could be printed.”
Sean nodded and his eyes were blank, giving away nothing. She couldn’t tell if he still felt she’d used the kids’ life stories to further her career and was pissed about it or not.
“You worked hard on it,” he finally said politely. “You deserve success.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you check the article over before it goes to press, if Rossi decides to use it.” She accepted his diplomacy then changed the subject. “So, are you going to continue working toward your G.E.D.? Can I buy you textbooks?”
A frown creased his forehead then vanished. “I can get the materials I need at the library. No more loans. I already owe you too much.”
“Okay.” Megan would gladly have given him whatever he needed, but recognized his pride was hurt at accepting her help. “What kind of career do you want to pursue when you’re finished with your schoolwork?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What subject are you best at?”
“Math, I guess. It’s always been pretty easy for me.”
She nodded. “Lots of careers need a strong math background. That’s good.”
“What, are you my guidance counselor now?” His tone was sharp. “You gonna have me filling out career questionnaires next?”
“Sorry. I’m not trying to be invasive, but I wondered about your plans for your future.”
He set his fork down. “To stop leeching off you as soon as possible and find a place of my own.” His voice was hard.
Megan felt like she’d been slapped. Her lips tightened.
“Shit!” Sean pushed back from the table and stood up. “That didn’t come out right. I’m sorry. Again.” He picked up their plates and carried them over to the sink. “I just hate sponging off you. I’m used to depending on myself and I feel like a fucking charity case, eating your food, sleeping on your couch, pissing you off ‘cause I’m in your way.”
“Don’t.” Megan stood and crossed the kitchen to him. She touched his forearm, ignoring the heat that shot from her fingers up her arm. “I’m your friend. I want to help you, like I know you’d help me if I needed it.”
Sean’s intense eyes bored into hers. “Still makes me feel weak. I’ll start paying you now that I’ve got work.”
She nodded, too concerned about bruising his ego to refuse the money. “Absolutely. But take your time. Whenever you feel you can afford it.” Squeezing his arm, she added, “And it doesn’t matter if we fight sometimes. Roommates always do. It doesn’t mean I don’t like having you here.”
His face was only a few feet away, his sapphire eyes looking down into hers. Megan’s heart sped up as Sean’s gaze moved from her eyes to her mouth. He inclined his head slowly toward her, bridging the distance between them.
Her breath caught in her throat as she realized what was about to happen. Releasing his arm, she stepped back quickly. “All right then. That’s settled. Let’s tidy up the kitchen then kick back.”
As she finished clearing the table, Megan was intimately aware of Sean’s body moving around hers. The room was too small for them not to bump into each other now and then. It was like they were doing an intricate dance around one another, working in proximity while attempting to keep their distance.
They passed the rest of the evening watching television. Megan curled in her armchair with her laptop open, reworking her article. She was glad to have distraction of the TV as a buffer between them. It was hard to come home from a busy day of work and deal with the emotional turmoil of living with Sean. Part of her wished she’d never invited him to stay then cringed at her own selfishness.
But glancing over at him during a commercial break from C.S.I., her heart twisted in her chest. He’d fallen asleep on the couch, his long eyelashes fanned over his bruised cheekbones. His mouth was slightly slack and his lips looked so kissable…and vulnerable. How could she have thought for a second she’d done the wrong thing
Sean nodded and his eyes were blank, giving away nothing. She couldn’t tell if he still felt she’d used the kids’ life stories to further her career and was pissed about it or not.
“You worked hard on it,” he finally said politely. “You deserve success.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you check the article over before it goes to press, if Rossi decides to use it.” She accepted his diplomacy then changed the subject. “So, are you going to continue working toward your G.E.D.? Can I buy you textbooks?”
A frown creased his forehead then vanished. “I can get the materials I need at the library. No more loans. I already owe you too much.”
“Okay.” Megan would gladly have given him whatever he needed, but recognized his pride was hurt at accepting her help. “What kind of career do you want to pursue when you’re finished with your schoolwork?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What subject are you best at?”
“Math, I guess. It’s always been pretty easy for me.”
She nodded. “Lots of careers need a strong math background. That’s good.”
“What, are you my guidance counselor now?” His tone was sharp. “You gonna have me filling out career questionnaires next?”
“Sorry. I’m not trying to be invasive, but I wondered about your plans for your future.”
He set his fork down. “To stop leeching off you as soon as possible and find a place of my own.” His voice was hard.
Megan felt like she’d been slapped. Her lips tightened.
“Shit!” Sean pushed back from the table and stood up. “That didn’t come out right. I’m sorry. Again.” He picked up their plates and carried them over to the sink. “I just hate sponging off you. I’m used to depending on myself and I feel like a fucking charity case, eating your food, sleeping on your couch, pissing you off ‘cause I’m in your way.”
“Don’t.” Megan stood and crossed the kitchen to him. She touched his forearm, ignoring the heat that shot from her fingers up her arm. “I’m your friend. I want to help you, like I know you’d help me if I needed it.”
Sean’s intense eyes bored into hers. “Still makes me feel weak. I’ll start paying you now that I’ve got work.”
She nodded, too concerned about bruising his ego to refuse the money. “Absolutely. But take your time. Whenever you feel you can afford it.” Squeezing his arm, she added, “And it doesn’t matter if we fight sometimes. Roommates always do. It doesn’t mean I don’t like having you here.”
His face was only a few feet away, his sapphire eyes looking down into hers. Megan’s heart sped up as Sean’s gaze moved from her eyes to her mouth. He inclined his head slowly toward her, bridging the distance between them.
Her breath caught in her throat as she realized what was about to happen. Releasing his arm, she stepped back quickly. “All right then. That’s settled. Let’s tidy up the kitchen then kick back.”
As she finished clearing the table, Megan was intimately aware of Sean’s body moving around hers. The room was too small for them not to bump into each other now and then. It was like they were doing an intricate dance around one another, working in proximity while attempting to keep their distance.
They passed the rest of the evening watching television. Megan curled in her armchair with her laptop open, reworking her article. She was glad to have distraction of the TV as a buffer between them. It was hard to come home from a busy day of work and deal with the emotional turmoil of living with Sean. Part of her wished she’d never invited him to stay then cringed at her own selfishness.
But glancing over at him during a commercial break from C.S.I., her heart twisted in her chest. He’d fallen asleep on the couch, his long eyelashes fanned over his bruised cheekbones. His mouth was slightly slack and his lips looked so kissable…and vulnerable. How could she have thought for a second she’d done the wrong thing
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