Ryan leaned over Mia’s shoulder in the rec center. Her perfume drifted upward as if inviting him to move closer as it had for the last few hours of the orientation session. Or was it the memory of her stricken expression after returning from her meeting with David that tempted Ryan to give her a hug?
She wouldn’t tell him what had happened. Not that he really needed details. Her expression said it all. She was vulnerable right now. Hurting. In need of a friend, not an ex-boyfriend hitting on her. Worse yet, if he did ever hit on her, he had no plans to follow through. What kind of guy would that make him? Not a very ethical one for sure.
He needed to remove the temptation. He moved to the end of the table to perch on the corner. Made it look casual, not like he was running. But he knew he was and so did God.
Is that what You want me to do? Stop running? One of the reasons You brought Mia back here?
He shook his head. He had to pay attention to the job. “That last form is a release for the documentary.”
“What documentary?” She glanced up at him and then back at the paper.
“I thought I’d told you about that.”
“No.” She angled her body away from him.
Right. She didn’t trust him with anything. He had to explain. “With increased cuts in funding, I have to find new revenue sources to keep the program running. I hired a documentary crew to film this session, and I plan to use it in fundraising. Not the private counseling times, but group and wilderness activities. You probably won’t end up on video, but we need your permission just in case.”
“Fine by me.” She turned back to the form and trailed a finger down the page as she read.
He studied the top of her head. He’d loved her crazy red hair and wished she hadn’t changed it, but seemed as if she wanted to leave every bit of her past behind—including him. The natural color reminded him that a temper matching it lurked inside of her, and she was known to let it fly at times. Much the same way she had with him since she’d arrived. More than that, though, the memory of how easy it was to slide his fingers into the tangles and draw her close for a kiss pounded his brain.
He lurched to his feet and went to the other side of the table, feeling better having an obstacle between them.
Her cell lying on the table vibrated. She cast a wary glance at her phone. “It’s David. Mind if I take this?”
“Go ahead.” Ryan went to the window to find something to look at other than her. He listened to her side of the conversation. Apparently, David was inviting her to dinner that night, and she was trying to wriggle out of it.
Ryan opened the blinds and peered out over the lake. Sharp explosive cracks blasted through the air. Probably teens playing with firecrackers at one of the beaches. Such fireworks were illegal in Oregon, but that didn’t stop people from firing them off any more than his determination not to get involved with Mia had tamped down the fireworks between them.
Her resigned tone grabbed his interest, and he turned to look at her.
She massaged her forehead and sighed. “Let me check with Ryan.”
“David wants me to meet him for dinner at six. Will we be done in time?”
Ryan nodded.
“I can come,” she said into the phone, followed by another sigh. She listened for a few moments, her eyes closing like clenched fists and then reopening before she handed the cell to Ryan. “He wants to talk to you.”
Ryan took the phone. “David.”
“With all the crazy things happening around there,” David said. “I’m concerned about Mia being out at night by herself. Would you be willing to come to dinner with her?”
Ryan suppressed a groan. He didn’t need to be in her company for more time than absolutely necessary.
“I’d come pick her up myself, but I have a late appointment,” David continued. “Who knows what could happen if she was out at night alone.”
David was right. Of course he was. Ryan couldn’t let Mia go off on her own. He’d left Cara to stay at work alone at night to catch up on paperwork while he’d gone in for a double shift, and she’d died.
He wouldn’t risk Mia’s life too.
13
Mia took the phone from Ryan. His eyes were narrowed, and his breathing had deepened. She wanted to question David about his brief conversation with Ryan, but wouldn’t. Not with Ryan standing nearby.
She finalized her plans to go to dinner at her brother’s place and ended the conversation before facing Ryan. “So you’re coming to dinner tonight too?”
His head bobbed in one sharp nod, then he glanced at the clock. “Time for your session. I’ll get Eddie for you.” Ryan held her gaze, lingering like he didn’t want to leave before he took off for the door.
