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What? She did a quick scan of the surrounding area before coming back to him. What is it?
I need to tell you something. Damn, finding the right words wasn t easy. Stop and listen to me.
A flash of irritation flew across her features and was gone. She set the paintbrush down on the rock
and fisted her hands on her hips. Yeah?
He almost smiled at the gesture. I don t want to argue.
Suddenly aware of how she looked, she dropped her arms. Neither do I.
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Beverly Rae
So far, so good. I m sorry.
A silence ensued, one where they studied each other as though trapped in time, until at last a bird s
song broke the spell. Conan shifted from one foot to the other and resisted the urge to ask her if she d heard
him. Why didn t she say something? He d never said those words to anyone, much less a human female,
and they hadn t come easily. Didn t she realize how difficult it was for him to apologize? Especially when
he wasn t sure he was the one or at least the only one who should do the apologizing.
He d expected some kind of a reaction. Instead, Chloe remained the same, unmoving, unreadable.
What are you apologizing for? Before he could answer, she continued. I m the one who should
apologize. I mean, what did I expect? A marriage proposal? Her hands came up as she realized what she d
said. I m not hinting at anything this time, either.
We both let things get out of hand.
She released a huge breath of air as though she d held it for a long time. Exactly. I m not even sure
how the argument began.
Agreed. So let s just put it behind us.
I d like that. But I hope you don t think I m that kind of girl.
What kind of girl? He d never understand females, but he had a feeling that this one was even
harder to fathom than the rest.
You know. The kind that sleeps with a man she just met.
He smiled, liking the obvious discomfort she was in. But you did just sleep with a man you just
met.
Conan smiled when the flash of anger clouded her face. He shouldn t have baited her again moments
after burying the hatchet, so to speak, but an angry Chloe was as sexy as a happy Chloe. The way her eyes
flashed and she stood taller, matching her smaller stature to his, was an out-and-out turn-on. She waved her
hands about, her voice rising in pitch.
That s only because I was upset about my drawing. And I thought you were different. After I saw
you by the stream She sucked in a breath as though trying to suck her words back in, then hurried on.
You re special. That s all. Her eyes widened, then she tucked her chin, avoiding his stare.
Chloe.
Uh-huh?
You re special, too. And I don t think any less of you. In fact he paused as her startled eyes met
his, I think more of you after& you know.
You do?
I do.
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Clawed
The way she looked at him, so vulnerable, so open, so desirable, left him unable to answer. He fisted
his hands to keep from grabbing her and taking her. But now was not the time. When at last he d found his
voice, he asked, Your painting?
She glanced at her easel and canvas, and he could sense her hesitation. Uh, yeah, my painting. I d
better get to it.
That is why we re here.
Chloe studied him a moment longer, and he was afraid she would mention what she d seen at the
stream again. Should he confess what he was to her? Could he stand to see the fear in her eyes? He waited,
unsure what he would do.
At last, however, she turned and began setting up her palette and brushes. She was soon lost in her art,
unaware when he moved to sit on another rock closer to the edge of the pond where he could watch her
face.
Chloe peeked at Conan, the mountain of a man who sat on a nearby rock, content to let her paint.
Almost as though by silent agreement, they remained quiet, lost in the world of the forest. She ached to
include his image in the painting. But would he let her? Or would he react as he d done at the camp?
Unwilling to break their easy camaraderie, she discarded the idea and returned to painting the landscape.
She sensed him move off the rock. Trying not to get noticed, she watched him soundlessly step to the
edge of the water. Holding the brush poised in the air, she waited, mesmerized.
Conan knelt beside the water and spoke to a small brown animal entangled in the scrub brush.
Shivering in fear, the rabbit stared at him with unblinking round eyes. Conan s tone grew even softer.
Oh, my God. He s cooing at it. And it s listening.
Chloe held her breath, amazed at the tenderness of the giant man as he comforted the frightened
animal. He reached out, and holding the rabbit s leg as gently as one would hold a baby, he snapped the
vine that held it captive with his other hand. The rabbit jerked once, then surprisingly quieted again. Conan
touched the back of the rabbit and it hopped a couple of feet away, and as though thanking the man, turned
to blink at Conan.
Go on, little one.
The rabbit twitched its nose, then sped away, disappearing into the underbrush. Conan stood, turning
back to where he d sat.
Chloe offered him a soft smile. He frowned, diverting his gaze from hers. Wow. You re amazing.
He s not a brute of a man. Underneath all the bluster is a kind and gentle soul.
He settled back on the rock, but this time he looked toward the pond and not at her. Naw. He was
caught up, that s all.
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Beverly Rae
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