Seeing Stars: A Loveswept Classic Romance by Fran Baker Read Free Book Online Page B

Nick’s tone held all the warmth of surgical steel. “But if I were, you can damned well bet you’d be the last one I’d look to.”
    “Thank God for small favors,” she snapped. Then, stricken by guilt at what she’d just said, she spun away from him, her rubber waders slisking in the snow. Through all the years, all the crises … no one and nothing had ever rattled her as much as Nick just had!
    “Listen”—he sighed heavily and reached for her arm, trying to make amends—“that remark I made about being color-blind was a real cop-out.”
    From the corner of her eye she saw his hand coming at her, and stepped sideways to evade it. “Yes, it was.”
    “And I really can’t believe that I was stupid enough to let a good thing end so badly.” He grabbed a fistful of freezing air and ground his teeth in frustration. Then he lashed out with his left hand.
    Dovie’s conscience warred with her pride as she dodged him again. She wasn’t playing fair, of course, but she’d be hanged for a horse thief before she’d stand still for any more of his abuse! “Me either.”
    “About the only excuse I can offer is that shortly after I was blinded, I was surrounded by women who thought I needed them to ‘take care’ of me.” Remembering all the nameless, faceless bodies he’d bedded during those first dark months, Nick stopped and raked an aggravated hand through his thick black hair. “I suppose they saw themselves as sexual therapists or something, and I—”
    “If you think I’m interested in hearing you bragabout how many notches you’ve carved in Braille on your bedpost, you’re sadly mistaken!” she snapped over her shoulder.
    “You jump to conclusions faster than a frog!” Veering toward the sound of her voice, he grabbed her arms in a steel vise of a grip and jerked her around to face him. “Now, you’re not making another move until I’ve had my say! Understand?”
    Dovie stood frozen in his grasp, stunned by the anger that had erupted in him. Dimly she realized that he wasn’t angry at her as much as he was angry at the terrible fate that had robbed him of his eyesight. Nevertheless, Nick in a temper was a man to fear.
    “I don’t blame you for thinking I was bragging a moment ago, but believe me, I wasn’t.” He relaxed his grip but didn’t release her, because he was sure she’d bolt if given the chance. “And I know you were mad when I stopped kissing you—”
    “I wasn’t mad; I was hurt.”
    Nick could feel her trembling through the nubby cotton fabric of her sweater. The way his knuckles were still digging into the sides of her breasts, he knew her courage must have cost her dearly. “I never meant to hurt you.”
    Dovie heard the change in his voice, but it did nothing to calm the riotous vibrations where his hands held her captive. Her fear of him was gone, replaced by a fear of a different kind. A fear of herself. “Then let me go.”
    Silently, he did as she had demanded.
    It was almost full daylight now. Around them snow fell softly from laden evergreen boughs and icicles on the nearby dogwood limbs began to melt under the fleeting magic of a December sun. Between them their breaths joined in warm white clouds on the freezing air. And together they braved a whole new world of emotion.
    “I don’t know about you,” he said huskily, “but I’m a hell of a lot friendlier on a full stomach.”
    “Me too.” Giving in to an impulse she’d had since she first met him, she raised one hand and let her fingers sift through his windblown hair. Ah, it felt as clean and springy as it looked.
    “The offer’s still open, then?” He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, pressing his lips into the center of her palm with a light, experienced touch that made her ache with excitement deep inside.
    Dovie nodded, illogically thinking he could see the motion.
    Nick sensed it and, giving in to some devilish impulse of his own, murmured against her sensitized skin. “Then