Unbearable Desire: Lone Pine Pride, Book 4 by Vivi Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

he did know some part of her.
    “I know you would do anything to take the pain away from another person, even if you’re beyond exhaustion and know it might hurt you—because you know you are strong enough to take it.”
    She looked up at that, startled. Not that he knew she would heal anyone, but that he understood why she would push herself and take so much onto herself. Because she could take it. She was so small in her human form, few people saw her strength—but he seemed to know it was there. He saw her, this big grouchy bear with the soul of a romantic.
    His eyes sparkled. “I know you’re beautiful when you’re looking at me like I’m crazy.”
    Her face flushed, she struggled to remind herself that he wasn’t flirting. The big old idiot probably didn’t even realize his words could be interpreted as compliments.
    There was something different about him today. Lighter and somehow more focused. The way he looked at her…
    Lucienne. She needed to remember Lucienne.
    “So why the pitcher?” she forced herself to ask, going for a casual tone. “Are we celebrating?” She could celebrate with him. She was the bigger woman. She could overcome her jealousy and toast the fact that he could be with Lucienne now. She could , dang it.
    Hugo tipped his head, considering. “Yeah. I think we can call this a celebration.”
    She would not be bitter. “Congratulations.”
    “Thank you.” He lifted his glass. “To Greg and Lucienne.”
    She frowned, her own glass hitching to a stop en route to tap against his. “What?”
    “May Lucienne and Greg have a long and happy life together,” he said, the words firm, his eyes carrying some fierce resolve that Moira couldn’t quite interpret.
    Was he really saying what she thought he was saying? He was choosing not to pursue Lucienne? “That’s what we’re celebrating?”
    “You were right, you know.”
    She shouldn’t ask. She felt like they were slipping down a path that was entirely too familiar, but she heard herself saying, “About what?”
    “What you said yesterday.”
    “I said a lot of things.”
    His lips twitched in his brown beard, but then a searing sobriety entered his eyes. “You do deserve someone who values you.” He didn’t move, but suddenly the world seemed to narrow, as if it was closing in around just the two of them. “I’ve always valued you, Moira.”
    She was afraid to believe him, afraid to believe this moment might be for real. “What about Lucienne or no one?” she asked, the words a bare whisper.
    He leaned forward then and she matched the movement as if hypnotized. “Eleven years is a long time. Maybe I changed my mind.”
    His mind or his heart? Moira looked down at the pitcher. Déjà vu all over again. She was about to make the same mistake she’d made a decade ago. She could feel it rising up in her, tipping her toward disaster. She could tell herself she didn’t want him, tell herself that his broad shoulders didn’t make her hands itch to grip them and his gleaming eyes didn’t draw her in like the world’s sexiest tractor beam. She could lie to herself. But it was late and the beer had loosened her hold on her denial and he was so close and warm and damned if she didn’t want him more than she wanted the cold dignity that would be salvaged by walking away.
    She could regret this tomorrow. Tonight she wanted to be foolish. She wanted the mistake.
    Warm invitation lit his gaze. “Why don’t we move this conversation to my place?”

Chapter Eight
    Doubt returned in a rush the second they walked through the door to Hugo’s bungalow. She hadn’t been in here in over a decade. Not since she’d first arrived at the pride, back when she’d stupidly thought they would be on a non-stop express to happily-ever-after. And here she was again. Battling hopes she had no sense entertaining.
    Hugo’s warmth pressed against her back as he stepped into the room behind her, the sound of the door clicking shut unnaturally loud