LITMIR.BIZ

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tie. Definitely Lucas, but the spiffed-up version. The funny thing was she liked him in his worn-out jeans and sloppy T-shirt as much if not more than his business persona.

      “So now do you believe me?” he asked with a tone of smug satisfaction, as if he’d just one-upped her.

      She didn’t like him thinking that he’d gotten the best of her.

      “I don’t know.” She held the ID up beside his face, hmm-ing and hah-ing, as though trying to make up her mind. “There’s definitely a resemblance, but I’m not sure.”

      He yanked the card from her hand and stared at it. “Of course it’s me! And that’s my address...this address.”

      At last he’d fallen off his cool, confident edge. A smile pulled at her lips. The action felt so foreign to her after the past few stressful months, but the lightness grew, erupting into laughter. The more she laughed, the deeper Lucas frowned. It had been so long since she’d had an occasion to laugh that she didn’t want it to end. It felt so good. So liberating. So freeing.

      His brow arched. “Have I amused you enough?”

      Her cheeks started to ache and she forced herself to calm down. After dabbing both eyes, she gazed up at him. “Sorry about that. But you don’t know how much I needed that laugh.”

      His brows rose higher, but he didn’t ask why and it was just as well. She wasn’t about to spill her sorrowful tale to this stranger. In fact, she suddenly felt guilty for her outburst. Not because it was at Lucas’s expense. He was a big boy who could take a little ribbing. It was the thought of her little girl in the hospital that sobered her mood. Under the circumstances, Kate had no right to smile, much less laugh.

      If the hospital staff hadn’t invoked their stupid policy, she’d still be there—sitting by Molly’s bed or haunting the halls. But the nurses had insisted she needed some rest so she didn’t wear herself out.

      “Hey, what’s the matter?” Lucas stepped closer. His hand reached out as though to touch Kate’s shoulder, but then he hesitated.

      She blinked back the rush of emotions. “I’m fine. I’ll just get my things and get out of your way.”

      His hand lowered to his side as he glanced around the room. “Where exactly are your things?”

      “Upstairs.”

      “But those rooms aren’t fit for anyone. I dismissed the maid service as soon as... It doesn’t matter. The only important thing is keeping you out of that mess.”

      “It isn’t so dirty now.” At the shocked look on Lucas’s face, she continued. “Or at least the room that I’m staying in is mostly clean.”

      “What room?” His face creased with worry lines.

      A crack of thunder sounded, followed by the lights flickering. Kate wrapped her arms around herself. “The one at the end of the hall.”

      His shoulders drew back in a rigid line as his brows gathered in a dark, intimidating line. “Which end?”

      Kate pointed straight overhead.

      His shoulders drooped as he let out a sigh. “What in the world was my aunt thinking to send you here?”

      Kate had wondered the exact same thing, but she’d come to the conclusion that Connie had only the best intentions...even if they were a little misguided. Now it was time to move on.

      * * *

      Lucas watched as Kate snuggled deeper in his robe. A resigned look etched across her weary features as the dark circles made her eyes appear much too large for her face. She reminded him of a puppy who’d been kicked to the curb and forgotten.

      His thoughts rolled back in time to the day when he’d found a stray pup and brought it home. Everyone but his aunt had told him to get rid of the filthy beast. Aunt Connie had been different. She could see what the others couldn’t be bothered to look at—the puppy’s need to be loved and cared for. More than that she recognized Lucas’s need for something calming in the upheaval that was his life.

      Lucas brought his thoughts up short. Kate wasn’t a stray puppy. She was a grown woman who could care for herself. He had enough problems. He didn’t need to be embroiled in someone else’s. He should wish her well and be done with it.

      A loud boom of thunder shook the very floor they stood on. Kate wrapped her arms around herself as her wide eyes turned toward the window. This storm was showing no signs of letting up. Definitely not a night to be out and about.

      If only he knew why his aunt had sent her here....

      Kate turned and started down the hall.

      “Wait.” Unease mounted within him as he realized what he was about to do.

      “For what?” Kate asked, stepping back into the kitchen.

      He noticed how the rest of her short dark brown hair was tucked behind each ear as though she’d been too busy to worry about what she looked like. The concept of a woman going out in public without taking great pains with her appearance was new to him. This mystery woman intrigued him and that was not good—not good at all.

      But more than that, he’d witnessed how every time it thundered, she jumped and the fear reflected in her eyes. He couldn’t turn her out into the stormy night—especially when he suspected she had nowhere else to go.

      Going against his better judgment, he said, “You don’t have to leave tonight.”

      “Yes, I do.”

      “Would you quit being so difficult?”

      She glowered at him. “But you just got done telling me that you wanted me out of here right away. You’re the one being difficult.”

      He inwardly groaned with frustration. “That was before. Give me a moment to speak with my aunt.”

      “I don’t see how that will change anything. Unless you’re still worried that I’m a liar and a thief.”

      “That isn’t what I meant.” He jerked his fingers through his hair. “Just wait here for a minute, okay? In fact, sit down. You look dead on your feet.”

      Her eyes narrowed. Her pale lips drooped into a frown. He’d obviously said the wrong thing...again, but darned if he knew what had upset her. Maybe it was mentioning how tired she looked. In his limited experience with women, they never wanted to look anything less than amazing, no matter the circumstances.

      When Kate didn’t move, he walked over and pulled out a chair at the table. “Please sit down. I won’t be long.”

      He stepped inside the small bedroom just off the kitchen, which at one point in the house’s history had been the domestic help’s quarters. Lucas now claimed it as his bedroom—not that he spent much time there. His cell phone was sitting on the nightstand next to the twin bed.

      He selected his aunt’s name from his frequently called list. His fingers tightened around the phone as he held it to his ear. After only one ring, it switched to voice mail.

      “Call me as soon as you get this.” His voice was short and clipped.

      He couldn’t help but wonder where she might be and why she wasn’t taking his call. Would she still be at the hospital doing her volunteer work? He glanced at the alarm clock. At this late hour, he highly doubted it.

      With his aunt unaccounted for, he’d have to follow his gut. He’d already determined Kate wasn’t a criminal. But what would he do with her? Sit and hash out what was bothering her to see if he could help? Certainly not.

      He rubbed his hand over his stubbled jaw. He didn’t want to get pulled any further into her problems. No matter what her circumstances were, it had nothing to do with him. Come tomorrow, she’d have to find other accommodations.

      Still uncomfortable with his decision, he stepped back into the kitchen. Kate was seated at

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