Page 7 of Burned

She took a step back. “Whether I do or not, you wouldn’t figure into them.”

Perhaps it was a white black thing. He’d briefly dated a black woman before he married. The relationship had lasted for a few months before they parted as friends for no other reason than that they were heading in different directions in life. Though race wasn’t an important factor to him, Rhys knew it was for some people, particularly in a Southern state like this one.

“Is it because I’m white?” he asked with all joking aside.

Her eyes widened in apparent surprise. “No. Even if you were black I’d give you the same answer. It has nothing to do with you really, but I’m just…I’m not ready to date anyone right now.”

“Who was he?”

“What?”

“Who hurt you?”

She looked away as if she was trying to hide something and he instinctively knew he hit the nail on the head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do, but I won’t press. Look, Sadie, may I be frank with you?”

She shrugged. “I have a feeling you won’t leave me alone if I don’t allow you your say.”

He felt like shaking her but instead took a deep breath. How could one woman who enchanted him to the point of stalking her be so infuriating? “Sadie, I’ve been out of the dating scene for a while now. I had no intentions of getting involved with anyone either, but I saw you. I’m not saying you and I are going to have some grand passion but I’d like the chance to find out what it is between us. Perhaps I’m reading the situation wrong but I think you’re attracted to me too. Am I wrong?”

She crossed her arms over her chest not answering.

“You are aren’t you?” Rhys refused to let go of the subject.

“As I already pointed out, what woman wouldn’t be attracted to you?”

“But I’m only interested in what one woman thinks about me. You.”

“I…what do you want from me?” she repeated for the second time.

“Anything you’re willing to give me, but for now I’d settle for your company over some coffee. It’s a nice night. We can take a walk to Franklin Street and get a cup there.” When she looked as though she’d protest, he continued on. “Please, just coffee and I swear to you if after that you’re not interested in me, I’ll leave you alone. What do you have to lose?”

She gave him a long unwavering stare, her expression giving nothing away. Her lips were turned down into in a frown and he had the urge to kiss it away. If he didn’t think the attraction was returned he’d walk away right now, but he’d already confirmed that he was.

Finally, after releasing a heavy sigh, she nodded. “Okay. Just coffee but that’s it. Nothing more.” The sheer exasperation in her tone made it seem as if she was headed to prison to serve a particularly long sentence.

He grinned. “Try to keep your excitement contained.”

She shook her head with a smile. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a pain in the butt?”

Rhys widened his smile, enjoying her candor. “All the time.”

* * *

Sadie laughed until her sides hurt. Rhys was an absolute riot with his funny stories and anecdotes. After the first few tense minutes at the coffee shop, he put her at ease by telling her a corny joke. The pun itself hadn’t been that funny, but it was the delivery. They started to talk about work and his classes and what interested him about anthropology.

Anything remotely scientific should have bored the hell out of her, but Rhys had a way of relaying things in a way that kept her enthralled. She’d noticed that in his class as well. It was no wonder he seemed to be such a popular professor. Not only was he gorgeous and smart, he had a great sense of humor and didn’t seem to take himself too seriously as a lot of the staff who had several letters of distinction behind their surnames.

He seemed to be the total package which made her wonder what the catch was.

Rhys must have noticed her brief moment of uncertainty because he commented it. “Are you okay?”

She laughed a bit uneasily. “Yes, why do you ask?”

“You seemed a bit…I don’t know, uncomfortable. Did I say anything to offend you?”

“No. Of course not. It’s just…” Sadie shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

---