Free A Tender Touch: A Donnelley Brother's Novel (Logan Point Book 4) by Alannah Carbonneau

quickly to the kitchen. He filled me a glass of water from the jug I’d placed in the fridge and brought it back to me. I took it from him without words, downing the water. When I was done, I looked up at him and grinned.
    “What are you up to, pretty girl?” Luke asked warily.
    “Can you build a fire?” I asked.
    He raised a brow. “You want me to build you a fire?”
    I nodded. “Yes, please.”
    “Alright.” He sighed. “Are you sleeping on the couch?”
    “I don’t know yet.”
    “Ember,” Luke sounded reprimanding now, but I could see the formations of a smile on his lips. “You should go to bed. It’s already late and we work in the morning.”
    “I’m not tired.” I announced. “Please, can you make a fire?”
    He sighed. “I’ll make a fire.” He pointed to the hall. “Go get yourself ready for bed.”
    “Okay.” I replied with an obedience that surprised me. I moved to the entrance to the hall before pausing. “You won’t leave, will you?”
    Luke swung his head around to look at me from where he was bending down to the fireplace. Then he straightened. There was a shadow in his eyes as he shook his head. “I’ll be right here, pretty girl.”
    I nodded. “Kay.”
    “Go get ready for bed.” He said again, but this time his tone was gentle. As I walked, I couldn’t help but think it sounded almost soothing.
    Moving along the short stretch of hall to the bathroom, I brushed my teeth and scrubbed my makeup from my face. I’d never been one to sleep with my makeup on. I seriously didn’t know how women did that.
    I brushed my hair and by the time I was standing in my cream-colored pajama pants with the small pastel green spruce trees patterned into the fabric and a pastel green tank top, I was feeling the expected exhaustion building within me. But I also knew that I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t want Luke to leave, so I placed a smile on my face as I moved back out to the living room, shoving my arms into a cream colored cardigan as I went.
    Luke was standing over the fireplace and the only light in the room was the glow of the flickering flames of the fire. His hands were in the pockets of his dark jeans and his black button down shirt was stretched tight over the firmness of his shoulders.
    “Luke?” I spoke his name softly and he turned to face me. His eyes moved from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, then back up to my eyes.
    “Feeling tired yet?” He asked and the sound of his gravelly voice moved through me in a way no voice had ever done before. I felt the sound of him in my veins, moving through the entirety of my body - warming me.
    I shook my head. As much as I knew he should leave - I just didn’t want to face the night alone. “Do you dance?”
    Luke raised a brow. “Dance?”
    “Do you?” I stepped closer to him - and I didn’t stop until there was only a breath of space between us. “Will you?”
    “You want to dance?” He cocked his head. “Didn’t you dance enough tonight, already?”
    I shook my head. “No.”
    I watched with a nervously beating heart as the corner of his lips lifted in a slow grin. Then I felt his hands move against my waist - and then I felt my body connect with his as he pulled me into his arms. “I dance, pretty girl.” His voice was so deep. “Put your feet on mine.” I followed his command, stepping onto the tops of his feet with my fuzzy white slipper-socks.
    I reached up to circle my hands around his neck, for the very first time, I loved my lacking height. For the first time, I felt so safe in the circle of another’s arms. Luke’s largeness didn’t intimidate me. Instead, I felt so protected and cherished - encased within his strong embrace.
    I didn’t think about my next actions. I didn’t allow my mind to convince me this was wrong - or that I was walking on dangerous ground with this friend I had gained. Instead, I pressed my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes. I allowed my breathing to even