Guarding Miranda by Amanda M. Holt Page B

lie to so beautiful a dove. 
    Russ had already explained to him that Miranda was not to be made aware of the investigation. 
    Not now, possibly not ever. 
    He sighed, raked a hand through his dark tousled hair and tore his eyes away from the inviting curves of her cherry-red lips.
    “Wonderful until… well, what came next.” Miranda shivered at the chill of the memory.
    Brian felt his heart flood with sympathy at the sight of the frown on her sweet lips. “It’s a shame that the night had to end in tragedy.”
    “Indeed,” said Russ, joining them in the living room. “Nancee says that supper is ready, so won’t you come along to the dining room?”
    “Certainly.” Brian extended his hand behind Miranda. “After you, love.”
    She stiffened as his hand brushed the small of her back. 
    It was the same gesture Richard had used, time and again, to urge her in some direction or another. 
    The likeness of the motion was enough to give her a moment of pause, made her heart lurch with longing. 
    Richard. As his name touched her mind, she was stricken with grief. How I miss you…
    Struggling to keep from crying, battling with herself to keep her senses in check, she placed one foot in front of the other and bravely made her way to the dining room, though she feared her legs might collapse beneath her at any moment. 
    Miranda felt as though she were walking on rubber bands. 
    Whether it was thoughts of Richard that caused it to happen or the guilt of feeling drawn to Brian or the attraction to the tall dark haired hulk itself, she couldn’t be certain.
    Brian pleasantly surprised her by seating her before he himself took a seat, another gesture that was as full of chivalry as it was, similarity. 
    How many times before had Richard seated her, in the same genteel manner? 
    As Brian seated himself next to her, his thigh brushed hers and she started as though she had been brushed with electric current.
    Her breath caught in her throat.
    She felt heat rush to her cheeks, her throat.
    Her mouth went dry and she hoped no one had seen her reaction to his nearness.
    “Security and investigations,” said Miranda finally, finding her voice. “That must be an interesting field.”
    “Sounds glamorous,” Lynn added, a sultry smile on her painted lips.
    Brian gave a light laugh. “Oh, it’s not nearly as interesting or glamorous as some would think.  It has more than its share of dull moments.”
    Miranda found Brian’s modesty rather becoming of him.
    He turned toward her in his seat, giving her the full attention of his slate grey eyes. Their stormy depths seemed to see right through her, through her facade of cool collectedness. 
    That eye contact was almost too much for her.
    She felt like her every thought was being revealed to him with a single glance.
    Could he see how deeply his nearness disturbed her? 
    “My work?” He continued. “Loads of married couples digging up dirt on each other, a lot of Silicon Valley security detail... Lots of photos to sort through, a literal shit-tonne of paper work if you’ll pardon the expression.”
    “Still, what a fascinating line of work.” Lynn piped up, from the opposite side of the table. 
    Lynn propped her head upon her fist, a dreamy smile upon her pink lips.
    Brian gave another small laugh and turned his gaze unto Lynn who looked apt to coo when he turned his attention on her. 
    For that Miranda was grateful as the intensity of his stare had nearly burned a hole right through her.
    Being near him like this was very unsettling for her. 
    Exactly what it was about him that unsettled her down to her very core… she couldn’t exactly name it. 
    But he was… unnerving.
    “Fascinating?” Brian smiled at Lynn. “Tell that to the guards I have to fire for falling asleep on the job.  Not that you can blame them, at times.  Some of the work is pretty dull.  Still, it’s the principle of things that leads to some of them losing their jobs.”
    “Lack of