clouds, too fast to spend time sear

ian

dora apologized, steppi

earlier, but he looked as if he were thinking of putting it back on. Maybe he was mentally collecting his belongi

rmed, not sure why that i

have a n

rful with her. He t

t made no fur

ted her glass from the bar to buy time, but something

hing wron

it on the empty side of the settee. "W

le of his voice was mor

make audio instructions

er when you invited me to call you by your first name. Should I go back to calling you

glass shifted. "The boys ... the

ly they will

r as long as I can recall. He gave me

s companies. What is it yo

y in college and a ten-year-old in your care, but y

And Toni... I may act like her mother, but I'm no

ed moonlight reflecting in the crystal as

lled it with a finger of scotch. "

e her a questioning look that made her feel

her. "What are yo

e dropped to a rasp as her gaze latched onto his,

at it

y. Those eyes were hypnotic, especially when he looked directly in

ler on the table, and stood. She rose as well, the camaraderie they'd share

briated haze cocooning her mind. The unfamiliar imbalance was more t

panic and heat. Stay, she wanted to say, but something kept her quiet.

e tried to identify a time she'd ever felt so nervous in such a fulfilling way. She didn't typically favor anxiety, yet she coveted the feeling now,

on your evening," he said

sical jolt that convinced her something else w

pet, frantic to keep him there a while longer. She didn't want to be alone,

, what

n't know is a testame

e was a bad drunk, because his words

de. Something changed between them tonight. A sort of chemistry had evolved. She never felt this kind of attraction around him

elf, she stepped aside. "I'm sorry

What was she trying to get, a sympath

ust ... not appropriate for me to

She'd have to see him again and it was utterly humiliating to think he might assume she was some sad, desperate

se of inadequacy swallowed her. "I understan

ght, Is

. She didn't need to. She could feel his stare mea

ou need anything?

"Of c

eather-soled footfalls drifting almost s

resembled that of an adult, she never stopped feeling apart from the actual authority figures

he might have left, she wished desperately to erase the entire evening. She was not on his

not to return to her father's study anymore. Every time she left

t the wet bar and sat the glasse

voted, gasping as she found him still the

brow tense with lines of te

him in question. His jacket was behind