Free North Star by Angeline M. Bishop Page A

and felt a flush of heat rise along her cheeks. What was she thinking? Making out with some guy in his sister’s living room, where anyone could walk in at anytime?
    She hastily stood up. “I can’t stay.”
    “But Caresse—” Graham began.
    “No, I really can’t.” She pushed his hands away and began gathering her things.
    Roland stopped her as she bolted toward the door. “I’m sorry, Caresse, you have no choice. No one can leave tonight. There’s a flash flood warning in effect for this area.”
    She turned back to face Graham. He was still sitting on the couch, but his hands were clasped in front of him as his forearms rested on his knees. He was watching her intently.
    “Are you sure I can’t make it home? It’s only an hour away,” she pleaded.
    “Sorry, part of Route Nine in the Lakewood and Howell areas were hit pretty hard. And they’re expecting the same for us. You two made it here just in time.” Roland walked her back to the loveseat. “So let’s decide where everyone will sleep, and in the morning you can go home.”
    “What are the choices?” Graham asked as he crossed the room and closed the window against the pouring rain.
    “You two can take the guestroom, or we can move the oldest boys in there, and you can have their bunk beds. The choice is yours.”
    “Bunk beds,” Caresse said, cutting off Graham’s chance to answer. She had seen the guestroom upstairs and knew it only possessed a queen-size bed. “I would be most comfortable in the boys’ room.”
    “Are you sure?” Roland asked.
    Caresse followed his gaze to where Graham stood, removing her lipstick from his lips with a Kleenex.
    “Yes, I’m sure. It’ll be fine.”
    Graham nodded, and Roland exited the room in order to prepare the boys’ room for his brother-in-law and his guest.
    Caresse walked over to Graham and sat in the chair facing him. She knew she should say something, but she was clueless as to how to express what she was feeling. “You aren’t upset about me picking the boys’ room, are you?”
    Graham stared at her, his dark eyes smoldering. “No, their room will be fine. Listen, you had better get yourself situated. I’m sure Jan has something you can sleep in. Her bedroom is upstairs, the fifth door on the right.” Without another glance at her, he walked out on the covered deck and closed the French doors behind him.
    Caresse sat, watching his back for a minute or two, sensing his confusion and frustration, yet she knew the last thing she needed was a man in her life. Her past had taught her that if she let him into her life, soon he would be taking away her sense of self, or making her a slave to his will. Yes, she was attracted to him, but she didn’t know him. What she did know was that she was tired of her heart bleeding because of controlling men. She’d finally come to a place where she was healed. Why should she put herself in a romantic situation so quickly after she’d finally achieved peace in her life? It didn’t make sense, she thought. And until it did, Mr. Sheridan was off limits. And that would have to be that.
    Caresse stood up and headed toward Janet and Roland’s bedroom. As she neared the boys’ room, Matthew and Mark’s smiling faces greeted her. They were taking some of their favorite toys into the guestroom. The happiness on their faces told Caresse they didn’t get to sleep in that room very often. Janet came down the hallway and placed a football jersey and a silk robe in Caresse’s hands. “I hope you’ll be comfortable in this. I don’t really own anything that could fit your small frame.”
    “This will be fine.”
    “Where’s Graham?” Janet asked as she place two sets of toothbrushes, towels, and washcloths on the boys’ desk beside a red flashlight and a lantern.
    “He stepped out on the deck for some fresh air, but he’ll be in shortly.”
    Janet appeared a bit puzzled as she walked to the window to peer down at the rain-drenched street below. Her