was killed. Mom fell apart.”
The words were delivered flatly. Although it had happened years before, the pain still showed. She knew about that hurt, the hole a parent’s absence left in your life. Losing her parents had been one of a string of devastating events her final year in high school. Mick had lost his dream on top of his tragedy. She’d never have made it without a dream to hold on to. Instinctively, she reached across the table and rested her hand on his. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “For everything.”
Their eyes caught and held. He was attracted to her, but there was something more than lust there. That something scared her. She could care about this man. Silently, she retracted her hand. She wasn’t good at hiding her emotions, and she felt exposed under his gaze.
“Is everything okay?” Concern was foremost in his posture now.
“Sure.” She wedged up the corners of her mouth into a smile. Keep it light and get away before you get in any deeper. “I need to head back. I’m going to be late for class.”
He crumpled the scone wrappers into the empty cups. “I’ll do the dishes,” he deadpanned. “Can’t expect a sorority girl to pick up after herself.”
“Excuse me? I expected better than rampant stereotypical nonsense from a college-educated, experienced detective.”
He grinned. “You aren’t at all like the sorority girls I knew at Chapel Hill.”
“There may be a few with their heads up their butts, but most of the women are great. And you’ll note I’m all grown-up and the advisor now.”
“Believe me, I noticed.” Warmth flickered in his blue eyes. “But I’m still surprised.”
She ignored the commentary. “I’ll forgive you—maybe—since you don’t live here. But your detective skills are open to debate.”
He opened his mouth to refute that, but she wagged a finger at him. “In case you didn’t notice, this is a small town. There isn’t much in the way of a social life outside the college. Most of the social life on-campus revolves around the Houses. Besides—” she grinned like a little girl with a secret, “—by being the advisor, I can use their laundry room instead of the Fluff-and-Fold and they feed me at least once a week.”
“Creature comforts.” He said it as if he were making notes. “I’ll have to remember their importance.”
“That’s right,” she solemnly agreed. “Right up there with chocolate and air.”
His face grew still and his expression intent. “I shouldn’t do this for a whole bunch of reasons, but I want to get to know you.” He glanced at his watch. “We’ve been together nearly an hour and it feels like it’s been five minutes, max. I could sit here all day talking to you.”
He laughed self-consciously, then breaking the eye contact, leaned back in his chair. “Okay.” One hand rose and scrubbed his face. “That was incredibly stupid. I’ll walk you back.”
“It’s not stupid,” she said, before her brain caught up with her mouth. Fear spurted from its hiding place with her words—fear of the desire he generated, fear of letting anyone get close to her again. She stood; the chair legs scraped loudly over the tile floor at the abrupt motion. “I have to go.”
She strode to the door.
He grabbed his jacket and scrambled after her. “Meg, wait…”
She ran down the street. She’d nearly reached the Victorian when she heard his footsteps directly behind her. He caught her arm, but this time he didn’t release her when he spun her against him. Instead, his hands dropped to her waist, pulling her closer. His heart pounded against hers. His arms imprisoned her, but she made no effort to free herself.
“There are a whole bunch of reasons we shouldn’t do this, either,” she said.
“There are a lot of reasons we should.”
She wanted to shake her head, but she couldn’t. His gaze dropped to her mouth. His lips followed. The first contact was gentle—and electric. She could barely
The words were delivered flatly. Although it had happened years before, the pain still showed. She knew about that hurt, the hole a parent’s absence left in your life. Losing her parents had been one of a string of devastating events her final year in high school. Mick had lost his dream on top of his tragedy. She’d never have made it without a dream to hold on to. Instinctively, she reached across the table and rested her hand on his. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “For everything.”
Their eyes caught and held. He was attracted to her, but there was something more than lust there. That something scared her. She could care about this man. Silently, she retracted her hand. She wasn’t good at hiding her emotions, and she felt exposed under his gaze.
“Is everything okay?” Concern was foremost in his posture now.
“Sure.” She wedged up the corners of her mouth into a smile. Keep it light and get away before you get in any deeper. “I need to head back. I’m going to be late for class.”
He crumpled the scone wrappers into the empty cups. “I’ll do the dishes,” he deadpanned. “Can’t expect a sorority girl to pick up after herself.”
“Excuse me? I expected better than rampant stereotypical nonsense from a college-educated, experienced detective.”
He grinned. “You aren’t at all like the sorority girls I knew at Chapel Hill.”
“There may be a few with their heads up their butts, but most of the women are great. And you’ll note I’m all grown-up and the advisor now.”
“Believe me, I noticed.” Warmth flickered in his blue eyes. “But I’m still surprised.”
She ignored the commentary. “I’ll forgive you—maybe—since you don’t live here. But your detective skills are open to debate.”
He opened his mouth to refute that, but she wagged a finger at him. “In case you didn’t notice, this is a small town. There isn’t much in the way of a social life outside the college. Most of the social life on-campus revolves around the Houses. Besides—” she grinned like a little girl with a secret, “—by being the advisor, I can use their laundry room instead of the Fluff-and-Fold and they feed me at least once a week.”
“Creature comforts.” He said it as if he were making notes. “I’ll have to remember their importance.”
“That’s right,” she solemnly agreed. “Right up there with chocolate and air.”
His face grew still and his expression intent. “I shouldn’t do this for a whole bunch of reasons, but I want to get to know you.” He glanced at his watch. “We’ve been together nearly an hour and it feels like it’s been five minutes, max. I could sit here all day talking to you.”
He laughed self-consciously, then breaking the eye contact, leaned back in his chair. “Okay.” One hand rose and scrubbed his face. “That was incredibly stupid. I’ll walk you back.”
“It’s not stupid,” she said, before her brain caught up with her mouth. Fear spurted from its hiding place with her words—fear of the desire he generated, fear of letting anyone get close to her again. She stood; the chair legs scraped loudly over the tile floor at the abrupt motion. “I have to go.”
She strode to the door.
He grabbed his jacket and scrambled after her. “Meg, wait…”
She ran down the street. She’d nearly reached the Victorian when she heard his footsteps directly behind her. He caught her arm, but this time he didn’t release her when he spun her against him. Instead, his hands dropped to her waist, pulling her closer. His heart pounded against hers. His arms imprisoned her, but she made no effort to free herself.
“There are a whole bunch of reasons we shouldn’t do this, either,” she said.
“There are a lot of reasons we should.”
She wanted to shake her head, but she couldn’t. His gaze dropped to her mouth. His lips followed. The first contact was gentle—and electric. She could barely
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