[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
She shrugged. I didn t know any different. I mean... she let out a gusty breath and
turned back toward the fire. I was the big sister. Belle was the pampered baby of the
family. I always had to look out for her, make sure she didn t get hurt, didn t do
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Leanne Karella
anything...stupid. Another little shrug, then Mary pulled her knees up and hugged her
legs, as if shielding herself from her memories. So I did what I had to.
Jacob scooted closer to her, until her arm brushed his chest, and then he put his arm
around her shoulder and gently nudged her until she rested her head against his shoulder.
She let out a soft sound and squeezed her eyes shut. He didn t know what that meant, but
she was in his arms so it didn t really matter at the moment.
Why did you stay with that man for so long? Once she was old enough, you could
have left.
Vergennes is a very small town. Everyone knows everyone s business. For a long
time I saw divorce as equivalent to failure. I didn t want to be a failure in the eyes of
everyone I knew.
He heard more in her words than she was saying. She still feared failure. Control
issues? Wasn t that the basis behind eating disorders? She couldn t control her fate, so
she controlled her eating? Or was he just reading a lot into nothing?
Is that why you took the job as Angel s nanny? Because you thought if you couldn t
make it in New York you would be a failure?
She nodded, then buried her face against his neck.
God, he hurt for her. She was still so young, had been through so much, and she felt
like a failure. Even after raising her sister, providing for her over the years and picking up
the pieces of her sister s disastrous marriages, from what Mrs. Brocton said.
I think you re about the bravest woman I ve ever met, Mary.
Against his chest, she gave a small snort. I m not brave. I m terrified of everything.
I was afraid to leave Sheldon, even though he was probably one of the worst husbands in
the world. I was afraid to go to college because I d struggled so hard just to graduate high
school. And then I was afraid to go to New York, just to realize I shouldn t have
bothered. Nothing I ve ever done for Belle has done any good. She s just doing it all over
again, attached herself to the wrong man who s going to use up all her money and then
probably walk away. I just pray she s smart enough not to have another child this time.
Jacob sat there for a long time holding Mary against him, running his fingers through
her soft hair. She was brave, no matter what she thought. No single woman should have
to carry these burdens. No one should feel so totally responsible for another grown
person.
When his thoughts registered, he couldn t help but feel foolish, because what did he
feel toward his mother? Responsibility for her well-being. But his mother was old,
unstable. She needed someone to take care of her. Hadn t the dozen or more phone calls
in the past two weeks shown that? She was in London, half a world away, having a
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COURAGE TO BELIEVE
wonderful time, but still called on a regular schedule. As if she needed him like an
anchor.
Hey, Mary? he said softly, and placed a finger under her chin to turn her head so
he could look into her beautiful face. You know what I m thankful for this Thanksgiving
Day?
Hmm? She shifted a bit, which brought her right breast against his chest, the
softness of it, combined with her warm, sweet scent had his muscles clenching with need
to taste her.
I m thankful you did go to New York, and that you wound up in my office. And
that Mrs. Brocton saw what was inside you. Because of you, I have my daughter back.
He cupped her cheek again, his fingers brushing the hair at her temple. His other arm
wound around her back, soaking in her warmth. I m thankful you came here this
weekend, he whispered as he slowly lowered his head toward hers.
When his lips touched hers, Mary s breath sucked in and he felt her entire body
tremble, as if the touch was as shocking to her senses as it was to his. His slacks grew
tight with his arousal and he pulled her against him, taking her mouth and feasting on her.
She tasted better than the turkey dinner had, better than the expensive wine. Her mouth
opened under his and when he touched her tongue with his, she moaned and clutched the
front of his shirt in her fist.
Ah, baby, he said on a harsh breath, trying to suck air into his lungs. I want you.
No. The word was a drawn out groan that he ignored as a protest.
Let s go upstairs, he said between nibbling bites on her jaw line, her throat.
No. Jacob. No. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl ocenkijessi.opx.pl
She shrugged. I didn t know any different. I mean... she let out a gusty breath and
turned back toward the fire. I was the big sister. Belle was the pampered baby of the
family. I always had to look out for her, make sure she didn t get hurt, didn t do
141
Leanne Karella
anything...stupid. Another little shrug, then Mary pulled her knees up and hugged her
legs, as if shielding herself from her memories. So I did what I had to.
Jacob scooted closer to her, until her arm brushed his chest, and then he put his arm
around her shoulder and gently nudged her until she rested her head against his shoulder.
She let out a soft sound and squeezed her eyes shut. He didn t know what that meant, but
she was in his arms so it didn t really matter at the moment.
Why did you stay with that man for so long? Once she was old enough, you could
have left.
Vergennes is a very small town. Everyone knows everyone s business. For a long
time I saw divorce as equivalent to failure. I didn t want to be a failure in the eyes of
everyone I knew.
He heard more in her words than she was saying. She still feared failure. Control
issues? Wasn t that the basis behind eating disorders? She couldn t control her fate, so
she controlled her eating? Or was he just reading a lot into nothing?
Is that why you took the job as Angel s nanny? Because you thought if you couldn t
make it in New York you would be a failure?
She nodded, then buried her face against his neck.
God, he hurt for her. She was still so young, had been through so much, and she felt
like a failure. Even after raising her sister, providing for her over the years and picking up
the pieces of her sister s disastrous marriages, from what Mrs. Brocton said.
I think you re about the bravest woman I ve ever met, Mary.
Against his chest, she gave a small snort. I m not brave. I m terrified of everything.
I was afraid to leave Sheldon, even though he was probably one of the worst husbands in
the world. I was afraid to go to college because I d struggled so hard just to graduate high
school. And then I was afraid to go to New York, just to realize I shouldn t have
bothered. Nothing I ve ever done for Belle has done any good. She s just doing it all over
again, attached herself to the wrong man who s going to use up all her money and then
probably walk away. I just pray she s smart enough not to have another child this time.
Jacob sat there for a long time holding Mary against him, running his fingers through
her soft hair. She was brave, no matter what she thought. No single woman should have
to carry these burdens. No one should feel so totally responsible for another grown
person.
When his thoughts registered, he couldn t help but feel foolish, because what did he
feel toward his mother? Responsibility for her well-being. But his mother was old,
unstable. She needed someone to take care of her. Hadn t the dozen or more phone calls
in the past two weeks shown that? She was in London, half a world away, having a
142
COURAGE TO BELIEVE
wonderful time, but still called on a regular schedule. As if she needed him like an
anchor.
Hey, Mary? he said softly, and placed a finger under her chin to turn her head so
he could look into her beautiful face. You know what I m thankful for this Thanksgiving
Day?
Hmm? She shifted a bit, which brought her right breast against his chest, the
softness of it, combined with her warm, sweet scent had his muscles clenching with need
to taste her.
I m thankful you did go to New York, and that you wound up in my office. And
that Mrs. Brocton saw what was inside you. Because of you, I have my daughter back.
He cupped her cheek again, his fingers brushing the hair at her temple. His other arm
wound around her back, soaking in her warmth. I m thankful you came here this
weekend, he whispered as he slowly lowered his head toward hers.
When his lips touched hers, Mary s breath sucked in and he felt her entire body
tremble, as if the touch was as shocking to her senses as it was to his. His slacks grew
tight with his arousal and he pulled her against him, taking her mouth and feasting on her.
She tasted better than the turkey dinner had, better than the expensive wine. Her mouth
opened under his and when he touched her tongue with his, she moaned and clutched the
front of his shirt in her fist.
Ah, baby, he said on a harsh breath, trying to suck air into his lungs. I want you.
No. The word was a drawn out groan that he ignored as a protest.
Let s go upstairs, he said between nibbling bites on her jaw line, her throat.
No. Jacob. No. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]