, he stormed into his room and slamm ed the door.
Blaine felt out of control. Had he just raised his voice at a lady? Obviously being home had a negative effect on his ability to control his emotions, or was it just the fact that little Mrs. Crawford was irritatingly beautiful ? It didn’t help matters that every glance at her stirred something within him he couldn’t control. An aggravating involuntary response to her b eautiful clear emerald eyes and perfec t pout. It was his own rotten luck that his father would bring in a beautiful nurse during his last days. Blaine knew she would make him feel better if he were ill – all he needed to do was look at her and he felt more alive. It was upsetting how deftly she ma de him feel like the B ig B ad W olf coming into their perfect little house.
Not theirs. His father’s.
Why was it that he always felt guilty for his father’s mistakes? H e plopped onto the old cot and closed his eyes. He cursed again. Meddling woman. Doesn’t know anything. The long night of travel was catching up to him. Maybe after a little shut-eye he’d feel more prepared to deal with the situation.
****
The morning’s events plagued Mara’s thoughts as she made lunch for the two gentlemen. It was like the N orth vers u s the S outh. Every time she checked on David during the day , she made certain care to tiptoe up the stairs, so Blaine wouldn’t hear and wake up.
What a bear of a man! Imagine! Yelling at a woman? She was only trying to help, but he wasn’t seeing it as help . H e saw it as meddling, the exact opposite of what she was doing ! Couldn’t he see his father was dying? He wasn’t even at a hospital . He was home ; sen t home to die! Blaine needed to face that reality sooner rather than later . If something happened before he could reconcile with David, he’ d never forgive himself. B ut Blaine wouldn’t listen to her , or even speak to his father . How was she going to get through to him?
Her eyes darted to the closed cabinet doors; the same doors that held Blaine’s pictures and David’s letters. Letters with unbroken seals—all addressed to the unforgiving pilot in the next room. He had no idea how much his father regr etted everything that happened.
“It’s why God made women , ” s he said out loud and began cutting bread for sandwiches. The more she thought about her interaction with Blaine , the harder she sliced , until she almost took off a finger. Mara put the knife down and wiped her forehe ad with the back of her hand.
Breathless , she peeked at the closed door of Blaine’s room. Naturally he would rather sit in there all day and pout , rather than deal with the giant elephant in the room. A heavy sigh escaped her throat as she pulled out the mayonnaise and ham to finish off the sandwiches. She hoped making David’s favorite would put him in a happier disposition, though heaven knew what type of mood she would find him in after his son reject ed him.
Steadying the tray on both arms she tiptoed up the stairs. As her foot touched the final stair, a loud cre a k blasted through the house. “Oh , dear Lord , let him sleep. I’m not ready for another confrontation with that man.”
She paused, only able to hear her own ragged breathing and the frantic beating of her heart. After a few seconds , she felt it was safe enough to proceed to David’s room. In any other situation she would have laughed to think she was sneaking around the house because she was afraid of waking a tragically handsome man.
The weather must be getting to her.
Or maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t seen a more handsome man in all her life. All his pain made him appear haggard, but behind his rugged , bitter features la y beautiful gray eyes. A warmth lived there, but it was behind such a solid mask of indifference she wasn’t sure if she would ever get to see his smile.
“Lunch is served!” Mara entered in unannounced. David was perched on his bed reading a book.
Blaine felt out of control. Had he just raised his voice at a lady? Obviously being home had a negative effect on his ability to control his emotions, or was it just the fact that little Mrs. Crawford was irritatingly beautiful ? It didn’t help matters that every glance at her stirred something within him he couldn’t control. An aggravating involuntary response to her b eautiful clear emerald eyes and perfec t pout. It was his own rotten luck that his father would bring in a beautiful nurse during his last days. Blaine knew she would make him feel better if he were ill – all he needed to do was look at her and he felt more alive. It was upsetting how deftly she ma de him feel like the B ig B ad W olf coming into their perfect little house.
Not theirs. His father’s.
Why was it that he always felt guilty for his father’s mistakes? H e plopped onto the old cot and closed his eyes. He cursed again. Meddling woman. Doesn’t know anything. The long night of travel was catching up to him. Maybe after a little shut-eye he’d feel more prepared to deal with the situation.
****
The morning’s events plagued Mara’s thoughts as she made lunch for the two gentlemen. It was like the N orth vers u s the S outh. Every time she checked on David during the day , she made certain care to tiptoe up the stairs, so Blaine wouldn’t hear and wake up.
What a bear of a man! Imagine! Yelling at a woman? She was only trying to help, but he wasn’t seeing it as help . H e saw it as meddling, the exact opposite of what she was doing ! Couldn’t he see his father was dying? He wasn’t even at a hospital . He was home ; sen t home to die! Blaine needed to face that reality sooner rather than later . If something happened before he could reconcile with David, he’ d never forgive himself. B ut Blaine wouldn’t listen to her , or even speak to his father . How was she going to get through to him?
Her eyes darted to the closed cabinet doors; the same doors that held Blaine’s pictures and David’s letters. Letters with unbroken seals—all addressed to the unforgiving pilot in the next room. He had no idea how much his father regr etted everything that happened.
“It’s why God made women , ” s he said out loud and began cutting bread for sandwiches. The more she thought about her interaction with Blaine , the harder she sliced , until she almost took off a finger. Mara put the knife down and wiped her forehe ad with the back of her hand.
Breathless , she peeked at the closed door of Blaine’s room. Naturally he would rather sit in there all day and pout , rather than deal with the giant elephant in the room. A heavy sigh escaped her throat as she pulled out the mayonnaise and ham to finish off the sandwiches. She hoped making David’s favorite would put him in a happier disposition, though heaven knew what type of mood she would find him in after his son reject ed him.
Steadying the tray on both arms she tiptoed up the stairs. As her foot touched the final stair, a loud cre a k blasted through the house. “Oh , dear Lord , let him sleep. I’m not ready for another confrontation with that man.”
She paused, only able to hear her own ragged breathing and the frantic beating of her heart. After a few seconds , she felt it was safe enough to proceed to David’s room. In any other situation she would have laughed to think she was sneaking around the house because she was afraid of waking a tragically handsome man.
The weather must be getting to her.
Or maybe it was the fact that she hadn’t seen a more handsome man in all her life. All his pain made him appear haggard, but behind his rugged , bitter features la y beautiful gray eyes. A warmth lived there, but it was behind such a solid mask of indifference she wasn’t sure if she would ever get to see his smile.
“Lunch is served!” Mara entered in unannounced. David was perched on his bed reading a book.
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