Read Online Burning in a Memory by Constance Sharper - Free Book Online Page B

she faced the wall to at least hide that aspect of her embarrassment. The last time she’d been on a couch with a guy, the situation had been much different.
                  “I guess the glass shattered worse than I thought, because you’re pretty cut up too.” Adam said as he continued his methodical inspection.
                  “But I’m not bleeding, so it’s already healing on its own,” she protested. She was ready to push her shirt back down and sit like a normal person.
                  “Well, I don’t feel any broken bones and if you swear you’re not in pain then I guess it’s okay,” he said.
                  He pressed down on the last few of her vertebras before the sensation of his hands disappeared from her skin. She let out a shaky breath and remembered how to move. Pulling her shirt down, she straightened out the wet cotton fabric that clung to her skin. 
                  “Thanks for the diagnosis,” she said once she finally regained her dignity. She turned and sat back down on the couch. He still kneeled on the floor, putting her face to face with him. While she’d been beaten like a rag doll, he didn’t sport a scratch on him.
                  “It’s my fault it happened.”
                  “It’s the shades fault it happened,” she pointed out and then paused before saying, “they’re called shades, right?”
                  A frown crept up on his face.
                  “Are you cold?” he asked instead of giving her an answer.  In the next moment, he stood and stepped away. When he returned he held out a bundle of clothing to her. When she picked it up, she caught the distinctive scent of Adam mixed with fresh detergent.
                  “I would have borrowed one of Angie’s outfits to make you feel more comfortable, but there’s too much of a height difference to make anyone comfortable. I mean, if you want to change,” he said.
                  “Thanks,” she said and accepted it.
                  “The bathroom is down the hall.”
                  She followed his directions and stepped inside. The bathroom had been decorated with beach colors, plastic seashells, and smooth granite counters. She held the new shirt up in the light. It must have been his and that fact made her grin. She slipped into the clothes and wrung out her old ones. Most of it was mud that already set into the fabric, but she could hope nothing was ruined. She kept her necklace on and tucked the cold plastic under her new shirt. When she exited the bathroom, Adam was waiting for her on the other side of the door.
                  “Angie might be smaller, but you’re bigger than you look,” she pointed out. His shirt hung too long on her figure and covered the shorts below it. His eyes flickered over her body, too slow to be inconspicuous.             
                  “It’s not bad,” he said. Clearing his throat, he looked at the floor.
                  “Did you hear anything from the others yet?” she asked. Adelaide never heard his phone buzz, but she suspected the others had to be in her neighborhood by now.
                  Adam shook his head.
                  “No. It’s probably going to be awhile and you should rest. Stay the night and I can take you back tomorrow,” he said. “You can have my room.”
                  “If I’m in your room, where are you planning to sleep?” she asked matter-of-factly. Adam seemed overly interested in the floor lately.
                  “I’ll be on the couch tonight. You’ll have my room to yourself,” he answered quietly.
                  “Thank you. It’ll be nice to rest,” she said. He nodded and led her up the stairs, giving her the polite, guided tour. The bathroom