Free Tender Love by Irene Brand Page B

presence behind her before she heard his steps. Markplaced his hands on her shoulders, and the paring knife clattered to the sink top. He turned her gently to face him.
    â€œI don’t want you to leave, Alice,” he said softly, and her eyes locked with his.
    â€œWhy?” she whispered.
    He slowly shook his head, and she couldn’t tell if he didn’t know why he didn’t want her to leave, or that he wouldn’t tell her.
    â€œWill you stay?” His voice was soft and intimate.
    She couldn’t speak, but she lifted her hand, caressed the dimple on his cheek, knowing within her heart that his reason for asking her to stay was the same reason that made it impossible for her to leave.

Chapter Four
    D inner was a silent affair, even though Eddie ate a good meal, obviously none the worse for his accident. In fact, he seemed somewhat proud of the fact that he’d been knocked out. All of the family must have sensed the tension between Mark and Alice, and she noticed Kristin looking from one to the other with anxiety. It took so little to upset the security of these children. Mark made an effort to keep a conversation going, but Alice couldn’t have spoken if she’d wanted to. Mark had asked her to stay, but she hadn’t promised. What should she do?
    Mark took the children into the living room when they’d finished eating, and Gran helped Alice remove the dishes from the table. After the dishwasher was filled, and Alice was washing the pans, Gran said, “Don’t be upset, Alice. Eddie isn’t hurt.”
    â€œI’m thankful for that, but I’m sorry it happened.”
    â€œMark won’t be angry for long,” Gran assured Alice.
    Alice hugged the stooped shoulders. “Thanks,Gran. It’s comforting to know that I have you on my side. I hope you have a good rest tonight.”
    As Gran guided her walker toward the stairs, Alice went into her room and shut the door. What had Mark meant by his words? she wondered. Probably she was no more to him than a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear, but if Mark was learning to care for her, that would complicate their situation. If his feelings for her compared to her love for him, she’d have to leave, for it wouldn’t be long before others would notice their mutual attraction. If only a month in his home had this effect on her, she’d be risking her reputation and his if she continued to stay. Already, she was willing to take this man and his family for her own. At her age, she should have known better.
    Alice didn’t turn on a light, but sat in the rocking chair and stared out the window, observing as twilight faded to darkness, listening to a cardinal’s clear tones as it heralded the end of the day. To achieve some comfort, she took off her sandals and unbraided her hair to let it hang loosely around her shoulders. Slowly, she rocked back and forth, trying not to think, but in her mind, she reviewed every minute she’d spent in this home.
    So deep was her concentration that she jumped when a knock sounded on the door. She padded across the floor in her bare feet and paused momentarily with her hand on the doorknob before she turned it.
    Mark peered into the darkness. “Were you asleep? I didn’t know you’d turned off the light.”
    â€œNo, I wasn’t asleep. I’ve been trying to sort things out in my mind.”
    â€œWill you come into the office? We need to talk.”
    She moved past him and down the hallway to his office. She perched on the edge of the chair she’d occupied the first day she came to this house and Mark took his chair behind the desk.
    â€œI want to apologize,” he said, “for…for several things, but right now, for losing my temper with you. I know you can’t understand why I’m so protective of Eddie, but you only see him as he is now, a reasonably healthy child.” He swiveled around in his chair and took a