Torin (Hope City #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,26

from it.”

He liked that she understood, both his reasons for renovating and his reasons for not renting now. She drank from her bottle, then walked around the living room, her gaze still taking in the area. It dawned on him that other than his grandparents and Maeve, he’d never had anyone else in his living space. When he gathered with his friends, they generally met in the pub. He’d had no time for a relationship, and he wasn’t about to bring an occasional woman to his apartment above his business. The last thing he wanted was for a casual, physical-only one-nighter to know where he lived.

As Erin studied the family photographs on his wall, he waited to see if an uncomfortable sense of invasion would overcome him. Instead, seeing her in his apartment, sharing his space, felt very much like her hand on his arm earlier—just right.

She lifted her hand, her fingers barely skimming over a photograph of him, Maeve, and his parents. Sucking in her lips, she turned and held his gaze, seeming to hesitate before finally speaking. “You… you look like your dad, but you have your mother’s eyes.”

The air left his lungs in a rush. It had been a long time since he’d allowed himself to think about the traits that he inherited from his parents. He walked closer and looked at the picture, seeing it through new eyes. Nodding slowly, he said, “I’ve got my dad’s build and hair but always thought that Maeve looked like Mom. I see what you mean, though. I do have her eyes.”

She smiled, then walked to the picture window and looked down at the street below before slowly turning around to face him. Tendrils of hair had escaped her ponytail and curled about her face. With the sun streaming through the window, it created a halo around her as her deep blue eyes stared at him, never wavering. He felt as though she was looking into his very soul.

Stalking toward her, he didn’t stop until his feet were directly in front of hers, and her head was tilted backward as their gazes never left each other. He hesitated, but as he stared, the haunted specter no longer filled her eyes. Moving so slowly that she could’ve stepped away at any second, he lifted one hand, his fingers gliding along the back of her neck, his palm resting against her jaw, and his thumb sweeping over her cheek. Statue still, she finally exhaled and leaned her head toward his palm. She closed her eyes slowly for a few seconds as though soaking up the strength he had to offer.

He waited until her eyes opened again, then leaned down until their lips were a whisper apart, still offering her the chance to back away. To his delight—and fear—she remained steady. He closed the scant distance, barely touching his lips to hers.

A simple kiss. That’s all he allowed his mind to consider having. But the electricity he felt when her hand was on his arm was nothing compared to the jolt from the meeting of their lips. He should have known that with the strong yet fragile woman in his arms, a simple kiss would never be enough.

As his lips sealed over hers, she reached up, her fingers grasping his shoulders, digging in slightly as though she didn’t trust her legs to hold her up. His other arm banded about her waist, pulling her close but not too tight. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her away with the feel of his erection. He didn’t want this to be about sex. He didn’t want it to be just physical. What he had begun feeling for Erin was of two souls who had known loss but had come out stronger and the magnetic pull of their souls searching… and finding each other.

They slowly separated, their eyes still locked on each other. His heartbeat was erratic, and he felt more out of breath than he had after running for over an hour.

“Wow,” she whispered, her tongue darting out to lick her bottom lip.

An uncontrollable grin spread across his face. He’d been uncertain what to say, but with her one word, whispered in awe, she’d taken the awkward away. He brushed the loose hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear, his fingers trailing along her jaw. “Yeah, wow.”

She dragged in a ragged breath, and a crease furrowed her brow. He hated the look of regret, but once again she calmed