Harmonia's Kiss by Deborah Cooke Read Free Book Online Page A

intensity of his gaze.
    He’d found Mark.
    Ronnie guessed that the resolution hadn’t been so easy, but her heart began to pound with the certainty of what he had come to tell her.
    â€œWhat’s jurisdiction?” Timmy demanded, looking between the two of them in confusion.
    Ronnie put her hand on his head and ruffled his hair. She fought the sense that it would just be the two of them from now on. She still didn’t know for sure. There was still hope.
    Even if Drake’s unflinching gaze made her stomach twist in knots.
    â€œGo watch TV for a minute,” she said, her words coming thick.
    â€œBut…”
    â€œDo as your mother instructs you,” Drake said, his quiet words as inflexible as iron.
    Timmy went.
    Ronnie wondered how Drake had circumvented military protocol, how he had ensured that this matter of jurisdiction—as he had called it—was resolved. She wondered who he was and who he worked for, but guessed that he would never tell her.
    Drake watched Timmy throw himself on the couch and Ronnie saw something flicker in his eyes. She added another guess––that he had a family, too. She’d bet that he’d do anything to defend them.
    No wonder she liked him.
    No wonder she responded to him so intuitively.
    Then he turned to her, as composed and impassive as ever.
    â€œI am sorry,” Drake said softly as he handed her an envelope. There was something in it, something thin, and Ronnie had a terrible sense that she knew what it was. “The embassy will undoubtedly contact you to make the arrangements.”
    Ronnie fingered the envelope, but didn’t open it. Drake watched her nervous fingers, then he ducked his head in farewell and turned to leave.
    â€œThank you, Drake,” she said, feeling that it was inadequate and knowing that her voice sounded high. She clutched the envelope as if it was the only anchor in her world.
    Drake glanced over his shoulder, looking so world-weary that she wondered how often he had made a similar visit. His gaze seemed haunted, and she regretted that she had unwittingly sent him on a path that had brought him pain.
    â€œA deed done correctly requires no thanks,” he said.
    Ronnie swallowed. “That’s not true. Thank you.”
    He almost smiled, one corner of his mouth moving just slightly, and Ronnie once again felt that connection with him.
    On impulse, she reached up and kissed Drake’s cheek. He was shaved smooth, so smooth that his cheek felt leathery beneath her lips, and she sensed the raw power in him.
    She froze and stared, astonished by what she had done. She wasn’t usually so impetuous, but there was something about this man, something that made her believe he’d walked in danger just to keep his promise to her. She held his gaze, wondering how he’d respond to her impulsive gesture. Her heart was pounding and her mouth was dry.
    She watched his throat work soundlessly for a moment. He lifted one hand to the place where her lips had been and seemed overwhelmed.
    By a chaste kiss.
    Then Drake blinked. “I wish the tidings had been better.”
    There was kindness in his tone, a kindness that left tears forming behind her eyes. She still was keenly aware of Drake, though, of the strength of his hands, of the utter stillness of him, of his gaze upon her.
    Not missing a thing.
    â€œTime is said to heal,” he whispered, but there was no conviction in his tone.
    Ronnie looked up at that. What had he lost? Maybe he understood more of what she was feeling than she’d thought. “Will I see you again?”
    Drake held her gaze for a minute that stretched through infinity. Just when she thought he might say something, he abruptly pivoted and left.
    There was her answer. And really, what would be the point? Ronnie knew Drake wouldn’t tell her what he’d found—which really told her everything she needed to know.
    She shut the door and leaned her back