at Nightmare Hall?” a small, red-haired girl named Tina asked Ian. “Are you ready now to join the real world and move into an on-campus dorm?” Her lips curled in a coy smile. “We’d be glad to have you.”
I’ll just bet you would, Jess thought.
“It’s not that bad,” Ian said, avoiding Jess’s eyes. “The place sort of grows on you.”
The girl laughed. “Like fungus?”
“And the fishing’s great.”
“Ugh! Fishing? Boring! Sitting around putting worms on hooks is not my idea of a good time.”
A vision of the mass of moist, pink, creepy-crawling creatures slammed back into Jess’s mind so hard, her eyes closed and she was forced to lean back in her chair.
“Hey, you okay?” Ian grabbed for her hand.
“I need air.” And lots of it.
“Right. Let’s go.” There were protests from their friends, but Ian had thrown some money on the table and was already gently moving Jess to the door.
“Those girls at the table won’t invite me to join their sorority,” Jess joked weakly as they began the walk home. “They hate me for taking you away.”
Ian laughed. “A minor loss. They’ll get over it.”
I’m not sure I would, she thought, and was surprised. She really didn’t know him all that well. Since when did Jess-The-Cautious fall for someone she hardly knew?
That’s ridiculous, she corrected herself. I haven’t fallen for anyone.
He didn’t ask her what had upset her back in the restaurant. She guessed that he’d figured it out and didn’t want to bring up the subject again. Good thinking.
Instead, they talked about living away from home for the first time. Everyone at Nightingale Hall came from small towns around the area and could have, had they chosen to, made the trip back home in a couple of hours. It wasn’t as if they’d moved across the country.
“But we’re still on our own,” Ian said, “even if our folks aren’t that far away. I bummed around some last summer. Hopped on my Harley and went exploring. It was fun, and it showed me I could take care of myself.”
No wonder he seemed older, more self-confident than everyone else at Nightingale Hall. It wasn’t just his height or build or his long hair. It was because he’d already been on his own for a little while.
Jess was reluctant to go inside when they reached Nightingale Hall. Sensing her feelings, Ian sat down on the top step and pulled her down beside him.
Jess snuggled against his chest when he put an arm around her. She certainly wasn’t ready to go back to her room. Maybe she’d never be ready. Maybe she’d have to spend the rest of the year on the front porch.
If Ian would stay out here with her …
That seemed like an even better idea when he bent his head to kiss her.
Chapter 16
I AN PEELED CARROTS AT the sink the following night while Jess heated the huge pan of lasagna Maddie Carthew had brought, and Jon and Cath set the table. Milo returned from fishing with Trucker in tow.
So far, Trucker had had no luck finding keys for their doors.
Watching Ian work, Jess remembered the slimy pink creatures in her dresser drawer. A mental picture of Ian, a fishing pole over his shoulder, disappearing into the woods carrying a coffee-can filled with bait came, unbidden, into her mind. Then his face was replaced by Trucker’s, and then Milo’s.
No. Not them. They wouldn’t. The vandal didn’t have to be a fisherman, anyway. Maybe he’d just wanted it to look like one of them had done it.
Jess couldn’t stand suspecting Ian. Remembering his kisses, she shivered with pleasure and quickly moved to the refrigerator to collect lettuce and tomatoes. She’d much rather concentrate on the kisses. But the suspicions kept popping into her mind.
She stood at the open refrigerator door for a long time, lost in thought.
“You’re wise to keep an eye on it,” Ian said as he joined her. “Never can tell about large appliances. Sometimes they take off without a moment’s notice.”
When she failed
I’ll just bet you would, Jess thought.
“It’s not that bad,” Ian said, avoiding Jess’s eyes. “The place sort of grows on you.”
The girl laughed. “Like fungus?”
“And the fishing’s great.”
“Ugh! Fishing? Boring! Sitting around putting worms on hooks is not my idea of a good time.”
A vision of the mass of moist, pink, creepy-crawling creatures slammed back into Jess’s mind so hard, her eyes closed and she was forced to lean back in her chair.
“Hey, you okay?” Ian grabbed for her hand.
“I need air.” And lots of it.
“Right. Let’s go.” There were protests from their friends, but Ian had thrown some money on the table and was already gently moving Jess to the door.
“Those girls at the table won’t invite me to join their sorority,” Jess joked weakly as they began the walk home. “They hate me for taking you away.”
Ian laughed. “A minor loss. They’ll get over it.”
I’m not sure I would, she thought, and was surprised. She really didn’t know him all that well. Since when did Jess-The-Cautious fall for someone she hardly knew?
That’s ridiculous, she corrected herself. I haven’t fallen for anyone.
He didn’t ask her what had upset her back in the restaurant. She guessed that he’d figured it out and didn’t want to bring up the subject again. Good thinking.
Instead, they talked about living away from home for the first time. Everyone at Nightingale Hall came from small towns around the area and could have, had they chosen to, made the trip back home in a couple of hours. It wasn’t as if they’d moved across the country.
“But we’re still on our own,” Ian said, “even if our folks aren’t that far away. I bummed around some last summer. Hopped on my Harley and went exploring. It was fun, and it showed me I could take care of myself.”
No wonder he seemed older, more self-confident than everyone else at Nightingale Hall. It wasn’t just his height or build or his long hair. It was because he’d already been on his own for a little while.
Jess was reluctant to go inside when they reached Nightingale Hall. Sensing her feelings, Ian sat down on the top step and pulled her down beside him.
Jess snuggled against his chest when he put an arm around her. She certainly wasn’t ready to go back to her room. Maybe she’d never be ready. Maybe she’d have to spend the rest of the year on the front porch.
If Ian would stay out here with her …
That seemed like an even better idea when he bent his head to kiss her.
Chapter 16
I AN PEELED CARROTS AT the sink the following night while Jess heated the huge pan of lasagna Maddie Carthew had brought, and Jon and Cath set the table. Milo returned from fishing with Trucker in tow.
So far, Trucker had had no luck finding keys for their doors.
Watching Ian work, Jess remembered the slimy pink creatures in her dresser drawer. A mental picture of Ian, a fishing pole over his shoulder, disappearing into the woods carrying a coffee-can filled with bait came, unbidden, into her mind. Then his face was replaced by Trucker’s, and then Milo’s.
No. Not them. They wouldn’t. The vandal didn’t have to be a fisherman, anyway. Maybe he’d just wanted it to look like one of them had done it.
Jess couldn’t stand suspecting Ian. Remembering his kisses, she shivered with pleasure and quickly moved to the refrigerator to collect lettuce and tomatoes. She’d much rather concentrate on the kisses. But the suspicions kept popping into her mind.
She stood at the open refrigerator door for a long time, lost in thought.
“You’re wise to keep an eye on it,” Ian said as he joined her. “Never can tell about large appliances. Sometimes they take off without a moment’s notice.”
When she failed
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