Page 69 of Blind Attraction

Blake leaned in close, his breath whispering against her cheek as he placed a kiss on her temple. “Just for good measure,” he whispered.

She struggled not to laugh. “You’re a horrible friend,” she scolded.

“Don’t worry, he’ll thank me for it one day.”

She sighed and raised his hand to her mouth. She kissed his knuckles, silently thanking him with her eyes. “Just for good measure,” she whispered, and then pressed her lips together to stop from blubbering.

“Now, this time, don’t back down. Clamp those delicate hands around his neck if you have to. Don’t let go until all your questions are answered.”

“I plan on it.” She dropped his hand and strode down the stairs, her chest expanding with each step.

She didn’t take her gaze off Mitchell, not even to check if Blake followed. Her attention remained on the man who held her heart.

Mitch pushed off the car and wiped his hands on his jeans. He waited until Alana stopped in front of him and gazed down at the most beautiful shade of light green irises he’d ever seen.

“How’s Blake?”

“He’s fine.” Her voice was gentle, soft and sweet and feminine. “Patty gave him a few stitches. He’s lucky the pellet only scrapped his side.”

Mitch released a relieved breath. He already felt like a heel for dragging his friend here. He should be the one getting stitched up...the one Alana took care of. “That’s good.” He wanted to reach for her, to hold her hand just as Blake had.

“I’m not leaving, Allie. Not until you give me a chance to explain.” He tried to implore her with his gaze. “I’m opposed to being shot in the ass, but I’ll risk it.”

“OK.” Her lips tilted in the faintest smile.

“OK?”

Her grin widened. “OK.”

“Is there somewhere we can go to talk? Preferably out of shooting range?”

“Yeah, I live over there.” She glanced over her shoulder and pointed to a small brick cottage. “Well, I used to anyway.”

He turned to Blake on the porch of the main house and threw him the car keys. “We’re going over there for a little while.” He jerked his head in the direction of the cottage. “Do you want to drive the car out to the highway and wait for me?”

Blake nodded. “No problem. I’ll go into Monument and get a coffee.”

“Are you guys staying in Colorado Springs?” Alana asked.

He focused on her for a moment, reading the uncertainty in her features. “That depends on you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Let’s go talk, then.”

He followed a few steps behind as they walked to her cottage. Without a word, she held the screen door open for him and allowed him to lead the way. He strode into what he assumed was the living area with a small kitchen at the back. Everything was bare, no photos, no rugs, not even furniture. The only thing in the room was a handbag on the kitchen counter.

“I...like what you’ve done with the place.”

She chuckled and slapped him gently over the chest as she passed. “The moving truck—”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her back. She gasped and sunk into him. He held her wrists to his chest, their bodies joining at the waist. Her wide eyes gazed up at him through thick dark lashes.

“I... The movers took my things this morning.”

“You’re moving?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “To Richmond.”

“I assumed you’d moved back here for good.”

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