Haunted Heart by Susan Laine Read Free Book Online Page B

surprised him. “W-would you like to come in?”
    Duncan tried his best to not show how shocked he was at the request, so he offered a smile and a nod instead. Ruben shifted aside, opened the door wider, and disappeared behind it, and Duncan walked in.
    Immediately, Ruben retreated to the sitting room where they had talked before. “W-would you like some coffee?” As seemed to be his habit, Ruben wore a sweater two or three sizes too big, with sleeves that hid his wringing hands and baggy pajama bottoms that concealed his slender frame. To Duncan, he looked adorable yet so frail it made all his protective instincts rear their heads.
    “Sure, if you don’t mind.”
    “No. Of course not.” Ruben worried his lower lip, blushing, and vanished toward the back of the house, where Duncan assumed the kitchen was.
    During this visit, now that he had greater insight, Duncan began to notice things.
    He observed the six heavy-duty locks on the front door, the safety-glass windows, and the high-end security system in the foyer, blinking red. Duncan couldn’t help but wonder if Ruben had gone so far as to booby trap the rest of the house too, or if he had guns hidden in drawers, the back of the closet, or under his pillow. He shuddered. If Ruben never left the house, this was his sanctum—but it had become a twisted perversion of safety. No one should have to fear in his own house.
    As Duncan sat on the couch, assuming his seat from weeks ago, Ruben reappeared with a tray bearing two coffee cups and a steaming pot of coffee. He placed it gingerly on the coffee table and poured Duncan some.
    “Thank you,” Duncan said politely as he took the offering and sipped the hot, sweet liquid carefully.
    Ruben ducked his head, his long strands of dark hair obscuring his expression. Duncan could have sworn the boy appeared pleased, though, and that in turn made him happy. To relieve the boy’s loneliness and discomfort for even a moment spoke to Duncan’s heart.
    For a while, neither of them spoke as they drank their coffee.
    “I have some scones, if you’d like,” Ruben said quietly, staring at the floor. “Cookies too.”
    You’re sweet enough . That bit of information Duncan kept to himself. “Thanks, Ruben. Maybe later.” When Ruben’s soft smile faltered, Duncan hurried to add kindly, “I just don’t want to presume anything. You’re not obliged to cater to my hunger for cookies. Say, uh… they wouldn’t be chocolate chip cookies, would they?”
    Ruben let out a small chuckle that he clearly hadn’t intended to release. “Yes, they are as a matter of fact.” Before Duncan could say anything else, Ruben rushed out of the room, and mere moments later he brought a glass jar with him, filled to the brim with cookies. He placed it on the table and opened the lid. “I baked them yesterday. They’re not warm anymore.” His apologetic tone didn’t sit well with Duncan.
    “Damn, these are good.” And Duncan wasn’t exaggerating as he munched on a cookie, delicious to the point of savory. “No lie, Ruben. You’ve got a gift for cookies.” Making yum-yum noises, he ate the cookie and immediately grabbed another. “Hope you don’t mind.”
    Ruben chuckled, ducked his head again, and shook it. “No. Go ahead.” As Duncan ate and drank, pondering how to address the boy’s… well, all his issues, Ruben spoke. “I’m sorry I missed the deadline on the cover.”
    “Is there something wrong with—”
    “No. No. It’s done.” Ruben stared at the floor still, and Duncan was baffled. “I thought that after the way I behaved last time, you’d not want to work with me anymore, so I….”
    Now things were beginning to make sense to Duncan. “So, you breached the contract on purpose by missing a deadline, putting us in the position to terminate your contract.”
    Ruben was obviously ashamed, and he seemed to shrink into himself as he nodded. “Yes. I acted so heinously and… I was sure you thought I was mad as a