The Enemy Within (Daughters of the People Series Book 3) by Lucy Varna Read Free Book Online Page B

her
apartment. When they left the store, Indigo said, “Just out of curiosity, why
aren’t we taking the sofa back with us?”
    “Because we need
the room for your bedroom furniture.”
    He helped her
into his truck before walking around and getting in himself. Once they were
underway, she shifted in the seat, studying his profile. He drove with his eyes
fixed on the road and his left hand at the top of the steering wheel. His right
hand rested on the bench seat between them, edging closer to her in tiny increments.
    “What was wrong
with the furniture at that store?”
    “It’s not what
you’re looking for.” He merged onto the highway and accelerated to match the
flow of traffic. “I saw the way you eyed the coffee table in there.”
    Her lips curled
into an unladylike sneer. “It looked fake.”
    “It’s cheaper
wood with a veneer. Still wood, but not the kind you’re used to.”
    “Oh? What kind
of wood am I used to, then?”
    He glanced at
her long enough for his mischievous grin to reignite the desire he’d stirred in
her earlier, a heat her body hadn’t quite forgotten. “The real kind. Trust me.
You’ll love what I have in mind.”
    “How do you
know?”
    “You liked the
sofa, didn’t you?”
    She settled back
into her seat. Following his lead wasn’t so hard, but trusting him to pick out
furniture for her? What woman in her right mind would allow a man to have a
free hand there?
    They ended up at
a climate controlled storage unit not far from Tellowee. Bobby helped her out
of the truck before he unlocked one of the units and rolled the door up. His unit
was packed from wall to wall with items draped in protective sheets and
cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes.
    She followed him
into the cool interior, peering with him under each sheet he lifted. “What is
this?”
    “Furniture.
Mostly wood.” He moved a box and pulled the sheet off of a low rectangular
object, revealing a Mission-style coffee table. “Some other stuff I’m saving
for…” He shrugged casually as his voice trailed off.
    “What?”
    “Stuff. This
table would look great with your new couch.”
    He appeared so
uncomfortable, she let the moment pass and turned her attention to the coffee
table. “Is that wormy chestnut?”
    “Yup, with a
hand-rubbed oil finish. You’ll need coasters and can’t put anything warm down
on it, but it should suit you.”
    She knelt to run
a hand over the smooth finish, down a perfectly aligned joint. It must have
taken hours for someone to craft this one piece alone. “I can’t take this.”
    “Sure you can.”
    He stepped
deeper into the unit, lifting sheets as he went.
    “It wouldn’t be
right.” She stood reluctantly. “You’re obviously saving it for a very special
purpose.”
    “Yes,” he agreed
mildly. “Here’s the bed for you.”
    He flipped back
one of the sheets, revealing an intricately carved headboard. Indigo stepped
closer, her body brushing against his in the tight space as she did, and ran a
hand over the design.
    “It’s
beautiful.” Questions popped into her mind one after another, so many she had a
hard time choosing between them. Finally, she settled on, “Where did you get
it?”
    “I made it. Most
of the design elements are from the Book of Kells.” He stroked a hand down her
hair, then rested it on the small of her back. “The wood’s walnut, from a tree
that used to stand near the house. Do you remember?”
    “The one
lightening struck not long after you were born,” she murmured, and found
herself leaning into his warm comfort.
    “Dad did a lot
of woodworking back then, before he knew about the MS. He salvaged what he
could, had it sawed for furniture.” He moved to stand behind her, dropped his
hands to her hips, and drew her back until their bodies were pressed firmly
together. “I found it when I got out of the Army.”
    When he spoke,
his breath puffed gently against her ear, sending a shiver along her skin. She
eased forward