Page 28 of Stealing Home

She sighs. “No, I’m glad you told me. You didn’t tell me anything I haven’t suspected for a while.”

“Are you okay?” She doesn’t sound okay.

“I’m working on it. Do me a favor, don’t let him know you saw. I told you we’d talk when you get back, but I might as well tell you now, I’m leaving him. I’ve been planning it for a week, but I thought it would be safer to do it when he was gone.”

Finally, I have the opening I need to ask her what I already know, but I want to hear her say it. “Are you afraid of him?”

She pauses too long, which in and of itself is my answer. “Yes,” she whispers.

I swallow. “Do you have a place to go? I’m sure you don’t want to stay with Wren and her family long term.” What I’m really wondering is if she plans to stay in Centralia. She doesn’t have family holding her there.

“I’ve got it all handled. Wren and her family will be here first thing tomorrow to get me moved. You don’t have to worry about me. Just don’t confront him. He’ll lash out and I know you won’t mean to, but you might let something slip in the heat of the moment. Trust me, I’ve done it many times. I need this weekend to get things set up.”

“I told you, if you need me, I’m there,” I tell her.

“You can’t miss your game to help me. I appreciate your offer to help me. Really, I do. You’re very tempting, hotshot, but I’m too old for you.”

“Gorgeous, you think too much. Maybe it’s time you lead with how you feel,” I say.

“You don’t even know me. Not really,” she whispers.

“Why do I feel like I know you better than most other people?” I’m being pushy, but I feel like I need to connect to her while she’s opening up to me.

“Hotshot, you’re dangerous for me. I,” she swallows, “I’m vulnerable right now, and you’re the first man to show me any kind of attention in a very long time.”

Well, shit. I don’t like the idea that the sparks I feel between us are only because I’m the first guy to really try and see her.

“Do you really believe that?”

“I don’t know, and that’s the problem, but it would be unfair of me to use you to find out.” At least she’s honest.

The idea of being used by her is a huge turn on. “What if I want you to?”

She laughs. “There’s got to be a lot of college girls your age throwing themselves at you constantly. Hell, I saw it with my own eyes. Why would you want a thirty-three-year-old woman who is in the process of filing for divorce? My life is beyond complicated right now, and just because I’m older doesn’t mean I’m going to live up to whatever fantasy you might have about being with an older woman. You’re probably more experienced than I am.”

“Highly doubtful,” I mumble.

“I haven’t had sex in over a year,” she blurts out then groans. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. You throw me off.”

If I tell her that I’m still technically a virgin, I’ll lose her. She wasn’t wrong about women throwing themselves at me, girls my age, grad students, the occasional professor, but what she doesn’t get is that there are men out there who aren’t just looking for a quick fuck. Then again, her husband is exactly that kind of man, and I fear worse.

“Harlow, let me take you to dinner. I can’t stop thinking about you, and I don’t think you’ve stopped thinking about me either. If nothing else it will take your mind off of everything going on with you right now.”

She sighs into the phone. “You don’t know how badly I want to take you up on that, but all I can handle right now is being friends.”

This is the moment I could lose her if I push too hard. “Friends is a good start. I’m not going to stop flirting with you though.”

“I’d be mad if you did,” she admits.

I gasp dramatically. “Did you just admit that you like me?” I’m being a clown, but if it makes her laugh it’s worth it.

“You’re incorrigible,” she grumbles.

“That’s still not a no,” I shoot back.

“Yeah, I guess you’re alright,” she mumbles.

“I’ll take it. I want to see you. If not dinner, let’s have coffee,” I suggest. “Friend’s have coffee, Harlow.”

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