Page 29

“You ran from me twice. I wasn’t about to lose you after last night. Not when I have so many questions for you.”

Her throat tightened at the base, making it impossible to swallow the lump lodged just above it. Without the hitch of desperation, his voice sounded the same as it had a century ago. Deep, rich, with the hint of a rasp that she found so delightful.

“You followed me?” Even as she gasped the words, they didn’t seem to resonate with truth. Nay. He had been working yester eve. He couldn’t have followed her.

Then how…

Rihanna’s fingers tightened on the edge of the door, her hands aching. “You sent the police officer, did you not?”

Bryce had the decency to appear sheepish, lowering his head and adjusting his cap. Thick locks of hair escaped hiscap to fall over his cheeks. She dug her nails into the door to keep from brushing those strands aside.

Goddess, how could this be? How could she resist the very man who destroyed her will to live when he died, now that he lived again?

“It wasn’t the brightest achievement, but there’s something about you that I can’t let go.” He cast a glance over his shoulder, then turned back to her, his expression solemn. “You said something last night before you left. Something about a time from the past. I need you to tell me more.”

“Does it matter what I speak of when you have a woman? You shouldn’t be here.”

Bryce leveled his powerful gaze on her. “I have no woman, Rihanna. How can I?”

She blinked up at him, uncertain if she heard him correctly.

He leaned closer and repeated, “I have no woman. We broke up. Cheating is not in my nature, so you’ve nothing to worry about.”

He nudged the door with his boot and nodded his head toward her hands. Slowly, she pulled the door open, keeping the barrier between them.

“Come in,” she said quietly.

“Thank you.”

Bryce stepped into the foyer, a whorl of snow tracking in at his feet. He dusted snowflakes from his coat and pulled off the cap. Rihanna stared, caught in a storm of emotions as dark waves fell around his head, brushing the collar of his coat. Those soft strands enhanced the rugged cut of his cheeks and strong jawline. His eyes, the familiar rich green she remembered, drank her in, warming every inch of her body. Impressed promises to her like no other could do.

His full lips quirked into a humored half-grin when hisgaze landed on her hands, still clutching the door. He gently pried her fingers back until sense returned to her and she released the edge, allowing him to close out the eve, the cold.

“I’m sorry if I caught you off guard tonight,” he said, unwinding his scarf and draping it over his arm. He paused, catching her gaze. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Rihanna lowered her head, threading her fingers together at her waist. Her hair draped over her shoulders, hiding her expression as she fought for composure. Heranam carastood mere feet away, so close, finally within reach.

And still…

“Mayhap you should leave,” she choked, unable to control the overpowering storm of emotions. Elation, anticipation, sorrow, and grief. So many emotions she swore the room began to spin as she struggled to ground herself.

His fingers paused as he lowered the zipper of his coat. “You just invited me in.” She was surprised to find his lips remained in that handsome half grin he’d often worn when he was amused. “Do you usually invite guests in only to turn them away a few seconds later?”

His brow furrowed over his left eye as it had a hundred years ago. Goddess, ’twas as if decades passed and not a thing changed with heranam cara. She pressed her lips together, hard, but couldn’t stave off the subtle quiver of her chin. Instead, she threw up her hand to hide the weak reaction and keep from smoothing his brow as she had done so many times.

“Do you often pursue women who fail to provide personal contact information?”

Bryce unzipped his coat the rest of the way and nodded. “Fair enough.”

“An officer followed me home this eve. Did you send him to follow me?”

He watched her as he shrugged out of his coat and hooked it on his fingers. “I asked my friend Jesse to run your plate last night. That was all. He didn’t mention anything about following you, but I know he’s working tonight.” A worried crease marred the area between his brows as he dug out his phone from his jeans. “I can text him and ask if it was him.”

“Nay.” She motioned to the coat rack beside the door. “You may put your belongings there. Why did you think ’twas a good idea to run my plate? One might take your actions as predatory.”

“I don’t think you believe my intentions are predatory,” he said, draping his coat, scarf, and hat on the rack. He turned back to her, slipping his phone in his pocket and hooking his thumbs on his belt. “If you did, I wouldn’t be inside your home. You’ve nothing to worry about from me.” He took in the foyer, then leaned into the kitchen. “You have water on the stove?”

In all the surprise and emotional beating, she had forgotten about her water. Brushing past Bryce, she removed the kettle from the stove and shut the burner off. She filled her waiting mug and added the steeper filled with one of her favorite blends from home. From the corner of her eye, she watched Bryce move about, pausing to look at some of Shaye’s priceless oil paintings and statues. Her brother fancied antiques and original pieces of art when he wasn’t indulging in designer vehicles or fashion in his days prior to Moira.