Breaking the Silence by Katie Allen Read Free Book Online Page B

work reception a week from tomorrow, boring I’m sure, but it would be a little less boring—I mean, a lot less boring—if you would want to, I mean, if you aren’t doing anything—” She broke off abruptly when a nasty thought occurred to her. “You’re not married, are you?”
    “No.”
    “Engaged?”
    “No.”
    “Otherwise entangled with a violent and jealous woman who collects weapons as her hobby?”
    “No.”
    “How about a violent and jealous man?”
    “No.”
    “Okay.” Jenny blew out a relieved breath. “So, would you like to?”
    He looked completely lost. “What?”
    “Go to the work reception thingy. With me.” Jenny patted his arm. “Keep up, would you?”
    “Me?”
    “Well, I’d bring Rosie but you should see what she does to buffet tables. Also, she always drinks too much and tells the boss off. Lots of damage control the next day, you know.”
    “Yes.”
    “Yes, you know or yes, you’ll go?”
    “Both.”
    “Cool.”
    Jenny and Will smiled at each other.
    “That’s my place,” Jenny said reluctantly. She put her hand out for the leash. Will handed it to her, wrapping his hand around hers in the process. Jenny shivered. His hands were just so…big. And warm. And made her think of how it would feel to really be wrapped in him, surrounded by his strength and his heat.
    “You’re cold. Better go in.” He leaned toward her just a tiny bit and Jenny froze. Was he going to kiss her? Panicked pre-kiss thoughts ran through her head in an instant. How was her breath? Were her lips chapped? Should she meet him halfway or just wait for it?
    Nope, false alarm. Will was stepping back.
    “Should I pick you up next Friday?” Jenny asked, disappointed over the non-kiss. She reluctantly pulled her hand out of his and started up her front walk.
    “I’ll drive,” he offered.
    “Okay.” She was on her front porch now, her keys in her hand. Will was waiting on the street. “Thanks for the walk.”
    Will nodded.
    “See you on the path tomorrow maybe?” The moment the words were out, she wanted to suck them back in. How desperate could she be? “Never mind! Forget I said that. You don’t even have to look out the window as we walk by. In fact, we’ll just go the other way so we don’t bother you at all.”
    At Will’s smile, she stopped babbling and stared at him. Really, it wasn’t right that he should be that hot.
    “Tomorrow. I’ll be waiting,” he promised, the remains of his smile lingering around the corners of his mouth.
    It was Jenny’s turn to dig desperately for words. Nothing came to her, so she settled for an awkward wave with the hand holding her keys. He nodded, face serious again, and waited until Jenny had unlocked her front door, fumbling a little with the key, and both she and Rosie were safely inside. Jenny looked out of the swirled window next to the door and saw Will’s wavy figure, distorted by the pattern in the narrow pane of glass. He watched her house for another moment before turning and walking away.
    Jenny slumped against the door, her legs suddenly wobbly. She blew out a breath and Rosie eyed her questioningly.
    “I’m going on a date with him,” Jenny told her dog. “An actual date with the Nordic god! I so have to call Christian!”

    He was waiting for her the next day. Jenny hadn’t let herself believe that he’d actually be there until she saw Will’s bulky figure on the path ahead. She grinned, wanting nothing more than to run up and wrap her arms around him in an excited hug.
    Rosie whined, pulling at the leash and straining toward Will.
    “Tell me about it,” Jenny muttered under her breath, close enough now to see his face lit with a happy smile. “How are we supposed to resist that?”
    “Hi,” he greeted her, patting a wiggly, ecstatic Rosie as he took the leash from Jenny’s hand.
    “Hi. How was your day?”
    Will shrugged. “Didn’t get much done.”
    “Same here.” She didn’t mention that he was the reason she had