chart.
“You should go home,” she said, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb her grandmother. Women were probably camped out on his doorstep.
“So should you,” he answered.
“But you’ve done far too much already. Really, you can leave. I’ll be fine.” Maybe then her pulse would stop red-lining like the tachometer on one of Duke’s race-car engines.
There wasn’t a single logical explanation for all the silly heart pounding and pulse racing going on, either. For heaven’s sake. Hadn’t she just been dumped by one more in a long line of lousy choices? She had absolutely no business getting all mushy inside just because Drew looked like a nice guy.
A nice guy who’d kissed her back when she’d been acting out the physical aspects of an erotic dream. Something he’d been kind enough to not mention.
See? A nice guy. Right there in front of you. Not all of them are big, stupid jerks .
She wasn’t buying it. Not from a guy that had far too many phone numbers, probably all on speed dial. If there was any truth to the rumor that nice guys did exist, then her heart wouldn’t be carrying around battle scars which proved otherwise. Even so, she barely managed to contain the sigh just dying to escape.
Given enough time, she thought cynically, big, stupid-malejerkdom would eventually find its way through all that charm and those sexy good looks. Forget his crowded voice mail box. She had her own history with men which practically demanded it.
“I have a better idea,” her grandmother said suddenly, taking Emily by surprise. A gentle smile and affection banked in her gaze took the bite out of her words. “Both of you go home so I can get some rest.”
Emily scooted to the edge of the chair and took her grandmother’s hand. “I’m sorry we woke you.”
Grandy made a swishing motion with her free hand. “You didn’t.” She turned her attention to Drew. “Inspector Perry, what are you doing here?”
Drew pushed out of the chair and came up to the opposite side of the bed. “Making sure you don’t start racing up and down the halls,” he said, turning on the charm.
Her grandmother blushed like a high-school freshman who’d finally been noticed by the senior hotshot. Emily didn’t quite know what to think about that. The last time she’d seen her grandmother blush had been when Emily had walked into the kitchen looking for a snack and had caught her grandparents sharing a passionate kiss. Grandy had been flustered and embarrassed, but not Pop. He’d grinned like a randy old fool. If it hadn’t been for her grandparents’ marriage, Emily might have given up completely on the idea of happily ever after. In the ten years since her grandfather’s passing, Velma Norris hadn’t so much as looked at another man, let alone blush because of some gentle teasing by a sweet-talking charmer.
“It’s going to be a few days before I’m ready for that race,” Grandy said, her voice surprisingly strong. She looked over at Emily. “I’ve gone and ruined your visit, haven’t I?”
“No, you haven’t,” Emily assured her. “And there’s no reason why we can’t visit right here until you’re released.”
Emily thought she felt her grandmother attempt to give her hand a squeeze, but the movement was so slight, she couldn’t be sure. Which only served to remind her that perhaps her grandmother wasn’t quite as strong as Emily wanted to believe.
“I want you to go home and get some rest. You look horrid, dear. You can come back in the morning, and when you do, please bring my address book. I need to find a substitute to take over my classes.”
“Grandy, don’t think about that now,” she chastised gently. “You’re supposed to concentrate on getting well.”
Drew pulled his beeper from his side.
“It’s my responsibility,” Grandy said in that determined way of hers that told Emily she’d be wasting her breath to argue. “Margo and Rita don’t have the time to take on extra
“You should go home,” she said, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb her grandmother. Women were probably camped out on his doorstep.
“So should you,” he answered.
“But you’ve done far too much already. Really, you can leave. I’ll be fine.” Maybe then her pulse would stop red-lining like the tachometer on one of Duke’s race-car engines.
There wasn’t a single logical explanation for all the silly heart pounding and pulse racing going on, either. For heaven’s sake. Hadn’t she just been dumped by one more in a long line of lousy choices? She had absolutely no business getting all mushy inside just because Drew looked like a nice guy.
A nice guy who’d kissed her back when she’d been acting out the physical aspects of an erotic dream. Something he’d been kind enough to not mention.
See? A nice guy. Right there in front of you. Not all of them are big, stupid jerks .
She wasn’t buying it. Not from a guy that had far too many phone numbers, probably all on speed dial. If there was any truth to the rumor that nice guys did exist, then her heart wouldn’t be carrying around battle scars which proved otherwise. Even so, she barely managed to contain the sigh just dying to escape.
Given enough time, she thought cynically, big, stupid-malejerkdom would eventually find its way through all that charm and those sexy good looks. Forget his crowded voice mail box. She had her own history with men which practically demanded it.
“I have a better idea,” her grandmother said suddenly, taking Emily by surprise. A gentle smile and affection banked in her gaze took the bite out of her words. “Both of you go home so I can get some rest.”
Emily scooted to the edge of the chair and took her grandmother’s hand. “I’m sorry we woke you.”
Grandy made a swishing motion with her free hand. “You didn’t.” She turned her attention to Drew. “Inspector Perry, what are you doing here?”
Drew pushed out of the chair and came up to the opposite side of the bed. “Making sure you don’t start racing up and down the halls,” he said, turning on the charm.
Her grandmother blushed like a high-school freshman who’d finally been noticed by the senior hotshot. Emily didn’t quite know what to think about that. The last time she’d seen her grandmother blush had been when Emily had walked into the kitchen looking for a snack and had caught her grandparents sharing a passionate kiss. Grandy had been flustered and embarrassed, but not Pop. He’d grinned like a randy old fool. If it hadn’t been for her grandparents’ marriage, Emily might have given up completely on the idea of happily ever after. In the ten years since her grandfather’s passing, Velma Norris hadn’t so much as looked at another man, let alone blush because of some gentle teasing by a sweet-talking charmer.
“It’s going to be a few days before I’m ready for that race,” Grandy said, her voice surprisingly strong. She looked over at Emily. “I’ve gone and ruined your visit, haven’t I?”
“No, you haven’t,” Emily assured her. “And there’s no reason why we can’t visit right here until you’re released.”
Emily thought she felt her grandmother attempt to give her hand a squeeze, but the movement was so slight, she couldn’t be sure. Which only served to remind her that perhaps her grandmother wasn’t quite as strong as Emily wanted to believe.
“I want you to go home and get some rest. You look horrid, dear. You can come back in the morning, and when you do, please bring my address book. I need to find a substitute to take over my classes.”
“Grandy, don’t think about that now,” she chastised gently. “You’re supposed to concentrate on getting well.”
Drew pulled his beeper from his side.
“It’s my responsibility,” Grandy said in that determined way of hers that told Emily she’d be wasting her breath to argue. “Margo and Rita don’t have the time to take on extra
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