Beyond Affection (3 page)

Shane heard the man clearly, and bristled at the possessive warning tone in his voice.  His mind brought up the image from the re-zoning hearing, and somehow he knew it was the same man.

“That’s really none of your business,” Lacie said, politely but firmly, her cheeks pinkening a bit in either embarrassment or annoyance, maybe a little of each.  “And I’ll be fine.  Go to bed, Craig.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”  She disconnected the call and sighed.

“I’m sorry,” she said to Shane as she began to pile the remains of sugar packets and creamers on the tray.  “I didn’t realize it was so late.  I really should be going.  Thanks for the coffee and the donut, as well as your company.  This was really nice.”

He didn’t like the shadow that darkened her pretty face.  “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” she smiled unconvincingly. 

“An ex?” he prompted, pressing where he knew he had not yet earned the right.  Normally he was not one to push, but he could not help himself.

“No,” she said quickly.  “Nothing like that.  More like an overprotective big brother.”

Maybe to her, Shane thought, but his instincts told him the caller saw things a bit differently.  It was something that would have to be investigated in greater detail, but that was for a later time.  One when she was not looking up at him with those big blue eyes and their time together was drawing to such a swift and unwelcome close.

“You’re safe with me,” he said softly.

Oh, the look she gave him!  He would remember that look - hope mixed with a touch of wonder.  Anticipation and something else, something strong and feral, bubbled in his veins. 

“Yes.”  A simple affirmation, but one that he felt all through his body.  Did she feel it, too, he wondered?  That connection that was already forming between them?

He smiled, forcing his hands into his pockets to keep from sliding his fingers into that silken mass and kissing her, erasing every other man from her memory.  “I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed an evening so much,” he said truthfully.

“Doesn’t say much for your social life,” she teased, but he could tell that she was pleased. 

“I can say the same of yours,” he countered, his eyes twinkling.

“I don’t know,” she mused, “I think I definitely got the better end of the deal.”  She stood, tossing her backpack over one shoulder.  Shane picked up the tray and followed her toward the door, falling into step beside her as they walked toward the commuter parking lot.  Perhaps he should have asked if she minded the escort, but it didn’t matter.  He was not going to let her walk through the campus alone this late at night. 

She stopped at a little silvery blue VW Passat, not one of the later models but in relatively good condition.  Shane opened the door for her and glanced inside.  The interior was clean, but somewhat untidy.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said, following his gaze to the piles of paperwork and boxes of arts and craft supplies.  “But believe it or not, I know where everything is.  Every time I try to organize things I lose them indefinitely.”

His lips curled into a smile.  “Fair enough.”  By nature, he was a very neat, organized person.  He could definitely use a little disorder in his life, especially if it came in the form of a certain blonde school teacher that smelled like spring flowers. 

“May I call you sometime?” he asked, leaning against the car as she fastened her seat belt.

Her grin lit a fire in his chest.  “I’d like that.”  A simple, honest answer, he thought with definite pleasure.  So much of his life was based on secrets and deception, games of words and acts meant to hide the truth.  He glanced again at her eyes, sweeping across her facial expression.  Her body language was somewhat relaxed, comfortable, but he couldn’t help but notice the slightly nervous tap of her finger against the steering wheel.  Not scared, but... a little excited, perhaps?  Yeah, he’d take that.

She recited her mobile number, thanked him again, and wished him a good night.

L
acie drove home without incident, a pleasantly warm, tingling feeling throughout her body, a contented smile on her face.  Though it had started off badly, it ended up being a fine evening.  Shane had been wonderful company, easily the best date she’d ever had, even though they’d done nothing more than talk over coffee. 

It was a pleasant surprise.  Usually men who looked like he did had egos the size of Texas, but he was nothing like that.  He was down-to-earth and so easy to talk to.

He’d seemed to enjoy himself, too, though since she could literally count the number of dates she’d had on one hand, she was no expert.  Not that it was technically a date, but she’d never felt so instantly at ease with anyone before.  Well, perhaps “at ease” wasn’t the proper phrase.  There were parts of her that had flared to life and remained fired up throughout the evening.

Besides being extremely handsome, he was also smart and funny, attentive and a perfect gentleman.  He hadn’t even attempted to kiss her goodnight. 

She had mixed feelings about that. Her cautious nature appreciated his self-restraint, but there were other parts that were more than a little curious about what it would be like to kiss him after secretly fantasizing about it half the night.  It was impossible
not
to think about it while sitting across from him, looking into his beautiful, masculine face, listening to that velvety voice, smelling that clean, sexy scent that seemed to cling to his body. 

Lacie shook her head and focused on the road.  What the heck was wrong with her?  She wasn’t the crushing type.  She didn’t gawk over good-looking men (okay, maybe sometimes she did, but only discreetly), and was a firm believer in establishing compatibility before even thinking about progressing to something more.

Shane Callaghan, apparently, was a glaring exception to her usual rules, because she
was
crushing, they were obviously compatible, and she was thinking some very physical thoughts.

It was a constant battle back and forth for the five mile drive, but her propriety eventually won out.  By the time she pulled into her complex, she decided she was glad he hadn’t tried to kiss her.  Not only did it indicate that he was a gentleman, but it also hinted that he might be interested in something more than a good time.  Not to mention it was already increasing her anticipation for when he did eventually kiss her, assuming that things did progress to that point, of course.

She tried not to get her hopes up.  Yes, he had asked for her number, but that didn’t mean he would call.  She hoped he did, though.  After only a few hours with him she knew she would be terribly disappointed if he didn’t.

“Lacie.”  The voice startled her, making her jump.  She whipped around, accidentally pushing the car door closed before she could get her hand completely out of the way.  She bit back a cry and extracted her hand, flexing it experimentally.  Nothing seemed to be broken, but it would be sore tomorrow and she’d probably have to tape it up.  It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Craig, you scared me half to death!  What are you doing out here?”

“Making sure you got home safely,” he said without apology.  His eyes scanned her head to toe.  Though he was no longer in the Army, he chose to keep his blonde hair shaved close to the scalp in military fashion and still wore his tags beneath the Army-green T stretched across his muscular frame.  “Let me see your hand.”

She ignored his request, reaching in the car with her other hand to grab her backpack.  He took it from her, tossing it carelessly to the ground while grasping her forearm.  She pulled it away, irritated.  Ever since he’d come back from overseas he’d been especially protective.  Brian had always looked out for her as her big brother, and as Brian’s best friend, Craig had been right there with him, so it hadn’t been a total surprise when Craig simply picked up where he’d left off.  Maybe it was his way of dealing with Brian’s MIA status, too, which was understandable, but at the moment it was pissing her off.  They weren’t kids anymore, and she didn’t need a keeper.

“Come on, let me take care of that for you,” he said.

“I’m fine,” she said through clenched teeth, partly out of annoyance and partly from the painful throb along the back of her hand.  She pulled it back out of his grasp, sucking air at the sudden stab that resulted from it.

“Stop being so stubborn.  We need to ice that up before it swells.”

“No,” she said, picking up her bag and pushing past him.  “That’s what
I
need to do. 
You
need to go back to your own apartment and stop treating me like a child.”

He trailed closely behind, invading her personal space.  “I will when you stop acting like one.”

She increased her pace, not stopping until she reached her door.  Craig snatched the keys from her hand to unlock it.  Ignoring her protests, he followed her inside and went right to the freezer.  He pulled out a bag of frozen peas and put it on her hand. 

Lacie sighed, too tired to fight.  In their lifetimes they’d replayed some version of this scenario a hundred times, and he always won.  Besides, she was in too good of a mood to let Craig’s antics dampen her spirits.

“Who was he?” Craig asked, pulling open the cabinet that was so well stocked with medical supplies.  As a joke, everyone in her family bought her first-aid kits for her last birthday, given her proclivity toward accidents.  It was proving to be more practical than she would have liked, especially since Craig had moved across the hall. 

“Who?”  It was immature on her part, perhaps, but if he was going to accuse her of acting like a child, she would oblige him.

He shot her a look that told her, without a doubt, that he was not amused.  “Don’t make me have to find out on my own, Lacie, because I will.”

Yes, he probably would, she thought, and he wouldn’t be subtle about it.  Craig knew everyone in town and had a way of ferreting out information that was downright scary sometimes.  By telling him herself, she might avoid being the topic of a few local inquiries. 

“Shane Callaghan,” she said, wincing when he pulled the tape tight around her hand.  The name obviously struck a chord, judging by the way her hand was folding inside his strong grip.  The slight ache turned into a sharp pain; she made a noise of protest until he let up. 

“What the hell were you doing with him?”

“Having coffee,” she said with a scowl, snatching back her hand and trying unsuccessfully to flex it.  “He guest lectured for Professor Stevens tonight.  I fell asleep in his class.”

Despite his ire, one side of Craig’s mouth twitched.  “You fell asleep in his class?  Did you drool on the desk, too?”

“Afraid so.  He had a heck of a time waking me up.  Apparently I slept well past the end of the lecture and the janitor was about to lock me in.”  Some of the tension drained from Craig’s face as he actually cracked a tiny smile.  “He asked me if I was okay to drive, I said I was going to grab some coffee, and he said that sounded like a good idea.  End of story.” 

She didn’t go into any more detail than that, shrugging it off as if it meant nothing.  To admit to anything more would get Craig’s protective hackles up.  Besides, she didn’t know if it would amount to anything.  She certainly hoped it did.  And if so, she would deal with Craig then.  She’d learned to pick her battles with him.

“That’s it?” he asked, finishing up the wrap and stepping back.

“That’s it.  Satisfied?”

He stared at her for a long minute as if trying to decide if she were telling him the truth, then nodded.  “I worry about you, Lace.  You’re too trusting.  Any number of guys would take advantage of that.”

She nodded, though she disagreed.  She did not consider herself unreasonably trusting, nor did she think Shane Callaghan was the type of man to take advantage of anyone, but she held her tongue.  Craig was finally calming down, and she didn’t want to get him riled again.

“Thanks, Craig,” she said, trying to stifle a yawn.  “But I’m really beat, and I’m afraid that caffeine rush is over.  I’ve got school tomorrow.”

“Alright, babe.  I’m out of here.  Lock the door behind me, yeah?”

“I will.”

“’Night, Lace.” 

“Goodnight, Craig.”

With a sigh of relief, Lacie closed the door behind him, engaging the deadbolt as well as the chain.  She exchanged the thawing bag of peas for a wrap-around ice pack and shuffled toward the bedroom, where she peeled off her clothes and slipped between the sheets, not even bothering with the effort of pajamas.  Her head barely hit the pillow when her cell chimed softly.  She looked at the display, frowning when the caller id showed up as “withheld”. 

Who the heck would be calling her at this hour?  Curiosity got the best of her.  “Hello?”

“Lacie?  Did I wake you?”  Shane’s voice flowed fluidly through the phone and into her skin.  It was bad enough when she was fully clothed and in a public café, but now that she was naked between her sheets in the darkness it was downright erotic.

“No, I was just crawling into bed.”

There was a momentary pause before he asked, “I suppose it would be improper for me to ask what you’re wearing?”

If anyone else had said those words to her after knowing her for only a few hours she would have made a very rude comment and hung up on him.  But this was Shane, and she could hear the teasing in his voice.  Once again, he was an exception to her usual rules.  She chuckled.  “Very.”

“Right.  I’ll just use my imagination then.”

“You do that.” 

He laughed, confirming her belief that he was having fun with her and was not a complete pervert.

“I know there’s some protocol for exactly how long a man should wait before calling when a woman gives him her number, but I’ll readily admit to being woefully ignorant of such things and hope that you find my confession adorably honest enough to let me slide.  Would you please have dinner with me this Friday, Lacie?”

The warmth that had sparked at the first sound of his voice now blossomed from the very core of her being, filling her with a sensation she found both intensely pleasing and exciting.  “I would very much like to have dinner with you this Friday, Shane,” she said without hesitation.