The Lawson Boys: Alex by Angela Verdenius Read Free Book Online Page A

fast. What could he
do, anyway? Besides, he hadn’t said that he knew, he hadn’t actually said it. Maybe this was something else
entirely.
    But she’d felt
the simmering anger in him. If not what she thought, then why was
he here? It certainly wasn’t to get to know her better.
    “Come in.” His
quiet order travelled clearly in the still of the night.
    She lifted her
chin. “Not until you tell me what you’re doing here.”
    “It’s cold,
Harly. Come inside.”
    “No.”
    He stood so
still in the back glow of the hall light. “What are you scared
of?”
    “Nothing. Not
you.”
    “Strange
answer. What makes you say that?”
    Annoyance
prickled through her. “I’m not going to play word games with
you.”
    “I never asked
you to. I’m seeing you safely inside. You’re the one acting like
you think I’m going to hurt you.” His head angled to one side
inquiringly. “Is that it, Harly? Do you think I’m going to hurt
you?”
    “No.” That was
truthful.
    “Then why are
you so afraid?”
    “I’m not.” Liar .
    Stepping down
off the veranda, Alex closed the small distance between them with
firm treads.
    Swallowing, she
watched as he came to a stop directly in front of her. She had to
be careful, so careful…
    Reaching out,
Alex took her hand, his gaze shuttered. “Right now I just want you
inside out of the cold. I’m not here to hurt you, Harly.”
    The sincerity
of his words rang with truth and embarrassment immediately swept
through her. Embarrassment and relief. He couldn’t know, and maybe
this was just his way now, hard and direct. All he’d said was that
he’d meant to rectify not knowing her, that was all. She was
reading too much into it, letting her emotions and long ago
memories play havoc with her commonsense.
    Taking a deep
breath, she smiled up at him. “Sorry. I’m sorry, Alex. I just - you
just threw me a little with some of your comments.”
    “Really?” His
thumb rubbed along the back of her hand before he suddenly changed
his grip, clasping her hand completely in his and turning on his
heel to lead her back to the house. “I wonder why that is?”
    “I don’t know.” Liar again . Foreboding filled her, but she was so rattled,
so uncertain as to his motive, that she allowed him to lead her up
the steps of the veranda and into the house. Of only one thing was
she certain and that was that Alex wouldn’t physically hurt her.
That sure knowledge was the only reason why she followed him
inside.
    Buffy met her
just inside the doorway and Harly’s taut nerves eased when Alex
released her hand to kneel done and stroke the old dog. Buffy’s
wagging tail and trusting gaze tracked from Alex to Harly and back
again.
    Speaking softly
to Buffy, Alex rubbed her gently behind her ears and she leaned
into him.
    Oh yeah, Harly
knew for sure then that Alex wouldn’t physically hurt her. She
relied on animal instincts and Buffy’s acceptance helped bolster
her own decision.
    Moving past the
man and dog, she checked the lounge to see the three cats still
sprawled on the furniture. They opened their eyes to look at her.
Chuckie jumped down and walked up to her yowling, winding around
her legs until she picked him up and cuddled him.
    He stiffened
and Harly felt warmth at her back, her nerves almost prickling at
the closeness of Alex behind her.
    Slowly his hand
appeared over her shoulder so that Chuckie could cautiously sniff
him, and then he tickled the big cat under the chin. Immediately a
loud, sputtering purr broke the quiet.
    “You’ve made a
friend.” Harly laughed.
    “You can trust
animals,” Alex replied.
    He didn’t move
from behind her, continuing to tickle under Chuckie’s chin. Turning
her head slightly, Harly looked back and up to find him standing
directly behind her, his broad shoulders right behind her head as
he looked easily over her to study the room.
    “You like
animals,” he stated. “That hasn’t changed.”
    “Buffy and
Pepper belonged to Grandma.” She