A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) by Alannah Carbonneau Page A

house. Instead, the walls had been finished and painted a lovely, light cream. The floors were a dark cherry wood that matched the exposed rafters and cabinetry. The granite countertops were thick with a cream base speckled with splotches of red and black and - gold?
    I ran my hand across the countertop, stunned that I hadn’t taken in its beauty before this moment. I mean, I’d worked on it for over a half hour and I hadn’t even noticed the shimmer?
    Lifting my eyes, I felt my body moving from the kitchen, into the open concept living area. There was a large dark brown leather couch that just reminded me of a couch a man would own. There was nothing cut and clean about the couch - instead, it was built entirely for comfort. Beside the long couch, turned in to face the massive stone fireplace, was a matching chair. Over the fireplace, a large television had been mounted to the stone wall. There was an artful looking coffee table sitting directly in front of the couch, and I imagined Luke lifting his feet to rest against it’s polished wood as he settled in to watch TV.
    The house was truly stunning. I’d walked past a set of stairs that had been positioned to stand between the kitchen and dining area. A small arch was between the two rooms, beneath the stairs. It was an artful way to split the dining area from the kitchen without making it so closed off that it felt too formal for use.
    As I glanced once more into the large kitchen, I tried to recall the way his house had looked on the outside. I couldn’t. I hadn’t taken a moment to look at the details surrounding me. I had been too busy focusing on slowing the unsteady racing of my heart. I’d been too busy focusing on the dinner I would busy my hands to make.
    “What do you think, pretty girl?”
    I startled at the sound of Luke’s voice, jumping a little where I stood between the living area and the kitchen. When I looked up, I saw him descending the stairs with his eyes fastened raptly on me. He wore a pair of black swim shorts and a black muscle shirt. He looked - good.
    The thought sent a vicious swirl of heat to pulse through my entity and I felt my cheeks turn pink. Desperate to cool them, I pulled in a deep breath.
    “Um...” I stuttered, turning once again to the kitchen on now fumbling feet. “I was just looking - around.”
    Luke’s hand caught my upper arm in his grasp as I turned to flee into the safe zone that was the kitchen. “Hey?” He tugged me gently to face him. When I didn’t look up voluntarily, he slipped his finger beneath my chin to force my eyes to meet his. My heart lurched and I swallowed a small gasp at the intensity in those dark orbs. “What are you running from, Ember?”
    “What?” I whisper-gasped. Suddenly, the air that had, only a moment ago, felt stiflingly hot, was cold. Ice travelled through my veins, stabbing sharp needled thorns into my spine - but I couldn’t shiver. I couldn’t do anything but stand there, and wait for his reply.
    “You’re always running. You run from me - all the time. Why?”
    “I...”
    “Talk to me, pretty girl.” He cooed.
    I shook my head determinedly. “I’m not running. I - I don’t run.”
    “Ember, you run. If you can see that, you’re blind.”
    “Maybe you’re just chasing something that can never be.” My throat felt tight over the words - as though the muscles were trying to squeeze the words into dormant submission. “Maybe you should just stop chasing - and then I won’t feel like I have to run.”
    I realized I had admitted, indirectly, that I was, in fact, running - but I didn’t care. This was the moment of importance. There were few of these moments - these life changing - future altering moments. But this was one. Right here, this second, Luke’s actions would determine the outcome of my future here at this Ranch, and with him. Although I didn’t realize the significance of this moment, at this second, it would be the turning point of the girl I had