Page 232
Cal puts a hand at the small of my back and guides me toward the door. Behind us, Mabel calls, “Bea?”
I turn. She peers at me over the top of her glasses.
“Thank you for teaching him anatomy.”
My cheeks heat instantly. Cal makes a choking sound beside me.
Mabel smiles sweetly and looks back down at her book.
“Oh my God,” Cal mutters, pushing me into the corridor.
The door closes behind us.
I look at him.
He looks at me.
And for two seconds, we both manage to keep straight faces.
Then I start laughing.
* * *
The elevator doors close and I’m still laughing.
“Your aunt is terrifying.”
Cal presses the button for the lobby. “She’s not too bad, once you get to know her.”
“I learned a lot.”
“Yeah? What did you learn?”
“That she likes me.” I grin.
The elevator starts moving.
“She’d be crazy not to.” He steps closer to me.
His jaw tightens.
The elevator suddenly feels considerably smaller.
“Bea, I’ve not stopped thinking of you.” His voice is low. Rough around the edges.
My body reacts to it with humiliating speed.
His large hands come either side of me, trapping me.
I know exactly what those hands feel like.
I know what his mouth feels like.
I know what happens when that particular look in his eyes gets darker.
And God, I have missed it all.
The doors open and he steps back, clearing his throat.