Timeless by Teresa Reasor Read Free Book Online Page A

greeting
    Striding close, he draped a man’s cardigan sweater over her shoulders. The garment felt warm, as though he had been wearing it. A melting sensation of need settled low in her belly. Her voice sounded husky as she murmured a word of thanks.
    “What is he doing?” She pointed toward the dam then shrugged into the sweater, juggling the apple from hand to hand. She pushed the sleeves back to her elbows to keep it from falling over her hands.
    “That’s one of the engineers. There was a great deal of lightning last night and this morning. He’s checking the soundness of the dam.”
    “I don’t believe I’d want that job.”
    “Aye, me either.” The heavy curls that rested against his forehead flipped back as a breeze whipped over the deck. In the morning sun his green eyes appeared more hazel than green. His thick brows slashed along the brow ridge above them. She had felt the bold shape of his chin within her hands and felt his whiskers, rough as sandpaper against her skin. Regan closed her eyes—It wasn’t him, she reminded herself.
    Suddenly aware of the silence her eyes snapped open. “The pumps have been turned off.”
    “Aye,” Quinn said frowning, but made no comment. “There’ll be scones and porridge for breakfast.”
    Regan took a bite of the apple. His attention focused on her mouth as her tongue whipped out to capture the drops of juice that threatened to run down her chin. Self-conscious of the way she looked with her unruly hair, his sweater, baggy thermal underwear, and now a sticky chin, she wiped her mouth with the cuff of her shirt.
    He ran a discerning eye over her, his gaze lingering on the scooped neckline of the thermal shirt that gaped over her breasts.
    For a moment, she remembered the touch of his alter ego’s hand cupping her breast. Her nipples hardened beneath the fabric in response.
    It had been a dream. She didn’t need to confuse this man with the other. She didn’t need to be attracted to this bossy, chauvinist Scotsman. Didn’t want to be. She would be asking for trouble.
    “What did it feel like?” he asked.
    Her face heated with equal parts surprise and embarrassment.
    “When you were trapped at the stones, what did it feel like?”
    For once she didn’t have to lie. “Like being frozen in a dream.”
    “We lost our da and mum on just such a dive. You came very close.”
    His sudden openness surprised her. “I know.”
    “You might want to think about how your mum and da would feel should something happen to you.”
    Resentment tightened her jaw but his serious expression kept her from snapping at him. “I already did—the whole way up.”
    He nodded and his expression softened somewhat. “Where in the states are you from?”
    “I’m originally from Kentucky, but I’m studying for my degree at Florida State University.”
    He brushed a hand down her bare forearm, and the physical touch had her skin tingling. “I imagine you’re fair hollow by now, since you missed dinner last night. Come in out of the cold and eat a bite. When the others wake, I’ll take you ashore.”
    “This will tide me over until I return to my bungalow,” she said, holding up the apple.
    “Suit yourself. Tea’s brewing,” he said.
    She studied his broad back as he walked away. One moment he was eyeing her as if he’d like to take a bite. The next dismissing her. If he fancied himself a bull-headed Scotsman like those written about in fiction or played in the movies, he was doing a good impersonation.
    As they entered the passageway just outside the galley, a beeping sound erupted at the same time the buzzing of a timer went off in the kitchen. “Get the scones out of the oven, will you?” Quinn strode further down the corridor and disappeared into a cabin. Shaking her head at his bossiness, Regan continued on into the galley.
     
    *****
    “Jesus Christ—” Quinn murmured as he entered the radio room of the ship. He drew a deep breath in an attempt to ease the heavy