The Man Behind The Mask: How to Melt a Frozen Heart / The Man Behind the Pinstripes / Falling for Mr Mysterious

“Hard to find a home for him? Impossible. Except for young men of a certain age who would take him to use as a novelty item at their frat parties. I couldn’t allow that.”

“That sounds just a bit like, um, attachment.”

“Well, it isn’t. That horrible parrot is probably going to teach Luke new words.”

“There are no words that are new to a fifteen-year-old boy.”

While she contemplated that, Brendan decided to up the difficulty level.

“I’m going to pull away from you, but keep holding your hand. Up in the air like this. Walk beside me.”

“This isn’t a jive,” she said. “I think it’s a minuet.”

“Nope. No hips in minuets.”

“Did you learn that in dance class?”

She was becoming quite breathless. He pulled her back to him, put his hand on her waist, leaned his forehead to hers. “Get ready to spin under my arm.”

She did.

“Now spin back. We’re good,” he declared.

“We’re not. We’re terrible.”

“Ask Valentine if you don’t believe me. Get ready for the dip.”

“Dip? No! Brendan! We’ll fall.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#ulink_962deb80-8ea0-5740-ad6e-307e8039a34a)

“FALL? ON MY watch? I don’t think so. Relax. Trust me.”

Nora giggled. Then relaxed, and then trusted him.

And at that exact second of giving her trust completely, his arm went behind the small of her back and she was literally swept off her feet.

Just like that she found her back arched, totally supported by his strength. Just like that they were in balance. In harmony. He held her suspended there. She gazed into his eyes. And then he pulled her in hard to his chest.

She leaned against him, feeling the steady, solid beat of his heart. They were both breathing hard, and she started to laugh. She laughed until the tears flowed.

“OhmyGod,” she said. “I haven’t laughed like that for so long!”

He was watching her intently, a little satisfied smile playing on his lips.

As if he had planned this. Give the poor beleaguered aunt a break from the monotony of her life.

It had been a nice thing to do.

But while she’d been losing control, he’d been gaining it.

And that was enough of that.

“Brendan, that was so much fun. I hardly know how to thank you.”

Except that she did. She knew only one way to bring him totally into this place of light with her.

And before she could stop herself or think of the consequences, letting the momentum of the dance carry her, she was on her tiptoes, taking his lips with hers. And that’s when the bottom really fell out of her world.

Brendan Grant’s lips were like silk warmed through with honey.

Nora considered herself something of an expert on energy, but nothing could have prepared her for this exchange.

His energy was pure and powerful.

It swept through her, until it felt as if every cell in her whole body was vibrating with welcome for what he was.

A life force. Compelling. All-encompassing.

And that was before his kiss deepened. Taking her. Capturing her. Promising her. Making her believe…

…in the breadth and depth and pure power of love.

She broke away and stood staring at him, her chest heaving, her mind whirling, her soul on fire.

She didn’t want to believe! Belief had left her shattered. Her belief in such things had left her weak and vulnerable and blind.

And she was doing it again.

Love! How could the word love have entered the picture? She hadn’t given it permission! She hadn’t invited it into her life! If anything, she was actively avoiding such a complicated twist to her already overwhelming life.

Realistically, she knew next to nothing about this man.

Except that he had known sorrow.

And that he was good to his deceased wife’s grandmother.

And had given her nephew a chance.

And could hold a bunny with tenderness.

And could turn an ordinary moment into a dance.

And had made her laugh.

And was afraid of crumbling along with the walls that came down.

The truth was that Nora felt she knew more about Brendan Grant in less than twenty-four hours than she had known about Dr. Vance Height in more than two years.