Chapter 11

"A computer programmer once happened across a frog in the road. The frog piped up, 'I'm really a beautiful princess, and if you kiss me, I'll stay with you for a week.' The programmer shrugged his shoulders and put the frog in his pocket," Danni was saying from her perch on the sofa beside Tara.

"A few minutes later, the frog said 'OK, OK, if you kiss me, I'll give you a wonderful treasure.' The programmer nodded and put the frog back in his pocket," Danni continued winking at Craig who was sitting on the hearth. With a slight blush on his cheeks, he grinned back.

"A few minutes later, 'Turn me back into a princess, and I'll give you untold riches!' The programmer smiled and walked on," Danni smiled slyly. "Finally, the frog says, 'What's wrong with you? I've promised you untold riches from a beautiful princess and you won't even kiss a frog?'"

"The programmer replied, 'I'm a programmer. I don't care about a wonderful treasure or untold riches...but a talking frog is pretty neat.'" Danni grinned at Annie as everyone burst into laughter.

"Not funny," Annie smirked, struggling to control her own laughter.

Grimacing, Tara held her side as her ribs ached from her laughter. Instantly, Myles was at her side, a comforting hand outstretched.

"Are you okay?" his face a mask of concern and worry. "Do you need anything?" he asked kneeling before her.

"I'll live," Tara whispered through clinched teeth. Peeking up at Myles, she gasped at the intense look in his eyes. Their gazes locked as he caressed her cheek, wiping a lone tear away that had escaped.

His touch made it hard for Tara to catch her breath as her heart pounded heavily in her chest. Myles' eyes were drawn to her mouth as her lips parted. His hand on her good shoulder, he found himself drawn to her.

Suddenly the room erupted as Craig, Hank, and Danni darted out the door. Myles jumped away from Tara as if he'd been burnt. In the process, he knocked over the lamp next to the sofa, shattering the base.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Myles apologized, bending back down to pick up the broken pieces.

"Leave them alone, you'll cut yourself," Annie swatted his arm on the way into the kitchen. Returning quickly with a broom and dustpan, she shooed Myles out of the way. "I said leave it alone, Myles."

"I'm sorry, Annie," Myles felt so bad about breaking the lamp, especially since he'd been distracted by something he shouldn't have been thinking about in the first place. "I'll buy you another one," he offered.

"Nonsense! Craig has been wanting to do that to this lamp for a long time," she chuckled as she cleaned up the broken pieces. "He hated it when I brought it home and begged me to replace it. I'll bet you made a friend for life with him just by this little accident," she smiled, taking the broken pieces to the trash in the kitchen.

While Annie was gone, Myles moved to the opposite side of the room, trying to get his thoughts away from the beautiful agent sitting on the couch. Meanwhile, Tara lowered her eyes to her lap, struggling to control her breathing and her erratic heartbeat. Both of them looked everywhere but at each other, afraid they might reveal their internal desires.

"What happened to Danni, Craig, and Hank?" Myles asked as Annie returned to the living room.

"Oh, the goats got out again," Annie explained, pointing out the window where Myles could see the three of them chasing after the four-legged creatures.

He couldn't help but laugh when he saw Hank take a flying leap towards one of the animals, missing it and landing with a splash in a mud puddle. Danni and Craig seemed to be having a better time as both of them had a goat up in their arms and were heading back to the pen.

Seeing Tara struggling to get up, Myles moved to her side to help. The tension returned between them as he stood next to her while they stared out the window, his arm draped protectively around her waist. He kept telling himself that he held onto her because she was so weak, even though he couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of her in his arms.

He glanced down at the top of her head as she laughed at the antics outside. Her melodic laughter was music to his ears as he subconsciously pulled her closer to him.