him once again. T he pictures she had seen of him in the magazines didn’t really do justice to the almost lethal sex appeal that seemed to come to him as effortlessly as breathing. Her disobedient eyes clung to him hungrily, feasting on his familiar features.
She remembered everything, the wounds she thought had finally healed opening as if no time at all had passed . She remembered the way he would cock his head to the side while listening to someone, a gesture so etched into her memory that she could close her eyes and see him doing it at any time. S he recalled the little scar on his forehead, barely visible if one didn’t know where to look for it. He had got ten it when he had skied into a fence; she smiled involuntarily, remembering Laura telling her that his daredevil attitude caused much grief to his family. He had hit an ice patch and lost control of his skis, ramming into the fence and earning eight stitches and a broken wrist . It hadn’t stopped him from returning to the sport the moment his cast was off and conquering the run without any further mishaps.
His cheeks were shadowed with a few days worth of stubble, giving him an air of ruggedness and an almost pirate - like quality. He was as attractive as ever, a fact not lost on many of the nurses and female visitors who looked him over with appreciative eyes. Jade bit her lip, aware of the absurd feeling of jealousy that came over her without warning. She had no right to be jealous, she repeated firmly to herself, consciously bringing back the images of all the lovely women who had been his companions in the years they ’d been apart. She remembered poring over their photographs, eager to find out what his type was even though she had absolutely no chance of ever be ing one of those lucky ones.
O ne had stood out in particular — Jessica , a gorgeous dark - haired girl with lovely blue eyes and dimples. She knew Liam was involved with her for at least two years , and she had expected to find their wedding photographs featured in the paper sometime soon. Instead she had just learned from Laura that they had broke n up, a snippet of information about which she would be eager to find out more , but was not quite daring enough to ask.
The two men were walking in, and she had to decide what to do next if she didn’t want him to find her staring at him openmouthed and silent. It should be easy just to walk up to him and say hi, she mused feverishly, as she stepped out from her hiding corner. She wouldn’t be able to avoid him completely anyway, knowing he was here for Laura. Why agonize silently if she could have it over and done with right now? All she had to do was to keep cool and act normal ; his concern for Laura probably was consuming all his attention , anyway.
He noticed her at exactly the same moment her eyes went to his face, her legs suddenly so shaky she nearly tripped . He recognized her immediately , his eyes widening and a smile brightening his rather somber face.
‘Jade?’ H e was at her side in two steps, closing the distance between them with his purposeful stride. ‘ You ’ re here ! T hat’s unbelievable!’
She found herself in his embrace, strong arms going aro u nd her with an ease born of familiarity. H er senses were assaulted with his delicious fragrance and warmth that seeped into her, melting the frozen ring that she had built around her heart.
She stepped back, her face burning as she noticed curious glances going their way. After all, it was Liam Latimer, his brush with fame putting him into a leag u e she could never even aspire to join.
‘Good to see you , Liam , ’ s he said with a little smile, wincing inwardly when she thought about the casual look she was sporting. Her plain t- shirt and jeans were clean but old and, paired with her sn ea kers and a simple hair - do , made her look about sixteen again. She wore barely any makeup, and her dark hair was pulled casually into a ponytail, a few stubborn strands
She remembered everything, the wounds she thought had finally healed opening as if no time at all had passed . She remembered the way he would cock his head to the side while listening to someone, a gesture so etched into her memory that she could close her eyes and see him doing it at any time. S he recalled the little scar on his forehead, barely visible if one didn’t know where to look for it. He had got ten it when he had skied into a fence; she smiled involuntarily, remembering Laura telling her that his daredevil attitude caused much grief to his family. He had hit an ice patch and lost control of his skis, ramming into the fence and earning eight stitches and a broken wrist . It hadn’t stopped him from returning to the sport the moment his cast was off and conquering the run without any further mishaps.
His cheeks were shadowed with a few days worth of stubble, giving him an air of ruggedness and an almost pirate - like quality. He was as attractive as ever, a fact not lost on many of the nurses and female visitors who looked him over with appreciative eyes. Jade bit her lip, aware of the absurd feeling of jealousy that came over her without warning. She had no right to be jealous, she repeated firmly to herself, consciously bringing back the images of all the lovely women who had been his companions in the years they ’d been apart. She remembered poring over their photographs, eager to find out what his type was even though she had absolutely no chance of ever be ing one of those lucky ones.
O ne had stood out in particular — Jessica , a gorgeous dark - haired girl with lovely blue eyes and dimples. She knew Liam was involved with her for at least two years , and she had expected to find their wedding photographs featured in the paper sometime soon. Instead she had just learned from Laura that they had broke n up, a snippet of information about which she would be eager to find out more , but was not quite daring enough to ask.
The two men were walking in, and she had to decide what to do next if she didn’t want him to find her staring at him openmouthed and silent. It should be easy just to walk up to him and say hi, she mused feverishly, as she stepped out from her hiding corner. She wouldn’t be able to avoid him completely anyway, knowing he was here for Laura. Why agonize silently if she could have it over and done with right now? All she had to do was to keep cool and act normal ; his concern for Laura probably was consuming all his attention , anyway.
He noticed her at exactly the same moment her eyes went to his face, her legs suddenly so shaky she nearly tripped . He recognized her immediately , his eyes widening and a smile brightening his rather somber face.
‘Jade?’ H e was at her side in two steps, closing the distance between them with his purposeful stride. ‘ You ’ re here ! T hat’s unbelievable!’
She found herself in his embrace, strong arms going aro u nd her with an ease born of familiarity. H er senses were assaulted with his delicious fragrance and warmth that seeped into her, melting the frozen ring that she had built around her heart.
She stepped back, her face burning as she noticed curious glances going their way. After all, it was Liam Latimer, his brush with fame putting him into a leag u e she could never even aspire to join.
‘Good to see you , Liam , ’ s he said with a little smile, wincing inwardly when she thought about the casual look she was sporting. Her plain t- shirt and jeans were clean but old and, paired with her sn ea kers and a simple hair - do , made her look about sixteen again. She wore barely any makeup, and her dark hair was pulled casually into a ponytail, a few stubborn strands
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