Free NocC 017 - Caridad Pineiro - Night of the Cougar - Harlequin 2012-06 by Nocturne Page A

away.
    Galen took the moment to pour their wine, transfer the steaks to their plates and scoop out some salad for each of them.
    Jamie returned quickly with the potatoes slathered with butter and sour cream.
    “It all looks great,” he said, and held out her chair for her.
    “Thanks,” she said as she took the seat kitty-corner to where he sat at the head of the table.
    They ate in companionable silence, satisfying their earlier hunger. The only sound was the clink of cutlery until the plates were nearly licked clean.
    “I guess we were hungry,” Jamie said.
    Galen rubbed his stomach. “Definitely. Feel like some dessert?”
    “Maybe later,” she replied, standing and reaching for a dirty dish, but he covered his hand with hers.
    “It’s only fair that since you cooked, I’ll clean. Why don’t you pour some more wine and go relax.”
    As if she hadn’t been relaxing for hours before dinner, but she wasn’t about to turn down his generous offer. “I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”
    He nodded and she left the dining room, stopping off at his bedroom to retrieve the book and then settling herself on the couch in the living room.
    Galen must have stoked the fire off and on during the day. There was a nice flame going and, beneath it, a sizable pile of glowing embers. She took a spot on the couch closest to the fire, grabbed a throw from nearby and settled in to read.
    Much as it had before, the story immediately sucked her in. She flipped the pages quickly, pausing every now and then for a sip of the excellent cabernet he had poured. The sounds of dishes clinking and running water drifted out from the kitchen.
    About half an hour later, Galen came in with a serving tray bearing the bottle with the last of the wine and bowls filled with luscious ripe strawberries and whipped cream. He placed the tray on the large square leather ottoman before her and refilled their glasses. After, he stretched out on the floor in front of the fire, pillowed his head on one hand and with the other, began to read from a book he had taken from the top of the ottoman.
    Jamie returned to Jack and Caitlin’s story, devouring the growing romance between them as well as the action-packed suspense that had earned Galen such a large following. The story was moving so quickly that she forgot about the wine and berries until she reached the end.
    “You did it. You gave Jack a happily-ever-after. Why?”
    Galen laid down the book he was reading and turned his head in her direction. “When I wrote the book I was actually thinking it might be possible for someone like Jack.”
    Someone like him he meant.
    Shifting from the couch, she sat at his side and laid her hand on his midsection, stroking it tenderly. “It is possible for everyone, Galen. Even you.”
    He laughed harshly and stopped the motion of her hand. “How, Jamie? How can we ever have that now, with what I am?”
    She pulled her hand away from beneath his and twined her fingers with his. “Do you really think you were any less damaged before the accident?”
    Her question clearly shocked him. A very visible recoil made him jerk beneath their joined hands, but she pushed on.
    “You weren’t living before, Galen. Not really. You were hiding up here, living your life vicariously through Jack Fitzgerald, super dick.”
    He sat up and angrily raked a hand through his hair. “ That’s a low blow.”
    Trying to ease the sting of her words and his anger, she said, “I can’t blame you after what happened. You needed to heal, and you did.”
    Cradling his face in her hands, she scooted on the floor until she was pressed along his side. “It’s time, Galen. I want to help you heal now.”
    Just like she had a year ago, Galen thought. It had been her spirit and loving that had made him want to live again, to savor all that she had to offer him. Now, here she was once more, giving of herself without hesitation.
    “God, Jamie, I love you, but it scares me to think of