Free Moonlight in the Morning by Jude Deveraux

he said in a way that made her think he was in pain. “I don’t mean to complain, but my arm was broken and the sling has caught on the chair. I can’t move until I get it loose.”
    With those words she knew he was Kim’s cousin Tristan, the doctor who lived next door. She kept her hands on his shoulders, but she stopped fighting him.
    She felt his hands near her as he moved the cushion behind her head. His body was half on, half off hers. She could feel that he was tall, his stomach flat, and under her hands she could feel rather well-developed pecs. Altogether, he felt truly wonderful.
    “There!” he said and rolled off of her. He started to stand, then stumbled.
    She caught his hand to steady him as she sat up straighter. “Sit down,” she said, and tugged on his hand. She swung her legs around so her feet were on the ground, and she kept hold of his hand.
    It was so dark she could see nothing, but she knew by his breathing that he was hurting.
    “If you don’t mind,” he said as he turned and sat down beside her.
    She was quiet as he took a few breaths. One side of her was close enough to him to feel that he was shaking a bit. The pain from hitting the wooden chaise must have been bad.
    “I take it you Ctakpain from 8217;re Dr. Aldredge.”
    He took a breath before answering. “You must be Jecca, and we’ve met before. Please call me Tris. We’ve heard about nothing but your visit for weeks. We—” He broke off as he did more deep breathing.
    “That’s it,” Jecca said as she stood up. “You’re injured, and I’m going to call someone. Didn’t Kim say your dad was in town?”
    Reaching up, he moved about until he found her hand and took it. “Please don’t call anyone, especially not my father. He’ll get upset and insist that I take painkillers and get more rest. If I rest any more I’ll lose my mind.”
    The darkness was so complete that she couldn’t so much as see an outline of him, but she knew what he meant. “I guess you were walking home. Did I move the chaise in your way?”
    “Yes, you did, but that’s all right.” He was still holding her hand.
    “Would you like me to walk you home? I can go in the house and try to find a flashlight.”
    “I don’t use one, never have.”
    “Even in this darkness?” She knew she should take her hand out of his but she didn’t. There was something rather, well, intimate about being with this stranger in this deep, black darkness. His voice was rich and more seductive than moonlight.
    “When I was two I wandered through the woods to here. I was so happy when I found this house, as I’ve always loved Miss Livie. But my parents were frantic and thought I might have gone into the lake. After they found me, they tried everything they could think of to keep me from coming here. But I always found a way around them. Dad finally gave up and used a chainsaw to cut a path for me.”
    “And you’ve been using it since you were two?”
    “Yes.” He took her hand in both of his. “An artist’s hands.”
    She pulled out of his grip. His tone was a little too friendly. “I think I should get Mrs. Wingate or someone.”
    “No,” he said. “I just want to stay here and be still until my side stops throbbing. If I promise to keep my hands to myself, will you stay and talk with me?”
    Jecca thought she should say no, but she couldn’t seem to make herself do it. Her nap had revitalized her, and the last thing she wanted to do was go into a strange house and go to bed. She was a bit concerned that she’d not even be able to find her apartment again.
    “I’ll get a chair,” she said. “If I can find one.”
    “How about if I direct you? This will be good practice for me with my blind patients.”
    “All right. I am now just to the left of the chaise.”
    “Come to this side until you reach my hand.”
    “You seem to like hand holding.”
    “I like holding any part of pretty girls.”

    “Then you’re out of luck with me. I’ve become