Lure of Forever Read Online Free PDF Page A

closed off. And utterly
alone.   He had refused to tell her
what his involvement in finding this killer was, but his body language had told
her all she needed to know. This was personal for him, and she got the distinct
impression that Lucas would not be simply arresting the murderer. That thought
should have frightened her witless, yet it seemed to have the opposite effect.
Her body responded to all that leashed power and bubbling aggression on a
purely instinctive level. Somehow she felt safe with him, at least on a physical
level. Emotionally, however––that was another matter entirely.
    She was so lost in thought that she
didn't notice they had stopped outside her house until Lucas opened the door
for her, one hand extended to help her out of the car. A jolt of awareness shot
up her arm when his long fingers closed over hers. She would have pulled back,
but he tightened his hold on her and pulled her out of the car in one fluid
move that brought her so close to him she felt the coolness of his skin soak
into her bones. OK, so it was him, and not her. This night just got weirder by
the second.
    "Let me walk you in."
    He was so close his warm breath blew
across her face. Her skin felt tight, tingles of awareness following the path
his breath had taken and her voice lacked the conviction she was aiming for.
    "You don't have to. There is no
need."
    "There is every need. I'm not
taking any chances with your safety." The growled response left her
speechless, and she simply followed him across the street and up the garden
path to the dark house. Lucas waited, his face unreadable, whilst she fumbled
with her keys, her hands far too unsteady to work the lock. Damn it, why was
she so nervous?
    "Let me." He took the
keys, the contact increasing her awareness of him further. The door swung open
and he stepped back to let her through with a murmured, "Sleep well, Chere . "
    Sleep? That was the last thing on
her mind. Her body hummed with awareness that erupted into pure need when he
bent down and brushed a feather-light kiss across her cheek. Her hands curled
into the lapels of the light jacket he'd shrugged into for the journey, and
managing a shaky smile, she asked what she'd been wanting to.
    "Would you like to come in for
coffee?"
     
     

Chapter
Five
     
    The thud of the front door shutting
behind them was too loud in the quiet hallway. Lucas stood still behind her,
whilst Coralie fumbled for the light switch. Jeez,
when had she become a butterfingers?
    Since you decided to invite a
sinfully sexy stranger into your home...
    Her fingers finally connected with the
blasted switch and soft lighting surrounded them. Lucas's eyes widened, taking
in the paintings lining the hallway. He whistled under his breath, noticing the
scribbled Coralie at the bottom of each one.
Whilst she stood fiddling with the hem of her t-shirt, unable to hold still, he
took in each painting in turn. He stopped the longest in front of her mother's
portrait.   She had caught her mum on one
of the good days, sitting in her favorite chair, her knitting abandoned in her
lap as she stared out into the garden with a serene smile. Cancer had claimed
her mother a few short weeks later.
    Seeing Lucas study the picture had
her blinking hot tears away, and she was in his arms an instant later. One hand
went in her hair and the other drew lazy circles on her back, whilst he
murmured soothingly into her ear. The offered comfort proved too much after the
day she'd had, and she burst into tears.
    When the wrenching sobs finally
stopped, Lucas produced a pristine handkerchief out of his jeans pocket and Coralie blew her nose noisily. Great, for the second time
today he saw her looking her worst. First, a drowned and
mud-stained rat, and now a watering pot with red eyes and a runny nose, bawling
her eyes out. It was a wonder he was still standing there and hadn't
taken off at a run. No doubt he would, the minute she had herself back under
control.
    "She was your mother?"