The image of Grace’s weeping face filtered into his mind. This wasn’t that. And he thought about how Scotty would have liked Yael. Liked the fact she was generally unimpressed by all things macho. Slowly Shane drifted off, thinking about his best friend and some of the good times they’d shared.

Yael’s cell started buzzing and she woke to the smell of fresh coffee.

She groggily raised her head. That didn’t make any sense. Was Laura here? She knew the code. Or maybe her boss? Although she couldn’t imagine Alex Parker letting himself in to brew coffee even if he held a spare key.

She fumbled for the cell before it vibrated itself off the nightstand.

“Okay. Now don’t freak out,” Shane Livingstone’s voice came through the phone and the floor.

“What the hell?”

“I’m in your house.”

She scrubbed her hand over her weary face.

“And I’m about to bring you breakfast in bed so make yourself decent.” He rang off and then she heard footsteps on the stairs. She struggled into a sitting position on the bed.

“What are you doing here?” She glanced at the time. Five thirty a.m. She groaned. “In the middle of the night?”

He came through the door wearing the same clothes he’d been wearing when he left last night. He also wore a warm smile. “Sorry, I’m an early riser which is useful in my job but not so great for everyone else.” He placed the tray on her lap and leaned over to grab another pillow which he propped behind her shoulders.

She caught the scent of him. Warm skin and that stupid pine deodorant that must contain some sort of narcotic because she was drawn to it like a honeybee to nectar.

“I’m not even going to bother asking how you broke in here this morning.”

A smile curled his mouth. “That’s good because I didn’t actually break in this morning.” He took one of the two coffee mugs off of the tray and planted himself beside her feet. She felt the mattress give and concentrated on the breakfast he’d prepared to avoid the intimacy of the moment. Buttered toast with a side of scrambled eggs and a small jar of marmalade on the side that Laura had left behind when she’d stayed here last week.

Yael picked up a piece of toast and took a bite of the salty goodness. She met his gaze. “This is good. Thanks.”

Funny, but last night she’d hoped never to see him again because she’d felt embarrassed. Less than eight hours later she was grinning at him like an idiot.