Suddenly Married by Loree Lough Page A

could offer more comfortable accommodations, something with more privacy, but—”
    “Noah, this is a beautiful room, what with the fire in the woodstove and everything. And the powder room is right across the hall. It’ll practically be like having my own suite—once you go upstairs.” She tried to smile. “It’s my fault, after all, that I’m not sleeping in my bed tonight. If I had checked the weather from time to time, I wouldn’t be stuck here, would I?”
    He regarded her silently for a long moment before saying, “I left something out earlier.”
    Her raised eyebrows asked, “What?”
    “A man wouldn’t guess it to look at you, tiny as you are and all, but you’re a tough little thing. And a natural-born nurturer, too.”
    “I rather like being seen as a ‘tough little thing,’”she said, laughing softly, “but nurturer? I don’t think so.”
    “Well, I think so. Just look at you, chin up and shoulders back, stranded in a virtual stranger’s house, and you’re worried about me.”
    In truth, she had wanted to make him feel better. Had he seen it on her face? In her stance? It’s positively spooky the way he knows these things about you, she told herself. “I’m not worried about you. Why would I be worried about you?”
    “Because somehow, you know I feel like a complete jerk for making you think I wanted to buy you. And even though you were the one whose feelings got hurt, you’re trying to make me feel like less of a jerk…though I don’t deserve it.”
    Except for the “deserve it” part, Dara could only shake her head and sigh, because yet again, he’d hit the target.
    Noah stood and walked toward her. He was beside her in an instant, hands on her shoulders, face mere inches from hers. “I’m sorry that I insulted you. Believe me, that’s the last thing I wanted to do. I know it made me seem like a clumsy oaf, spelling out my plan the way—”
    “Seem?” she put in, grinning.
    “Okay. So I am a clumsy oaf.” He returned her grin. “But I honestly thought it was a good idea, one that would help us both out of a bind.” He spoke slowly, tentatively, as if testing her reaction.
    Biting her lip, she looked away.
    “It’s getting late, and I know you’re tired. I’ll go now, so you can get some sleep.”
    But she was only half listening as she struggled with her thoughts. The way he looked just now, all apologeticand embarrassed, she’d almost agreed: it is a good idea.
    “‘Want me to help you make up the couch?”
    “No.” She shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. I think I’ll make myself another cup of tea, watch some television—if it won’t disturb you, that is.”
    “Are you kidding? You could probably set off a bomb in here and we wouldn’t hear it upstairs.”
    Dara nodded. “Good. Thanks. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    He nodded, too. “Right. In the morning, then.”
    Without the slightest warning, his arms encircled her, one hand on the small of her back, the other cupping her nape. He stood for a long, silent moment, studying her with eyes that glittered like blue diamonds, lips pulled back in the barest hint of a smile. Stepping forward, he clasped her to him. She felt his soft breaths on her cheek, heard the quiet sigh issue up from deep inside him, felt the steady thump, thump, thump of his heart. The warmth of it was so complete, so sure, that Dara relaxed, resting her cheek against his chest. The embrace was almost unbearable in its tenderness, and she had no desire for it to end, ever.
    But it must end. Now. Without looking away, she backed out of his grasp.
    “Good night, Dara.” He sighed. “Sweet dreams.”
    And he was gone.
    She had a feeling she wasn’t going to get a wink of sleep. Not because of the narrow couch. Not because of the snow that continued to fall. Not even because she had proof positive of her father’s wrongdoing.
    But because she’d be thinking of Noah Lucas, and the way his blue, blue eyes had lit up when