from the
radio. “Would you like me to put some of that screaming rock on for
you?” Ethan offered, clearly remembering how she’d said that
soothed her.
“No, this is fine.” She dropped her head back
against the seat. “But thanks.”
Even with the music in the background, the
car was filled with stifling silence as he drove her home. Danielle
decided she couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, and pleaded,
“Please tell me what’s going on.”
He glanced at her from under his
lashes, continuing to avoid direct eye contact. That was driving her crazy, and she lashed out
with more questions. “Why do you do that? Why won’t you make eye
contact? Why do I get dizzy when you do? Why do I feel like we’ve
met before? And how did you block that lamppost without breaking
your arm?” It all spilled out in a rush.
Ethan remained silent, his jaw forming a hard
line, his mouth tightening.
“Ethan, please,” she begged, her fingers
fisting into her hair with frustration.
He cursed to himself and spoke, “Tomorrow.
I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. I meant to tell you. I
just—”
“No! Please tell me now. I need to know,” she implored,
dropping her hands, tossing a look his way as she shoved her
chilled fingers under her thighs.
“No,” he said, then after a loaded pause,
“Danielle, I’ll tell you tomorrow. I promise.” His voice had
softened, but his features remained hard.
I want to know
now , she thought angrily, and asked, “Can’t you just
tell me a little?”
Another heavy pause.
“I believe we have met before.”
“Where?”
Drawing in a measured breath, his nostrils
flared. “I need you to trust me just a little longer. I can’t tell
you now because there are things I need to show you.” When she
opened her mouth to argue, he held up one hand. “I can’t show you
those things now either. I just can’t. I know you have a lot of
questions, but we just don’t have time for the answers tonight. I’m
begging you, Danielle, please wait.”
The intensity of his plea made her realize
some of what he might be feeling right now. She took in his
expression again and realized he was afraid she’d reject him when
she knew. It couldn’t be that bad, could it? He’d never done
anything to hurt her, he’d always been a perfect gentleman, and she
highly doubted she was in any danger now either—mainly because he’d
just saved her from harm a second time.
Deciding to allow him this concession, and
pleased that he’d promised to tell her, even if she did have to
wait, she exhaled and nodded.
Her thoughts went over the events of the
evening and wandered back to Lucas. Was he stalking her? If he was,
then why? Realizing she owed Ethan her life, Danielle leaned toward
him, hesitated when he looked at her from under his lashes again,
then—deciding she should just do it—she planted one kiss upon his
cheek. “Thanks for stopping Lucas again, and thanks for the hot
chocolate.”
A tiny smile pulled at one corner of his
lips. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow, early again, at nine. Be
ready.”
“I will be.” Danielle mused quietly for a
moment…. But there was one more question niggling at her and she
needed to ask tonight. “Ethan, may I ask one more question?”
“That was a question.”
Startled, she shot a look at him and realized
by his smirk that he was teasing. “You know what I mean.” She
rolled her eyes.
“Very well, what is it?”
“Why did you run?” she asked gently.
He sighed, but spoke after a short pause. “I
caused quite a scene back there. I’ve never done anything like that
before. Luckily no one was injured. They’re going to have a time of
it trying to figure out how that lamppost wound up in the street.
And I didn’t want to be interrogated by the police.”
“How did you know I was there? How did you
know Lucas—?”
“That’s more than one question. I promise, I
will tell you tomorrow.”
She sighed. “Okay.”
* * * * *
When
radio. “Would you like me to put some of that screaming rock on for
you?” Ethan offered, clearly remembering how she’d said that
soothed her.
“No, this is fine.” She dropped her head back
against the seat. “But thanks.”
Even with the music in the background, the
car was filled with stifling silence as he drove her home. Danielle
decided she couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, and pleaded,
“Please tell me what’s going on.”
He glanced at her from under his
lashes, continuing to avoid direct eye contact. That was driving her crazy, and she lashed out
with more questions. “Why do you do that? Why won’t you make eye
contact? Why do I get dizzy when you do? Why do I feel like we’ve
met before? And how did you block that lamppost without breaking
your arm?” It all spilled out in a rush.
Ethan remained silent, his jaw forming a hard
line, his mouth tightening.
“Ethan, please,” she begged, her fingers
fisting into her hair with frustration.
He cursed to himself and spoke, “Tomorrow.
I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. I meant to tell you. I
just—”
“No! Please tell me now. I need to know,” she implored,
dropping her hands, tossing a look his way as she shoved her
chilled fingers under her thighs.
“No,” he said, then after a loaded pause,
“Danielle, I’ll tell you tomorrow. I promise.” His voice had
softened, but his features remained hard.
I want to know
now , she thought angrily, and asked, “Can’t you just
tell me a little?”
Another heavy pause.
“I believe we have met before.”
“Where?”
Drawing in a measured breath, his nostrils
flared. “I need you to trust me just a little longer. I can’t tell
you now because there are things I need to show you.” When she
opened her mouth to argue, he held up one hand. “I can’t show you
those things now either. I just can’t. I know you have a lot of
questions, but we just don’t have time for the answers tonight. I’m
begging you, Danielle, please wait.”
The intensity of his plea made her realize
some of what he might be feeling right now. She took in his
expression again and realized he was afraid she’d reject him when
she knew. It couldn’t be that bad, could it? He’d never done
anything to hurt her, he’d always been a perfect gentleman, and she
highly doubted she was in any danger now either—mainly because he’d
just saved her from harm a second time.
Deciding to allow him this concession, and
pleased that he’d promised to tell her, even if she did have to
wait, she exhaled and nodded.
Her thoughts went over the events of the
evening and wandered back to Lucas. Was he stalking her? If he was,
then why? Realizing she owed Ethan her life, Danielle leaned toward
him, hesitated when he looked at her from under his lashes again,
then—deciding she should just do it—she planted one kiss upon his
cheek. “Thanks for stopping Lucas again, and thanks for the hot
chocolate.”
A tiny smile pulled at one corner of his
lips. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow, early again, at nine. Be
ready.”
“I will be.” Danielle mused quietly for a
moment…. But there was one more question niggling at her and she
needed to ask tonight. “Ethan, may I ask one more question?”
“That was a question.”
Startled, she shot a look at him and realized
by his smirk that he was teasing. “You know what I mean.” She
rolled her eyes.
“Very well, what is it?”
“Why did you run?” she asked gently.
He sighed, but spoke after a short pause. “I
caused quite a scene back there. I’ve never done anything like that
before. Luckily no one was injured. They’re going to have a time of
it trying to figure out how that lamppost wound up in the street.
And I didn’t want to be interrogated by the police.”
“How did you know I was there? How did you
know Lucas—?”
“That’s more than one question. I promise, I
will tell you tomorrow.”
She sighed. “Okay.”
* * * * *
When
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