chance.' But she was scared. 'I'm not interested.'
The Words burned in her throat and she cringed inwardly, knowing they were a lie.
When Annie whisked back the curtain, Callie's immediately settled on Frazer. Melted chocolate eyes contained worry, frustration and the kind of slow-burn heat that made her stomach turn over. She handed him the bag from the pharmacy containing her pills, then stepped aside. Callie was disconcerted to discover that she swayed alarmingly when her friend's support was removed, but Frazer stepped forward, his arm sliding far too possessively around her waist.
'Thanks, Annie. I'll take care of her.'
Callie wanted to protest, but somehow the words wouldn't come. A pale sun was rising above the eastern hills behind the loch when they went outside, a light dusting of snow had fallen in the last couple of hours. Uncharacteristically docile, she allowed Frazer to help her into the passenger seat and gently strap her in. He was so close she could smell his earthy sandalwood fragrance. Dismayed at the ache of desire inside her, she was grateful when he moved away and closed the door. Hamish pushed his head between the front seats and nuzzled her shoulder, distracting her, and she smiled, giving the dog a hug. Then Frazer was behind the wheel, and before she knew it they were at her house. He came around to open the passenger door, before unclipping the seatbelt.
`Keys?' he asked, his voice seeming huskier than usual.
Frowning, she fumbled in her pockets, wondering why her brain felt so fuzzy. `Keys,' she murmured handing them over.
`Wait a minute and let me help you.' Frazer stepped back from the door, but she ignored hi m sliding out in ungainly fashion. `Callie...'
`I can walk.'
The full-voltage dimpled smile he sent her increased the shaky feeling in her legs. `Of course you can.' Folding his arms, he stood back and watched her.
Hamish sat on the pavement and gave a sharp bark-whether of encouragement or disapproval she didn't know. Licking her lips, and finding it took far more concentration
than usual to put one foot in front of the other, Callie headed towards the house. Or tried to. She weaved a bit, a cry of surprise escaping as she slipped on ground that was icy under its recent dusting of powdery snow. She was even more surprised when Frazer caught her before she could fall, drawing her up against the solid 1enght of his body. A very masculine body. It was tempting to rest there, to cuddle even closer. She had just enough sense left to know that was a bad and very dangerous idea.
Pushing against him, she struggled for space. `Frazer, I can manage.'
`Sure. I see that.' She felt a chuckle rumble from inside him as he all but carried her up the path. `Let's get you indoors.'
`Cats.'
`Excuse me?'
Against her better judgement, she leaned on him while he dealt with opening her front door. `I have cats.'
'Good for you,' Frazer murmured, guiding them inside the narrow hallway.
'I meant because of Hamish.'
'Don't worry, I have cats at home, too.' One strong arm held her up while he closed and locked the door. 'Hamish is used to them. He won't hurt yours.' She swayed again, feeling groggier by the minute.
`Pecan and Maple don't like dogs. They hurt him.'
Frazer didn't appear concerned. Extracting herself from his hold, she weaved her way into her small, impersonal living room and flopped onto the sofa, curling up in a bail. Why did she feel so spaced-out?
What was Frazer doing in her house? This wasn't good at all.
' You can go now,' she mumbled, finding it hard to focus on him as he walked towards her.
'I'm not leaving you alone. I promised Annie.'
Callie's frown deepened. `Go away,' she instructed, when he knelt down on the floor in front of her, one palm brushing aside her wispy fringe and resting on her forehead.
`Is there someone I can call for you?' She shook her head at such a stupid suggestion. `No one? What about family?'
`Never had one. Never had anyone. All alone. Except
The Words burned in her throat and she cringed inwardly, knowing they were a lie.
When Annie whisked back the curtain, Callie's immediately settled on Frazer. Melted chocolate eyes contained worry, frustration and the kind of slow-burn heat that made her stomach turn over. She handed him the bag from the pharmacy containing her pills, then stepped aside. Callie was disconcerted to discover that she swayed alarmingly when her friend's support was removed, but Frazer stepped forward, his arm sliding far too possessively around her waist.
'Thanks, Annie. I'll take care of her.'
Callie wanted to protest, but somehow the words wouldn't come. A pale sun was rising above the eastern hills behind the loch when they went outside, a light dusting of snow had fallen in the last couple of hours. Uncharacteristically docile, she allowed Frazer to help her into the passenger seat and gently strap her in. He was so close she could smell his earthy sandalwood fragrance. Dismayed at the ache of desire inside her, she was grateful when he moved away and closed the door. Hamish pushed his head between the front seats and nuzzled her shoulder, distracting her, and she smiled, giving the dog a hug. Then Frazer was behind the wheel, and before she knew it they were at her house. He came around to open the passenger door, before unclipping the seatbelt.
`Keys?' he asked, his voice seeming huskier than usual.
Frowning, she fumbled in her pockets, wondering why her brain felt so fuzzy. `Keys,' she murmured handing them over.
`Wait a minute and let me help you.' Frazer stepped back from the door, but she ignored hi m sliding out in ungainly fashion. `Callie...'
`I can walk.'
The full-voltage dimpled smile he sent her increased the shaky feeling in her legs. `Of course you can.' Folding his arms, he stood back and watched her.
Hamish sat on the pavement and gave a sharp bark-whether of encouragement or disapproval she didn't know. Licking her lips, and finding it took far more concentration
than usual to put one foot in front of the other, Callie headed towards the house. Or tried to. She weaved a bit, a cry of surprise escaping as she slipped on ground that was icy under its recent dusting of powdery snow. She was even more surprised when Frazer caught her before she could fall, drawing her up against the solid 1enght of his body. A very masculine body. It was tempting to rest there, to cuddle even closer. She had just enough sense left to know that was a bad and very dangerous idea.
Pushing against him, she struggled for space. `Frazer, I can manage.'
`Sure. I see that.' She felt a chuckle rumble from inside him as he all but carried her up the path. `Let's get you indoors.'
`Cats.'
`Excuse me?'
Against her better judgement, she leaned on him while he dealt with opening her front door. `I have cats.'
'Good for you,' Frazer murmured, guiding them inside the narrow hallway.
'I meant because of Hamish.'
'Don't worry, I have cats at home, too.' One strong arm held her up while he closed and locked the door. 'Hamish is used to them. He won't hurt yours.' She swayed again, feeling groggier by the minute.
`Pecan and Maple don't like dogs. They hurt him.'
Frazer didn't appear concerned. Extracting herself from his hold, she weaved her way into her small, impersonal living room and flopped onto the sofa, curling up in a bail. Why did she feel so spaced-out?
What was Frazer doing in her house? This wasn't good at all.
' You can go now,' she mumbled, finding it hard to focus on him as he walked towards her.
'I'm not leaving you alone. I promised Annie.'
Callie's frown deepened. `Go away,' she instructed, when he knelt down on the floor in front of her, one palm brushing aside her wispy fringe and resting on her forehead.
`Is there someone I can call for you?' She shook her head at such a stupid suggestion. `No one? What about family?'
`Never had one. Never had anyone. All alone. Except
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