Deep River Promise (Alaska Homecoming #2) - Jackie Ashenden Page 0,64
then a deeper, richer one.
Connor was home. And he’d brought Damon with him.
Astrid’s heart gave a little kick in her chest, then started to beat faster, her body tightening in anticipation. Stupid. She wasn’t going there again with Damon. That had been a one-off, so why she was feeling all dry-mouthed and excited she had no idea.
For a second she sat there, unable to decide whether to go and meet them or wait for them to come to her, her brain flailing around stupidly. Then, pulling herself together because she was thirty-two, not sixteen, she shoved her chair back, got up, and went down the hallway to meet them.
They were standing just inside the front door, Connor making sweeping gestures toward various rooms, clearly giving Damon a tour of the house, while Damon stood next to him nodding.
The pair of them looked at her as she approached and almost instantly the same expression crossed their faces, the slightly guilty one all little boys get when they know they’ve done something wrong.
She might have laughed if her emotions hadn’t been all over the place.
“Hey, Mom.” Connor glanced at Damon meaningfully. “And that’s my cue to leave.”
Damon lifted both brows. “Sure you don’t want to stay?”
“Uh, no.” Connor grinned at him. “Thanks for the beer.”
Astrid stiffened. “Beer? What beer?”
“Gee thanks, kid,” Damon said.
“No problem.” Connor, still grinning, sidled past her to his room and disappeared inside it, closing the door very firmly behind him.
Silence fell.
Immediately, her tiny hallway felt too narrow, its ceiling way too low. Damon was so tall, thoroughly invading her little space in a way that made her even more aware of him than she already was. And his scent wrapped around her, the warm spice she associated with him, making her feel hungry—and not for food.
He was still in that soft, black shirt and she knew what it felt like now. She knew what he felt like. His skin like velvet, the muscles beneath it steel. And all that male heat…
He was so sexy he ought to be illegal. What would he do if she pushed him against the wall and kissed his gorgeous mouth?
He would do nothing, because you’re not going to do it.
No, she wouldn’t. She’d had her moment, and there wouldn’t be another one.
“You gave my son a beer?” She folded her arms, trying to stay cool.
Damon gave her that charming little-boy grin. “It was only one.”
“He’s underage.”
“That’s what he said.”
“But did he drink it?”
“He’s fifteen and a boy. What do you think?”
Astrid opened her mouth.
But Damon went on before she could speak, “I talked to him, Astrid, and we sorted some things out. The beer was just a way to ease the process.” His smile became a little wicked. “It was either that or whisky, and I didn’t think you’d approve of whisky.”
Are you really going to stand here arguing about a beer?
That did seem pointless, especially considering there were greater problems to worry about.
“Okay,” she said at last. “Fair enough. Come into the kitchen and we can discuss it.”
She turned without waiting for him to reply, going back down the hallway.
“You’ve been doing some work, I see,” Damon murmured as he came into the kitchen behind her, clearly noting the folder on the table.
“We need to make a decision about what ideas to take to the town, so yes, I have.”
“Silas said the same thing to me earlier.”
“Good to hear he’s thinking the same.” She indicated a seat. “Do you want some tea?”
“Sure. That would be great.” Pulling out the chair, Damon sat down in a long, lazy sprawl.
She moved over to the stove where the kettle stood on the hob, picking it up and taking to the sink, filling it with water. Then she put the kettle back on the stovetop and turned it on.
Turning around, she leaned back against the counter next to the stove, braced herself mentally, then met Damon’s mesmerizing blue gaze. “Okay, so tell me what’s going on.”
“Connor’s very concerned about Zeke and Silas. He doesn’t trust them and it’s upsetting him.”
“No kidding.” She couldn’t quite keep the bite out of her tone. “But he can’t quit school.”
“I know that and I agree. So I made a deal with him.”
“What kind of deal?”
“If he keeps going to school, I’ll stay on a couple of days more and keep an eye on the oil stuff, then report back to him about what’s happening and take any concerns he has to Silas and Zeke.”