Trinity Falls by Regina Hart Page A

the early morning, too? A ghost of a smile touched his full, sexy lips.
    â€œWhat are you thinking about?” Her question startled her. Why had she asked him that?
    â€œThe past. The path hasn’t changed much, except for these lamps.” He gestured toward a tree root. “I twisted my ankle on that once, before I learned to hop over it.”
    â€œThe town hasn’t changed much.” Megan returned her attention to the trail. “People come and eventually go. They rarely return.”
    â€œIs that a not-so-subtle reference to my homecoming?”
    â€œMaybe.” Megan’s fingers trembled to smooth his thick, arched brow and wipe the sweat from his forehead. She fisted her hands.
    â€œThe bookstore’s changed. A lot.”
    â€œIt needed to be modernized and expanded to survive.”
    â€œRamona’s changed, too. Business and politics had never held much interest for her.”
    Megan struggled again with contradictory feelings for Ramona as mayor: pride that her cousin had accepted the responsibility when no one else would; relief that the town was better off now than it had been three years ago; frustration that Ramona was bullying the town into changes only she seemed to want.
    Megan used the back of her wrist to wipe sweat from her upper lip. “And yet she’s launched her interior-design company and is running the town.”
    Ean’s long strides picked up. Megan maintained her pace. Maybe his increased speed would carry him away from her.
    Ean wiped the sweat from his chin. “I remember you following your grandparents around the bookstore. It was as though you were grooming yourself to take over for them. Did you major in business?”
    Megan bit back a groan as Ean again adjusted his stride to hers. “I had a double major in business and accounting from the University of Illinois.”
    Ean’s brows knitted. “Illinois is a good school. Ramona hadn’t mentioned that you’d gone to college out of state. I assumed you’d gone to Trinity Falls University, just as she had.”
    â€œI got a scholarship.” With a wealth of relief, Megan nodded toward an old, curved tree several yards ahead on their left. “This is where I turn back. Enjoy the rest of your run.”
    â€œI’ll join you.” Ean’s response was swift.
    â€œThat’s not necessary.” Megan declined his offer just as quickly.
    â€œIt’s still dark. I can’t leave you to jog home alone. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.”
    His words weakened her resistance. She fought hard not to give in. “Don’t cut your run short on my account. I’ll be fine.”
    â€œI can come back to the park after I take you home.” And then he flashed his wicked grin. Deep dimples creased his cheeks. Hypnotic lights danced in his olive eyes.
    Megan blushed at the direction her thoughts took. “All right. Thank you.”
    They arrived at the tree with Megan just a half step behind Ean. In silence, they circled it, then jogged back the way they’d come.
    Megan glanced at Ean’s strong, chiseled profile. Sweat molded the gray T-shirt to his pectorals. Her brain cells leaked from her ears. She kicked up her speed, anxious to end this torture.
    Ean’s voice broke the uncomfortable silence. “What hobbies do you have besides jogging?”
    â€œWhy are you asking so many personal questions?” She tossed him a cheeky grin. “Are you going to ask my sign next? My favorite color?”
    Ean laughed. “I only want to get to know you better.”
    Her stomach seemed to drop. “What are your hobbies?”
    Ean was silent for a moment. “I don’t think I have any others. In New York, all I did was work and run.”
    She was angry for him. That wasn’t a life. “Reading. I like to read.”
    His chuckle strummed the muscles in her lower abdomen. “Your face