Trusting a Stranger by Kimberley Brown Page A

ever be all right again.’
    He turned towards her and took her hand in his. It was only a few hours since they had met but already the gesture seemed both natural and necessary.
    â€˜You can’t let yourself get any more involved with Tomasi than you already have,’ he said. ‘He is a violent and dangerous man and he has the means at his disposal to ruin your life in ways you couldn’t even imagine. What he did to Pearl wasn’t even because he was angry with her. He has no real connection to her at all. He did it as a message to me. And of course…’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜Also, of course, to make sure that if anything ever happens to me, that custody of Katy won’t go to Pearl.’
    Hayley was perfectly still beside him. Even her hand was as motionless beneath his touch, as if she were asleep. What was she thinking? It was impossible to tell.
    Then suddenly she leaned towards him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, drawing him close. A hug.
    Ethan felt himself shaking slightly. He had lived on his own for long enough to forget how comforting physical contact could be. Her arms were long and light around his shoulders, her hair sweet-smelling as she leaned her head close to him.
    â€˜I’m so sorry I came here today and brought all this back to you,’ she said.
    Her face was turned away from him. She would not see what he did with his mouth. He could not remember the last time he had held a woman like this. He brushed a kiss across the top of her hair before speaking.
    â€˜I’m not,’ he said.
    â€˜Not sorry?’ She looked up at him. Up this close, she was even lovelier. And even more vulnerable.
    He pulled away. If there was one thing his relationship with Erica had taught him, it was that relationships were fraught with danger anyway. In a way it would have been easier if he had still been able to convince himself that Hayley was somehow complicit in a Tomasi game. He would have been free to make love to her now if she was already involved with Tomasi and with the danger he represented. But he was not the sort of selfish beast who would take a woman like this and endanger her further.
    â€˜I’m not sorry,’ he said, pulling away. ‘I’m glad to have met you. Glad to have had the chance to show you this.’
    Hayley looked slightly surprised, and very confused. She was clearly trying to decide whether or not she should be offended by the distance he had suddenly put between them.
    â€˜You’re glad,’ she repeated.
    Yes, there was distance, but she was still too close. The expression on her face suggested imminent danger. He pulled away. He stood. He had to make himself clear.
    â€˜Glad to have had the chance to warn you to keep away from the Tomasis,’ he said. ‘As far away as you can.’
    The changing expressions on her face — and her surprise at his sudden withdrawal — were heartbreaking. Ethan was angry with himself. He should not allow himself to wonder what might have happened between them if they had met under different circumstances, because the truth was there were no different circumstances under which they could have met. Hayley was here because Ethan’s enemy had sent her, and if Ethan took advantage of that, he would just be placing her in the same type of danger he already faced.
    â€˜Is that all?’ she asked. ‘Those are the only reasons that you’re glad I’m here?’
    He nodded, his eyes lowered.
    Hayley stood, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. ‘Thanks for showing me, thanks for letting me stay,’ she said. ‘I might go back to my room, if you don’t mind.’
    He followed her up the stairs out of courtesy, but she was in front of him and walking very quickly. He could tell that she wanted to keep her face averted from his. She reached her door and closed it against him, all without turning.
    â€˜Sleep well,’ he said to the