Twins Under His Tree by Karen Rose Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t look away. “You’re not just helping me. It’s sort of an attitude with you. If someone has a problem, you take time to listen.”
    Maybe he could see she was serious about this topic. Maybe he could see that she was trying to determine exactly how much help she should accept from him. Maybe he could see that this conversation was important to her. Nevertheless, by his silence he seemed reluctant to give away even a little piece of himself.
    â€œDoes it have something to do with being in Iraq?” she asked softly.
    The flicker of response in his eyes told her she’d hit the mark. She saw one of his hands curve into a fist and she thought he might simply tell her it was none of her business. Instead, however, he lifted his shoulders in a shrug, as if this wasn’t important. As if he didn’t mind her asking at all.
    â€œI survived,” he told her calmly. “I figured there was a reason for that. I returned home with a new understanding of patience, tolerance and simple kindness.”
    Although Mitch’s expression gave away nothing, Lily knew he was holding back. He was giving her an edited version of what he felt and what he’d experienced.
    â€œHave you ever talked about Iraq?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNot even with your buddies?”
    â€œThey know what it was like. I don’t have to talk about it.”
    She supposed that was true. Yet from the tension she could sense in Mitch, she understood he had scars that were more than skin deep.
    With a tap on the control sitting next to the monitor on the table, he suggested, “Let me show you the remote and what the lights mean.”
    Discussion over. No matter what she thought, Mitch was finished with that topic, and he was letting her know it. She could push. But she sensed that Mitch wasn’t the type of man who could be pushed. He would just shut down. That wouldn’t get her anywhere at all. Why was she so hell-bent on convincing him that the bad stuff would only damage him if he kept it inside?
    She’d let the conversation roll his way for now. For the next few minutes she let him explain the lights on the remote and how she could carry it into the kitchen with her and upstairs to her bedroom. When he handed it to her, their fingers skidded against each other and she practically jumped. She was so startled by the jolt of adrenaline it gave her, she dropped the remote.
    She stooped over to retrieve it at the same time he crouched down. Their faces were so close together…close enough to kiss…
    They moved apart and Lily let him grasp the control.
    After Mitch picked it up, he handed it to her and quickly stepped away. “I’d better get going,” he said. “Do you want me to turn off the system?”
    â€œI can do it.”
    He nodded, crossing to the door, picking up the toolbox he’d set there.
    She followed him, feeling as if something had gonewrong, yet not knowing what. “Thank you again for the monitoring system. I really appreciate it.”
    â€œAre you going to be alone tomorrow?”
    â€œNo. Raina’s coming to visit. She’s going to drive me to the hospital so I can spend time with the twins while she makes rounds.”
    â€œThat sounds like a plan. I’m glad you have friends you can count on.”
    â€œI am, too.”
    As their gazes found each other, his dark brown eyes deeply calm, Lily felt shaken up.
    â€œIf you need help when you bring the babies home, you have my number.”
    Yes, she did. But the way she was feeling right now, she wasn’t going to use it. She couldn’t call on him again when she felt attracted to him. That’s what it was, plain and simple—attraction she was trying to deny. Oh, no. She wouldn’t be calling his number anytime soon. She would not feel guilty believing she was being unfaithful to her husband’s memory.
    Maybe Mitch realized some of that, because he