, she had to get a grip on herself. She couldn’t let down her guard so easily. He shouldn’t have been able to notice her anxiety. Had she actually fallen so much out of practice since living here in Hill Creek?

      Forcing herself to relax, she smiled up at Mark. “I’ll remember that.”

      He cocked his head curiously.

      She turned and headed toward the table, where Julian and Freckles were just coming through the swinging door that led to the kitchen. Both had their hands filled with old-fashioned stoneware dishes filled with steaming entrées. Relief touched her as she was finally able to divert her attention elsewhere. However, Leah couldn’t help wondering just what Mark might be thinking right now, as quiet as he was behind her.

      Mark watched her, wondering if she’d felt anything at all when he’d touched her a moment ago. He hadn’t been thinking when he’d reached out. He’d simply acted, and immediately reacted, noting how soft her skin was, how nervous she was around him, how much he’d startled her.

      The look in her eyes, the surprise and shock, made him think that people didn’t touch her often. She was certainly a mystery, this woman. The more he was around her the more mysterious she became.

      And the more attractive. As her eyes had opened so wide and watched him, he’d seen dark-blue flecks within the light blue of her eyes. He couldn’t remember seeing eyes quite that color before.

      They were beautiful.

      They fit her fragile beauty, as well.

      He had to get a grip, and fast. He’d been hired to do a job, not suddenly go into some stage of puppy love. He was too old for this! He didn’t want to settle down but liked being a loner. That was why he rarely dated. Dating was for people who wanted to find a mate and marry, not for someone who enjoyed being alone and living their lives as they wanted.

      Yet being near Leah made him want to spend more time with her, take her to a movie or out to dinner, somewhere private where he could probe her thoughts, find out her desires and just what and who she was.

      Shaking his head, Mark followed Leah to the table, thinking if he didn’t keep his gaze off her it was going to be a long night indeed, not to mention a long six weeks helping her.