Guardian Angel by Leanne Banks Read Free Book Online Page A

coherent.”
    An hour later, Talia was enjoying herself immensely. Though regal in manner, the two older women insisted upon being called by their first names. They also expressed interest in helping with LAM. And they dominated the conversation with stories about Trace.
    Prudence shook her fluffy white head and clucked. “Yes, Trace had the worst case of diaper rash for the first six months of his life. It nearly gave his mother a fit.”
    Trace caught Talia’s eye and put on an expression of great suffering. She bit back a laugh.
    â€œOh, I think his chicken pox was much worse,” Martha said. “After all, he couldn’t wear a stitch of clothing for three days.”
    The sisters bantered back and forth, each trying to outdo the other with their memories. After the tenth story, Talia had to admire Trace’s indulgence of the sisters.
    â€œThen again,” Prudence said over coffee, “there was the incident with the poison ivy.” She proceeded to expound on that particular ailment.
    Talia smiled mischievously and leaned over to him. “Just think,” she whispered, “if you were in outer space, you could scream without anyone hearing a sound.”
    Beneath the table, he snatched her hand and gave it a warning squeeze. Though he glared at her, she noticed he was fighting a smile.
    It seemed peculiar to her that she could be so attuned to his feelings. She found it even more peculiar the way they’d taken turns studying each other throughout the evening. The glances said, “I like you” and “I want to know you better.” In spite of her grudge against the Barringers, she couldn’t resist Trace’s sexy appeal.
    She allowed him to lace his fingers with hers, enjoying the sensation of her hand being swallowed up by his. His was not the hand of a laborer. The skin was smooth, the nails well tended. But it was a strong hand. He rubbed his thumb against her wrist, and a tingle ran down her spine.
    Glancing at him, she saw in his eyes a curiosity that matched her own. He moved his clever thumb again in a caress that caused a tightening in her stomach. He could see her surprise. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. Clever hands, clever eyes. Her gaze fell to his mouth, and she couldn’t help but wonder.
    A question from Prudence drew their attention back to the sisters. “Yes,” Trace answered, “both of my parents are—” Talia swept her own thumb across his palm. He stumbled and threw her a threatening glare. “—doing fine. Father is—”
    She ignored the glare and experimentally stroked between his fingers. This time he glanced at her through hooded eyes, his gaze clearly saying, You will pay. He laced his fingers firmly through hers. “Father plays golf every day. He’s nearly fully recovered from his second heart attack.”
    Talia simply smiled. She’d learned something new about Trace that night. His hands were extraordinarily sensitive. And he didn’t like losing control of a situation.
    â€œTrace,” a man said.
    Trace looked up and saw his younger brother and wife approaching their table.
    â€œPhilip, Cynthia, what brings you here?” His hand automatically tightened around Talia’s when she pulled against him. He didn’t want to get into a wrestling match under the table, though, so he released it. As the sisters greeted Philip and his wife, he stole a glance at Talia. Her shoulders were stiff, her expression frozen. But her eyes flashed with such vivid emotion, he could tell it was an effort for her to control herself.
    After charming the Fitzgeralds, Philip turned to Talia. Trace watched in amazement as Philip, the epitome of smoothness, faltered.
    Coming to his brother’s rescue, he stood. “Talia McKenzie, this is my brother, Philip, and his wife, Cynthia. Talia’s in charge of Lung Awareness Month.”
    Philip nodded and pulled at his