Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed Page B

entreaty. “Please. I want the past to stay in the past. I just can’t drag it all out for your inspection. It’s not important.”
    “Faith, if you’re in some kind of trouble with the law, you need to tell me.”
    “No. It’s nothing like that. I haven’t done anything wrong. I mean, it’s just not important.”
    “You were scared out of your mind. You honestly expect me to believe it’s not important?” He stepped closer, filling the space between them.
    “It’s not,” she insisted and clasped her hands together to keep them from trembling. “You sent that man to Alaska. He won’t be back and no one knows I’m here. No one needs to know I’m here. Please try to understand.”
    “I don’t understand. Who do you not want to know you’re here?”
    He took her hands and held them tight. An anchor in the storm. The simple gesture weakened her already wobbly knees and tears welled in her eyes. “It’s a family matter, Luke. It has nothing to do with you.” He was such a good man, he could never understand someone like Vinnie. “It just doesn’t matter.”
    With the pad of his thumb he wiped away a stray tear coursing down her face. “It does matter. You matter, Faith.”
    The sincerity in his voice, in his eyes touched her deeply. If her heart weren’t already in a puddle at his feet, it would’ve melted. She had to tell him the truth. Or at least a watered down version. “When my grandfather died, I came into a great deal of money. Money that other people thought they had a right to. The pressure just became too much for me. Now, those people are trying to bring me back.”
    “Who are these people?”
    “Investors. Charitable organizations. People my grandfather promised money to but didn’t include in his will. They have no legal standing, but it doesn’t stop them from making my life miserable.”
    “You didn’t want to give them the money?”
    She hated the look of disapproval in his eyes. “It wasn’t that. The situation was very complicated and overwhelming. No one had proof that grandfather had made any promises. I didn’t know who to believe.”
    He took a deep breath and she held hers, waiting to see if he’d decide to let her stay or to send her on her way.
    “Who’s Palermo?”
    There was no way to avoid telling him. “My ex-husband.”
    His jaw tightened. “I see.”
    “Are you going to make me leave?”
    “Of course not,” he replied. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. You’ll be safe here.” He turned to go.
    She had to know or it would eat her alive. “Luke?”
    He turned back toward her, his gaze intense and focused. “Yes?”
    “Why—why did you protect me?”
    “I like you,” he stated simply.
    “Oh.” She hadn’t expected the admission but it filled her with joy. Tears gathered at the back of her eyes again.
    Luke tipped his hat and strode from the room.
    Softly, she whispered, “I like you, too.”

     
    What kind of idiot am I? Luke tightened the stirrup strap with a hard yank, drawing a snort from his horse, Winter.
    “Sorry, boy,” Luke muttered to the big, black beast.
    It’s a family matter.
    My ex-husband.
    The idea of Faith being married made something inside Luke cringe and grow hot. A curious burning sparked low in his abdomen and slowly worked its way up into his chest. He dropped his head to Winter’s neck.
    I’m struggling here, God. Really struggling. I need to stay focused on what I want. On what You want for me.
    An image of Faith, her tear-filled eyes looking at him so defenselessly slammed into his mind. His heart ached. Resolutely, he pushed her from his mind.
    My career, Lord. That’s what I should be focused on. I want to get back to my life, my ministry. The men need me.
    More images of Faith barged into his consciousness.
    The first time he’d laid eyes on her, standing in the doorway of the diner, her expression wary. Haunted.
    Faith nuzzling a llama. The soft smile curving her lips. The look of contentment