Love's Image by Debby Mayne Page A

a little. He hated that he had to let go of her in order to get the door.
     
    Janie pulled up at the exact moment that they reached the edge of the sidewalk. “You sure you wanna do this?” Janie asked.
     
    “Positive. Go on back inside and finish the Bible study. I’ll take her back to her place and make sure she’s okay before I leave.”
     
    “Thanks, Judd.” Janie smiled at him in appreciation. “You’re a good guy. No, make that a
great
guy.” She leaned over and snapped Shannon’s seat belt into place, then slammed the car door shut.
     
    Judd cringed at the harsh sound, until he glanced over and saw that it hadn’t fazed Shannon.
     
    Once Judd was buckled in, he turned back to Shannon. He was surprised to see her staring at him, a half-smile on her lips.
     
    “Feeling better?” he asked.
     
    She nodded. “A little.”
     
    He offered a few minutes of silence to let her recover and regroup. Her ordeal had taken its toll on her in a big way. Although he knew he couldn’t be beside her every minute of every day, he wanted to help her as much as possible right now.
     
    “Wanna hear some music?” he asked. Maybe that would drown out outside noises and help her relax.
     
    “Sure. That’s fine.”
     
    Judd turned on the radio and pushed the button he had tuned to the contemporary Christian music station. The sounds of a heavy metal band blasted through the car.
     
    Shannon flinched. He quickly hit the PO WER button and silenced it.
     
    “Sorry.”
     
    She managed a weak smile. “You didn’t know. What kind of music is that?”
     
    “Christian rock, believe it or not.”
     
    “Amazing.”
     
    When Judd pulled up to a stop sign, he took the opportunity to study her in the light of the streetlamp. Good. Her hands weren’t shaking anymore, and her eyes didn’t have that glazed look.
     
    When they reached her apartment complex, he pulled into a parking spot and instructed her to stay put so he could walk her to her door. This time she was much steadier on her feet, but he didn’t let go, just in case.
     
    She had the presence of mind to dig in her purse and have her key ready before getting out of the car. He stood, feeling rather awkward, while she unlocked her door. What should he do now? Leave her alone and risk something happening to her, or ask if he could come in?
     
    Holding the door open, Shannon turned around and touched him on the arm.
     
    “Would you like to come inside?”
     
    “I, uh … “
     
    “Please?” Her one simple plea turned him inside-out. “Are you sure?”
     
    “I insist. Come on in, and I’ll fix you a cup of chamomile tea.”
     
    “Okay, I’ll come in, but let me fix the tea. You lie down on the couch.”
     
    Shannon snickered. “Such a caregiver. Not many guys are like that.”
     
    “Well, I am a teacher, and I’m used to watching after children.”
     
    The instant he said that, he knew it was a mistake. Her eyebrows shot up.
     
    “I’m not a child,” she said firmly.
     
    “No,” he said, trying to think of the best way to backpedal. “I didn’t mean it like it sounded. What I meant was …”
     
    “No, don’t explain. I understand.”
     
    “You do?”
     
    “Yes. I’m always sticking my foot in my mouth, so I know how things can come out completely wrong.”
     
    Judd couldn’t believe she was being so nice about his stupid comment. “At the risk of sounding insensitive, let me get the tea started.”
     
    Shannon tilted her head back and belted out a hearty laugh. He felt a joyous sensation coursing through him at the sound of her happiness. She was doing much better than she had been back at the church.
     
    “That’s not insensitive at all,” she said. “In fact, I find you to be a very sensitive man.”
     
    “Sensitive, but strong,” he said, playfully flexing a muscle.
     
    “Oh, yes, of course. Very strong. Macho, in fact.”
     
    “Let’s not get too carried away. We don’t want this to go to my