Once More (Mercy Heart #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

schedule to be able to care for me.  She was a great mom.  I always knew I was the most important thing to her, even when she was sick.”
    He grappled with what to say in this situation, his heart completely breaking for her and everything she had been through in her life.  He finally decided there were no words, and simply pulled her in to his side and held her there.  Though hesitant at first at how to react, she finally drew her feet up on the couch and relaxed against him while he stroked her hair. 
    A loud noise forced Katelyn awake.  Her heart racing, it took a moment to sink in that she was in her apartment and not alone.  She sat up slowly and looked down at Clem, who had fallen asleep holding her and was now snoring – so loudly that she presumed his snore was the noise that had woken her.  She took advantage of being able to get a good look at him without the worry of being caught.  His long, lean body was stretched out across the couch, with one leg resting on her coffee table.  His hair, sandy brown in color, was trimmed short on the sides and kept a little longer on the top, with a slight waviness that looked very sexy even in the middle of his slumber on her couch.  On her couch…she had a man asleep on her couch.  He possessed strong muscular arms that, moments earlier, were holding her gently against him.  Except of course for her patients, this was the closest she had ever been to a man.  She certainly didn’t avoid human contact, but she had never been one to attract attention.  She longed for affection and companionship, though she was clueless as to how to put herself in that kind of situation.  Tonight, however, she had done just that.  She brought her hand to her mouth to stifle a nervous giggle and avoid waking the handsome man on her couch.  Reaching behind her, she grabbed a quilt and turned off the lamp.  Carefully assuming her previous position in Clem’s arms, she covered them both and went back to sleep. 

Chapter 4
    The next morning, Clem awoke, slightly disoriented and unsure of his surroundings.  Katelyn came out of her bedroom, her hair in a ponytail, dressed to go for a run.  If he weren’t already sporting a morning erection, the sight of her in black skin-tight running Capri pants and a hot pink sports bra would have made him rise to the occasion.  Falling asleep holding this beautiful creature in his arms would have been a test to even the most disciplined man’s willpower, but the realities that were revealed to him last night by Katelyn about her inexperience made him all too aware that he would need to take things very slowly.  Even though they had just met, his feelings were genuine, and, as she shyly smiled down at him, he smiled back, accepting that getting involved with her was going to be well worth the effort.  He stood up to stretch, and then turned towards Katelyn, who hadn’t moved from the end of the couch.  He stepped towards her, and held out his hand, which she accepted.  He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, and, as their eyes met, he forgot to breathe for a moment, losing himself in the deep pools of green. 
    “Did you sleep okay?” she asked, quietly.
    “Oh, yes, I slept fine.  I’ve slept in worse positions, believe me.  Though, the next time I spend the night, let’s just move it to the bedroom,” he said, half-jokingly, but the moment the words were out, he almost wanted to take them back.  Her shocked expression left him feeling sure he’d scare her away.  He slid an arm from around her waist and stroked her cheek.  “Hey, I was just kidding.  We can take things slow –“.
    “You want to spend the night with me again?” she interrupted, looking so deep into his eyes, he was sure she was searching his soul. 
    Thrilled that she was open to the idea, his heart felt so full he thought it would burst as he pulled her even closer.  “Well, yes, of course I do, and believe me, I’m hoping for another