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“But you know me.” She tilted her head trying to ignore the hurt flaring inside.
He shook his head. “I knew an eleven-year-old girl. Things can change drastically in ten years.” He sca
Je
Steve shook his head slowly. “No.” He took a sip of the beer. “If I had been, nothing would have happened.” He closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat. “I should have kept my distance, but I couldn’t.”
“Do you regret what happened?” she asked, her voice small and tepid.
He sighed. “No. Not in the least.” He opened his eyes and smiled at her.
“The fact that you asked me that question hurt.”
Steve shrugged. To him, it was a matter of self-preservation and training. “I question everything, Jen. It keeps me alive.”
Je
He nodded. “I’m used to napping after, ah, you know.” Heat crept into his cheeks and a dimple made an appearance.
“Have you ever been shot at?”
Steve nodded. “It isn’t fun.”
“Have you ever shot someone?”
Steve shook his head. He stood and went out on the balcony. When she stepped next to him, he said, “Do you really think you can handle that part of my life?”
Je
“I can’t change who I am, Jen. I like putting the bad guys behind bars.”
Je
Steve started to laugh. “I guess.” He always made her play the Indian.
Je
“So, can you?” His blue eyes implored her.
“I can handle it. But I still don’t like it.” She was rewarded with the slow sexy smile.
Steve glanced at the parking lot again and the road beyond. There was still no sign of Bill and Tracy, so he leaned over and stole a kiss. “How long are we going to play this game with them?”
Je
Steve half smiled. “It won’t happen again.” He glanced at her sideways. “Besides, do you think two days is really enough?”
Je
Steve’s jaw dropped and eyebrows rose at the admission.
“I kid you not,” she said, lifting her hands in an oath.
“Really?” He shook his head. “Okay. Then I’ll see you later.” He gave her a kiss and headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To get my car.” He looked at his watch. “Can you remember how to get to my Grandfather’s place?” he asked and she nodded. “I’ll meet you there in a little over an hour.” He smiled over his shoulder. “Oh, and I left after I apologized. I wasn’t going to wait around with you—I’m still an asshole.”
“It’s like five or six miles to campus,” Je
“That’s just a warm up,” he said. “I’ll meet you at my grandfather’s. Wear something nice.” He closed the door behind him and headed out.
Steve sprinted the first few miles hoping he wouldn’t run into them. He wanted to be far enough along to make the timeframe realistic. When he’d crossed half the distance between the apartment and the campus, he settled into a moderate jog, getting his wheezing breath back into a natural rhythm.
He nodded to Tracy and Bill a few minutes later when they passed heading in the opposite direction. The matching wide-eyed slack jaw stare was priceless. He wiped the sweat off his face and laughed, continuing his exercise regimen back to the fraternity house.
Chapter 9
Je
“Jen?” Tracy called.
“Yeah?” she answered from the balcony, stepping into character.
Tracy and Bill came out holding a bag of Chinese food and it took everything Je
“What happened?” Bill asked.
“He apologized,” Je
“Why didn’t he stay?” Tracy asked.
Je
“Jen?” Tracy whined.
“What?” Je
Chapter 10
Je
The five-mile trek only took him a little over thirty minutes. He grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom to clean up. Twenty minutes later, he was on the road.
Je
“I’m going out for a bit. I’ll see you later.” Je
Steve paced by his car, clad in gray dress pants with a light blue button-down shirt. The swelling had receded but the skin around his right eye still held an angry purple tone.
Her headlights shined in his eyes, making him squint as he approached the car. When she cut the lights and stepped out of the car, Steve stopped, sca
“No. I figured I’d change when I got here.” She looked at the closed up cottage. “Do you mind letting me in?”
He glanced at his watch, sighed, and raised his eyes back to her. “Okay.” He reached in his car and pulled the keys from the ignition, heading to the cottage without a glance back.
“You look nice,” she said, letting him walk in front of her. “Very nice.”
“Thanks. We have reservations in fifteen minutes.” He leaned against the wall by the door, waiting.
“How far is it to the restaurant?” Je
* * * *
“Uh, about fifteen minutes.” Steve straightened, watching her slip the silky fabric over her head, the straps just covering those of her black bra. She smoothed it over her body and slipped her shorts off, revealing a hint of black underwear before the fabric of the dress fell over her thighs again. She quickly slid the black high heel sandals on and then turned to him, unclipping her hair and ru
“Better?” She stuffed her clothes, flip-flops and hairclip back in her bag.
He didn’t respond with words. He moved across the room and took her in his arms, kissing her deeply.
When he pulled away, she ran her hands over his clean-shaven face. “I’ll take that as a yes.”