Page 7 of Never Let Me Go

“She’s always trying to set me up with someone. It’s annoying mostly, but I know she loves me. Jilly wouldn’t let this thing go. She said I was too old not to have a date for Valentine’s Day...”

“Ah.”

He frowned. “What does that mean?”

Marisa shot him a sideways glance. “Nothing.”

“It didn’t sound like nothing.”

“I just think it’s funny your sister thinks you’re old.”

“You don’t?”

“No. From what I can tell, you’re in your prime.”

He blinked. “Are you flirting with me?” The blood in his veins began to pump harder.

She sniffed. “Don’t let your ego run away with you. Why would I flirt with a man who’s not my type?”

He felt his face burn. “Not your type? Holy hell, woman. We were all over each other that night. We could have set the bar on fire with the heat we generated. And you know it.”

That gold-sandaled foot started tapping again. “Possibly. But then again, maybe we both just wanted to get laid. Any port in a storm and all that.”

He rolled to his feet. “Get up,” he said. “Right now.”

Her face reflected alarm. “Why? Is the roof about to cave in?”

“Of course not. I’m going to kiss you again.”

“Oh, no,” she said. “We’re not going to play that game.”

He stared down at her, his hands in his pockets. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want you to kiss me.”

“Liar.”

Marisa didn’t protest when Jeff reached down, took her wrists and pulled her to her feet. The adrenaline burst generated by the tornado’s onslaught had faded, leaving her weak and shaky. She wanted and needed Jeff’s comfort. Among other things.

His body was big and strong. When he drew her into his arms, he smelled good. Really good. Good enough to distract her from the current nightmarish situation.

“How hot is it going to get?” she asked, hating that her voice wobbled. She didn’t want Jeff thinking she was a coward.

“Maybe not too bad,” he said. “The generator will keep the AC going. Unless the unit was crushed. But I still feel air flowing, so I’m hopeful.”

Finally, she asked the question that was bouncing around in her head. “How long do you think we’ll be here?”

His body tensed. She could feel it.

“Don’t lie to me,” she said quickly. “I’d rather know the truth.”

“Okay.”

She felt his fingers brush the back of her neck as he played with her ponytail.

“Jeff?”

He sighed. “The answer isI don’t know. But if the building did collapse, we could be stuck for some time. Rescue personnel will be looking for survivors. Often that means bringing in heavy equipment to move rubble. Several people know that I outfitted this walk-in safe as a storm cellar. Somebody will come for us. It’s only a question of how long...”

---