Claimed (The Lair of the Wolven #1) - J.R. Ward Page 0,27
be compelled to brush it off. Change the subject. Move along.
“I’m not sure what to say to that,” she whispered.
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“It was a question.”
“More like a rhetorical, really.” Now he looked at her. “Sorry if I’ve made things awkward.”
“You haven’t.”
“You’re lying.” He shrugged again. “But it looks like I’m the one who owes you an apology. I’m crossing all kinds of boundaries here, aren’t I. I’m not a scumbag, I promise.”
“I know you’re not.”
“No, you don’t. But I’ll prove it to you.” He let half his mouth lift in a smile. “I guess I’m not used to this.”
“To what.”
He lowered his lids. “Do you really want me to answer that.”
She cleared her throat and put her hands on her hips. “No, I think it’s probably better for us that you don’t. Anyway, I came out here to say I’m sorry for the way I was out on the porch. I have no right to make any insinuations about you or your life. I let my frustration get the best of me, and not only was it unfair, it was unprofessional. So yeah, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“No, I really—”
“I can’t even remember what you said, to be honest.” He put the rag back down. “I’m not much for short-term memories—and yup, that probably is part of the drifter thing.”
“I don’t judge you,” she said with earnest eyes.
Man, he could stand to be looked at like that for a while. By her, specifically.
“It’s fine if you do judge me. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t really care what people think of me.” As a strange feeling vibrated into his chest, he pointed overhead. “So about the roof. Sorry the repair out here took me so long. After I fixed the obvious damage from that tree falling, I found a bunch of loose shingles on the north side—probably because that’s where the storms come from. Things should be stable going forward. The light bulbs are changed on the main building, and I’ll be back on Monday to start the bridge work. Weather’s going to be nice—what.”
“Hmm?” she said with distraction.
“You’re frowning.”
“Am?” she asked. “I mean, am I? I was actually just so relieved that you’ve made some progress on anything around here. It all just seems so … insurmountable at the moment. Even a new bulb is a miracle to me.”
Her hands shook a little as she raised them to her face. Pressing them into her eyes, she looked like she was trying to gouge things out.
“Long day?” he said softly.
“They’re all that way lately.”
“And why’s that?”
“It’s just how things have been.” Her eyes went to the main building. “You know, it makes me think about something my grandfather always said. Reality is like a coin. It has a front and a back, and you can only see one side at a time.”
“What exactly’s unclear to you?”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter.” She swiped her hand as if to bat her words away. “So do you have a place to stay here in town yet? You know, for when you return.”
“I’ve got a couple of leads.”
“Have you met Shirley? Down at Walters Realty? If you need a reference, I’ll be happy to give you one.”
“Even though I’m just skating through life?”
She flushed. “I thought you didn’t remember.”
He shrugged again. “I don’t want to remember what you said. How about that.”
“I did insult you, then.”
“No, you linger. And I don’t like things that linger.”
As her eyebrows went up, he found himself feeling the same kind of surprised.
“I didn’t just say that,” he muttered.
“Didn’t you?”
“Nope.” He shook his head as he stared across at her. “I did not.”
Lydia looked away. Looked back. “Daniel Joseph, never Danny, I suspect still waters run deep with you.”
“Can I ask you something else?”
“Sure. Hit me.”
“What’s the actual policy on employees at the Wolf Study having dinner together?” He put his hands forward. “I’m not asking about you. I want to know if I can take Candy out. I think she’s single and I’m feeling lucky next week.”
Lydia started to smile. “You’ll have to talk to HR about that.”
“Who’s HR?”
“I guess I am. Considering our executive director is a little distracted right now.”
Daniel took a step forward, simply because his body wanted to be closer to her. “So, Ms. HR. Can I have dinner with you or not.”
The flush that hit her face looked nice, the color accenting her cheeks … the column of her throat … her lips.