Page 6 of Impossible Rapids

Shawn nodded to him and then turned to Julie. He slid his hand along her arm and around to her hand. Their palms brushed together, and he wrapped his hand around hers. Julie swayed on her heels. She’d never felt anything so exhilarating in her life. Shawn looked down at their clasped hands as if surprised he’d made such a move or awed at how incredible it had felt.

And she was projecting her own feelings.

He pulled his hand free and gave a quick look around. Embarrassed that he’d made such a move and wondering who had seen it? She didn’t blame him for not wanting people to think he was moving on at the funeral dinner.

He wasn’t moving on. Sheesh. He’d just been … comforting her.

“Give me one moment, please,” he said.

“Of course.”

He nodded to her, then walked swiftly to where Isabella Travier waited. The lady stood. He embraced her and whispered something in her ear. She nodded to him, arched up and kissed his cheek. Then she released him.

Shawn smiled at her before turning and striding back to Julie.

To see him walking her direction with purpose, his blue eyes fixed on her, his powerful frame exuding protection and strength, Julie was in awe of him.

Reaching her, he gestured toward the rear doors of the grandiose mansion.

They fell into step together. Nobody would think anything of that, as they were often together.

“Of course Mercedes would forgive you,” Shawn referred to the conniving angel comment. “You were her favorite.”

“Ah, thank you, Thor,” she tried to tease him. Did her voice tremble?

Shawn chuckled at that. “I’m not Thor.” He brushed his hand at his longish blond hair. “I’m your Viking protector, remember?”

Her Viking protector? Yes, please. She’d called him that after he gallantly saved her from some teenage tourist punks who were harassing her to make-out with them on a beach in Cancun. So awkward.

“Thor. My Viking Protector. The incredible Shawn Holister. I have no idea which term to settle on with you.” She loved teasing him. She was at the height of her glory, and they always talked like this, especially when Mercedes was with them. Teasing, definitely not flirting.

They entered the open patio doors, and the air conditioning blasted them in the face. The cool air was a welcome change from the heat. Julie instinctively wanted to shut the patio doors and not ‘waste the bought air’ as her grandpa would’ve said, but what did Franz Belle care if he wasted loads of money on electrical bills?

They walked through the massive three-story living area toward the front of the mansion.

He chuckled. “Shawn is fine,” he said.

“Oh, my. So boring.”

“Excuse me?” His voice was full of teasing. He placed his hand on her lower back, and she about jumped out of her skin. Just being a gentleman, but that warm hand felt significant to her. The hall was deserted, so maybe he felt he could be a gentleman and not have anyone notice. Unlike outside, where anybody could have seen him wrap his hand around hers.

“My name is boring?” he asked.

“I’m teasing. Sort of. Shawn is a bit too ordinary for a Viking hero.”

They reached the study and walked through the arched double doorway. Nobody else was here yet.

Shawn walked her to the left, near the bookshelves, and away from the open doorway. He stopped and turned toward her. To her disappointment, he removed his hand from her lower back, but he stayed facing her and staring deeply into her eyes. His eyes were a piercing blue. She loved them.

“Shawn is a very basic and boring name,” he said, grinning at her. “But so is Julie. So apparently we both need more intriguing nicknames.”

“Good call.” She didn’t mind her name, but it was pretty basic. “I shall call you Thor, and what will you call me, Viking hero?”

“You’re insisting on Thor then?”

“Yes, sir.”

He smiled. “All right.” He searched her face and then eased closer, resting his hand on the mahogany bookshelf behind her and leaning in.