She’d been watching him for at least an hour. He hadn’t moved an inch. He’d been exhausted.She should have been in the kitchen, getting something together for dinner but she couldn’t seem to pull herself away. She’d never had the opportunity to study him in such an unguarded state. In sleep, Nic’s expression actually made him look more vulnerable, more sad.Awake, Nic usually had a smile and he could cover so much with a smile.She almost missed the sound of Duke’s claws clicking against the back porch, but she must have sensed his return because her heart began to beat harder, faster. When she finally heard the sound of his now-human footsteps as he entered the house, she tensed.She knew Nic needed the rest but she’d actually hoped he’d be awake when Duke returned.Not that she was afraid of Duke. Duke would never physically hurt her. She trusted him with her life.But her heart, well…Curled into the recliner on the other side of the fireplace in the front room, she forced her gaze to stay glued to the dancing orange flames.
