“You could use it to your advantage.”

She sent him a quick, interested look. “In what way?”

“You have the advantage of seeing the people around you without having your own emotions color what you see. Observation without prejudice. It might be an interesting way to understand yourself.”

She didn’t relax so much as accept. “You see now why I asked you to bring me up.”

He stopped in front of a beautifully carved door. “Do I?”

“I thought only moments ago that I wanted no more strangers in my life. And yet … You haven’t any strong feelings for me and you don’t expect them in return. It’s easy for you to look at me and be practical.”

He studied her now in the misty light of the corridor. It wasn’t possible for a man to look at her and think practical thoughts, but it wasn’t the time to mention that. “You were frightened downstairs.”

She tilted her chin and met his eyes. “Yes.”

“So you’ve decided to trust me.”

“No.” She smiled then, beautifully. Something of the girl he’d met with diamonds in her hair came through. Too much of the attraction he’d felt crept along with it. “Trust isn’t something I can give so quickly under the circumstances.”

Perhaps more than the smile, the strength attracted him. “What have you decided, then?”

Perhaps more than his looks, his confidence attracted her. “I don’t want your services as a policeman, Reeve, but I think your services as a stranger might be invaluable. My father is determined to have you in any case, so perhaps we might come to an agreement between us.”

“Of what kind?”

“I don’t want to be hovered over. I think I can be certain that’s the one thing that was always true. I’d like to consider you as more of a buffer between me and …”

“Your family?” he finished.

Her lashes swept down and her fingers tightened on her bag. “Don’t make it sound so cold.”

Touching her would be a mistake. He had to remind himself of that. “You’ve a right to the time and distance you need, Gabriella.”

“They have needs, as well. I’m not unaware of that.” Her head came up again, but she looked beyond him to the door. “This is my room?”

For a moment she’d looked so lost, so totally lost. He wanted to offer comfort, but knew it was the last thing she wanted or needed. “Yes.”

“Would you think I was a coward if I said I didn’t want to go in alone?”

For an answer, he opened the door and walked in just ahead of her.

So, she preferred pastels. As Brie looked around the small, charming sitting room she saw the pale, sun-washed colors. No frills, she noted, rather pleased. Even without them, the room was essentially feminine. She felt a sense of relief that she accepted her womanhood without needing elaborate trappings to prove it. Maybe, just maybe, she’d find she liked Gabriella.