To Claim Her by Renee Burke

pulled a mixing bowl from the shelf before he closed the door. 
    He ran tap water into the glass and tilted it back for a drink.  She glanced his way again and caught the broad expanse of darkly tanned muscle.  He was toned and smooth.  His neck muscles worked as he swallowed, and Gretchen immediately felt her mouth go dry. 
    It had been a long time since she’d been physically attracted to a man.   Spending time with her son and balancing work left her with no energy for romance or even just sex.  She’d been burned enough by Mark to be afraid of the flame. 
    She wasn’t prepared for this flare of heat for him.  He was dangerous to her state of mind, to her independence, certainly to her pride.  After being gone so long, could she really let him stroll back in and take possession of what he so casually tossed aside years ago?  Not if she wanted a shred of self-respect at the end of the day.
    “Ah.  Better.  Starving.”  His eyes roved over her in a way that made her wonder just what he was hungry for.  She had no doubt he was still angry, but at least he wasn’t lashing out.
    The rubber squeak of Sebastian’s cane sounded down the hallway.
    “Bout time you two stirred.  Late night?”  He kissed Gretchen on top of the head before heading for the coffee pot.  She put a cup on the counter for him.
    “Late and wet and miserable.  But it could have been a lot worse if not for your son and his friends coming to the rescue.”
    “Ah, the Saints rushed in.”  He took the coffee pot in hand. 
    She quirked her eyebrows at Mark in question, but he ignored her curiosity.  “Gretchen now has partial custody of Mrs. Harris’s old oak tree.”
    Sebastian’s eyes narrowed on his son while Gretchen sucked in a breath at the word custody.  It gave her a belly ache to even consider.  Was Mark going to demand that with Eddie?  Whatever Sebastian saw caused his facial muscles to relax.  “Is that so?”  He poured the stout black brew and sat at the table.
    “Tell him, Gretch.”  Mark nudged her as he walked toward the table, using her old nickname. 
    “It’s lying in the middle of my coffee table.”
    He whistled low and shook his head.  “Enfer d'une nuit.”
    She smiled.  Hell of a night.  “Not the best I’ve ever had.  True.  But your son arrived just in time to rescue me.”  Her stomach was in shambles thinking about enduring another day at work on edge.   Then would come the inevitable son and father meeting when Eddie got home.  Her stomach rolled. 
    She dragged her attention back to the mixing bowl and dumped in batter and water.  She started the bacon in the microwave and put a pan on the stove to heat.   
    Sebastian lifted his eyebrow, waiting for the details.
    “She was standing at the window when the lightning struck, dropping a tree right on top of her.”
    Sebastian made a soothing sound. 
    “Fortunately, she got out with minor cuts and bruises.”  He turned to her then.  “How’s your wrist this morning?”
    She rolled it around, tentatively testing it.  “Seems better.” 
    “You have had a rough few days, cher.  We’ll take good care of you now that you’re living with us.”
    “Temporarily.”  She gave Sebastian a quick smile.  She finished whipping up a quick breakfast with more sugar and charm than she usually fed him which also made him happier about eating so late.  She served and brought Sebastian’s medicine to him where he sat drinking coffee with Mark before she joined them.
    “She seems to have done fine on her own.” 
    Gretchen’s head popped up at Mark’s quiet comment. 
    He was watching Sebastian with narrowed eyes.  “Seems there’s some news you have for me.” 
    She watched in horror.  Would he go on the attack with Sebastian?  The older man had only kept her secret because she demanded it.  Any worries she had about Sebastian’s reaction to the question were quickly put to rest.
    “Mais, oui?  Wasn’t my story