Rayven's Keep Read Free Page B

but something about him drew her. Part of her interest stemmed from preliminary research she’d done a month ago on his business for her grandfather. If she were being honest about it she would have to admit to being fascinated with Nick ever since.
    Studying his face, she wondered why she found him so appealing. He had high, flat cheekbones, a firm jaw and a hard mouth, with the bottom lip fuller than the top. It wasn’t a mouth given much to smiling, but she would bet her last credit when he did smile it would be devastating. Thick lashes framed deep-set brown eyes and a small crescent-shaped scar cut through the corner of his left eyebrow. He had a strong face, world weary and harsh in its beauty.
    Uncompromising. The reality of Nick Rayven was so much more than the image she’d studied. The sheer force of his personality weakened her knees.
    “Looked your fill yet?”
    The heat of a blush climbed her cheeks and she lowered her eyes. She placed the water cylinder back on the table, removed her cap and dropped it on the table. Running her fingers through sweat-dampened hair she tried to restore it to some order. His somber scrutiny was unnerving, and she dropped her hands to her lap, clutching them together to still the tremor in her fingers.
    “I cut my hair to try to pass for a mining apprentice,” she explained.
    Normally she wasn’t too concerned with her appearance, but Nick’s cool regard made her nervous and aware of her present state. Feeling grubby and unattractive, she wished she’d kept her mouth shut when he flashed a ghost of a smile.
    “I didn’t have much time so I know it’s cut badly. I had to use a knife of all things. I must look a fright. I rubbed dirt on my face to look like I’d just gotten off shift and I borrowed, um, stole these clothes, since mine were a dead giveaway.”
    Tru raised tear-drenched eyes to his and bit her bottom lip. “I didn’t know what else to do,” she whispered.
    She wasn’t making sense, didn’t understand why her badly cut hair and ugly clothes seemed more important than anything else at the moment. They just were. Her emotions stayed too close to the surface, overriding everything else.
    Reaching for the water to give herself something to do, she inadvertently knocked it over. Water cascaded across the tabletop, over the edge, and onto her lap. Jumping up from the chair proved a mistake as blood drained from her head. Black spots danced before her eyes and her knees gave way. She swayed, but before she collapsed, Nick caught her and lowered her to her seat. His large, strong hands gently pushed her head between her knees.
    “Take slow breaths until you don’t feel so lightheaded before you try to sit back up,” he ordered, crouching beside her chair.
    Embarrassed, she nodded, gripping the chair edge with shaking fingers. When the dizziness passed, she sat up, blinking to clear the grey tunneling her vision. He thrust the rescued container of water toward her and she automatically took it.
    “Drink.”
    Tru brought the cylinder to her mouth and drank what remained.
    “Feel better?” He rose, and went back to his seat.
    Without looking at him, she nodded slowly, unwilling to make any sudden moves. She flinched, but held her ground when Nick lifted her chin. His calloused fingers warmed the skin along her jaw and she suppressed a shiver. This more compassionate side of Nick increased her growing attraction to him.
    “When was the last time you ate or slept?” he asked.
    Tru raised her eyes to meet his. Caught by his intense gaze, she couldn’t look away until he dropped her chin and put a little distance between them. Rocking back in his chair, he crossed his arms and frowned. Whether he was irritated at himself or her, she didn’t know.
    “The day before yesterday...I think. I’ve been hiding, waiting for an opportunity to get away from Lodestone.” Drained, she propped her elbows on the table and cradled the cylinder of water between