Page 34 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“I’m sorry,” she tried, her breath labored.“I just, I hate lightning. Especially when I’m outside.”
“Understandable,” Jack said, putting an armaround her. “Come on, let’s go.”
Placing his pinky and thumb in his mouth, hewhistled loudly. Drachma rounded in the field and came runningback.
“What a well-behaved boy,” Meredith said asthe horse returned to them.
“Yes,” Jack said, gripping her waist andlifting her onto Drachma’s back. In an instant, he was behind her,arms moving around her to reach the bridle. Turning the horse back,he heeled Drachma’s side and prompted it into a quick trot.
Meredith’s body leaned back against hischest and Jack had to fight off those thoughts of undressing heragain. What was it about this overtly friendly, prim lady that sethis skin on fire? He couldn’t understand it. All he knew was thatfeeling her in his arms felt like the most natural, most perfectthing in the entire world.
They reached the house in a short time. Jackrode into the stable first, in an effort to get Meredith out of therelentless rain. He supposed he could have dropped her in the frontof the house near the main door, but he was eager to have her withhim.
The stables were empty and Jack bet theywere taking a midday meal in the kitchens. Rainy days left littlework to be done for the outside staff and Jack was glad for it.Kicking his leg over Drachma, he hopped off his horse and led him alittle way over to a stall before lifting his hands up toMeredith’s waist. Gripping her tightly, he lifted her withease.
When her feet hit the ground, though, hepaused.
Meredith went to move away, but stopped whenshe realized his hands hadn’t moved. Gazing down at her, Jacksuddenly felt vibrations pulse throughout his blood. It was thedamnedest thing. To the rest of the world, Meredith Taylor was agoverness. A straightlaced, dowdy sort of woman who faded into thebackground. But Jack saw something else. She was lovely andsensual, and he could sense a yearning part that everyone elseseemed completely oblivious to, except him.
“Jack?” she asked with a tilt of her head,her voice soft.
He didn’t move. He only stared into herclear, hazel eyes.
“There’s something about you, Meredith.Something I can’t quite understand.”
Her brow furrowed slightly.
“What do you mean?”
He shook his head, eyes never leavinghers.
“I’m not sure I know. It feels like you’vebeen hiding in plain sight all these months and I’ve only justrealized it.”
“Hiding?” she repeated, her tone a littlehigher than before. “Hiding from who?”
“I don’t know. Maybe everyone,” he said. “Ormaybe the man who wronged you.”
The tops of Meredith’s cheeks changed to abright shade of red as her eyes dropped to avoid his. He wanted sodesperately to know what had happened to her and yet he couldn’tbring himself to ask. So instead, he waited.
After a long pause, she spoke.
“I was hurt once. A long time ago.”
“By who?”
“His name hardly matters,” she said, seemingboth relieved and terrified to be talking about her past. “I neversaw him again beyond our two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Jack repeated. “You only knewhim two weeks?” She shifted her stance, unwilling or unable tospeak on it. Jack was aware of her struggle. “It’s all right,” hesaid, obviously taking her silence for pain. “You don’t have tospeak about it if causes you stress.”
“Oh, but it doesn’t. Not anymore,” she saidquickly, even if he wasn’t sure he could believe her. “I mean, I’mnot brokenhearted. I just prefer to keep my distance, that’sall.”
“From men?” he asked and she nodded. “Andfrom me?”
Her gaze met his and he wondered if he waspushing her too far. The electric snap between them while theanticipation of her answer hung in the air. Surely, he had neverspent so much time learning about any one female and yet, the morehe learned the more he wanted to know.
“I don’t know, Jack,” she said after amoment of contemplation. “Should I keep my distance?”
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t.”
