work.
“I was number five, Dad.” How can he not remember this? Or maybe since it’s a five and not a one, it’s not important. I’m not sure.
“Exactly!”
“I’ll be back on track soon.”
“You need to be.” He’s trying to agree with me. My dad agreeing with me is like him pushing me in the direction he thinks I’m headed with the subtlety of a bulldozer. It’s just as much my fault as it is his, because I let him do it. “Your brother is really making good strides at the firm.”
Does he add that to make conversation? Or to put the pressure on? “I know. He usually is. Keith is very driven.”
“Wait, does this have anything to do with a guy? This whole lodge thing?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Definitely not.” I think about hairy Jason and want to laugh. Oh wait. Craig. Maybe it could be a little bit about a guy.
“Well, you take care of yourself. You know I don’t like you so far away.” His voice is softer now.
“I know.”
“Love you, Dana Bear.”
“Love you, too.” I want to cry. I hit end, set the phone on the table, and slump down on the bench.
“You okay?” Jason asks behind me. So much for my theory of him not noticing me at the far table.
I jerk around to face him. “Great, yeah.” Why would he care anyway?
“Your dad?” His voice is quiet.
“Can I have a private conversation?” I stare. Sympathy from someone who doesn’t like me sort of sucks.
“Sorry, I just don’t really see you on the phone much and—”
“What?” I snap back. What is he implying? Is he implying something?
“Nothing. Sorry I asked.” His voice is still quiet. He turns and heads into the kitchen.
I grab my computer and head back to the land of the Twilight bedroom. I need a kickboxing class right now or something I can destroy. Instead I realize that I hear people coming in the front door downstairs. Crap. I check myself over in the mirror, put on my best smile, and head back down.
I’m Not James Bond, and I Don’t Like Being Followed
I step out of the grand jury room, shaken, but okay. No defendant or his family today. Just me telling my story so the prosecutor can file official charges or something. I’m still not sure how all this works. I scan the hallway for Craig.
He grins as our eyes catch. It’s exciting again to see him. It’s even more exciting because I have to play cool and can’t touch him while we’re here.
“I’m in the middle of work,” he says, “but I can at least walk you out.”
So nice to see him, only it seems like nothing’s happening between us today. All I can think about now is how I still have a two-hour drive, and then either Jason or Boz is going to have to come out to the parking lot so I can ride behind one of them to get back.
“You okay?” Craig lightly touches my lower back as he holds open the door.
“Yeah. Long drive ahead of me.”
He walks too close and smiles again. “I’ll be up again soon. Maybe I’ll leave the friends at home this time, and you and I can just hang at the lodge for a day or two. Life here has been crazy, and I think you’re exactly what I need.”
I lean against my rental car. “Is that so?”
“You look so damn good.” He sighs as he faces me and then glances around the parking lot. It’s near lunch, and a lot of people are coming and going. “Wish I had some time.”
I shrug, trying to play cool, when I’m actually a little disappointed. A lot can be accomplished with ten minutes in a car, but maybe I don’t understand his job, and I definitely don’t want to come across as too needy. “Guess that means I’ll be seeing you.”
He runs a hand down my side. “Definitely.”
Just as he starts to move away, I take a pinch of his jacket, and in seconds he’s spun around, his mouth on mine. Intense, warm, and way too brief.
“Gotta run, beautiful.” His lips tease my neck as he speaks, making my knees weak enough for me to lean against my car.
Craig moves away, and I need to
“I was number five, Dad.” How can he not remember this? Or maybe since it’s a five and not a one, it’s not important. I’m not sure.
“Exactly!”
“I’ll be back on track soon.”
“You need to be.” He’s trying to agree with me. My dad agreeing with me is like him pushing me in the direction he thinks I’m headed with the subtlety of a bulldozer. It’s just as much my fault as it is his, because I let him do it. “Your brother is really making good strides at the firm.”
Does he add that to make conversation? Or to put the pressure on? “I know. He usually is. Keith is very driven.”
“Wait, does this have anything to do with a guy? This whole lodge thing?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Definitely not.” I think about hairy Jason and want to laugh. Oh wait. Craig. Maybe it could be a little bit about a guy.
“Well, you take care of yourself. You know I don’t like you so far away.” His voice is softer now.
“I know.”
“Love you, Dana Bear.”
“Love you, too.” I want to cry. I hit end, set the phone on the table, and slump down on the bench.
“You okay?” Jason asks behind me. So much for my theory of him not noticing me at the far table.
I jerk around to face him. “Great, yeah.” Why would he care anyway?
“Your dad?” His voice is quiet.
“Can I have a private conversation?” I stare. Sympathy from someone who doesn’t like me sort of sucks.
“Sorry, I just don’t really see you on the phone much and—”
“What?” I snap back. What is he implying? Is he implying something?
“Nothing. Sorry I asked.” His voice is still quiet. He turns and heads into the kitchen.
I grab my computer and head back to the land of the Twilight bedroom. I need a kickboxing class right now or something I can destroy. Instead I realize that I hear people coming in the front door downstairs. Crap. I check myself over in the mirror, put on my best smile, and head back down.
I’m Not James Bond, and I Don’t Like Being Followed
I step out of the grand jury room, shaken, but okay. No defendant or his family today. Just me telling my story so the prosecutor can file official charges or something. I’m still not sure how all this works. I scan the hallway for Craig.
He grins as our eyes catch. It’s exciting again to see him. It’s even more exciting because I have to play cool and can’t touch him while we’re here.
“I’m in the middle of work,” he says, “but I can at least walk you out.”
So nice to see him, only it seems like nothing’s happening between us today. All I can think about now is how I still have a two-hour drive, and then either Jason or Boz is going to have to come out to the parking lot so I can ride behind one of them to get back.
“You okay?” Craig lightly touches my lower back as he holds open the door.
“Yeah. Long drive ahead of me.”
He walks too close and smiles again. “I’ll be up again soon. Maybe I’ll leave the friends at home this time, and you and I can just hang at the lodge for a day or two. Life here has been crazy, and I think you’re exactly what I need.”
I lean against my rental car. “Is that so?”
“You look so damn good.” He sighs as he faces me and then glances around the parking lot. It’s near lunch, and a lot of people are coming and going. “Wish I had some time.”
I shrug, trying to play cool, when I’m actually a little disappointed. A lot can be accomplished with ten minutes in a car, but maybe I don’t understand his job, and I definitely don’t want to come across as too needy. “Guess that means I’ll be seeing you.”
He runs a hand down my side. “Definitely.”
Just as he starts to move away, I take a pinch of his jacket, and in seconds he’s spun around, his mouth on mine. Intense, warm, and way too brief.
“Gotta run, beautiful.” His lips tease my neck as he speaks, making my knees weak enough for me to lean against my car.
Craig moves away, and I need to
Similar Books
