Page 31 of Bryce

“Am I?”

*****

She went for a walk.Parking the car at the brow of the hill, she made her way up therise, her thoughts in a turmoil. Sandra was right. She was brutallyhonest, a trait she had not inherited from her parents.

They were used tobeing cagey and evading the truth, even when it was right in front ofher. But she had vowed that she would not be like that. She valuedhonesty above everything else.

And if one could notbe honest with oneself, then what good was anything else?

Stopping at thetowering oak tree, she inhaled the fresh scent of nature. This washer home, and she was content, was she not? Picking up a smoothstone, she hurled it into the bushes.

Of all the places inthe entire universe, why did he have to come to hers? She had beencontented before he came. Going about her business as usual. Theremight not have been any spark with William, and she never would havemarried him, but at least he made her feel safe.

Safe? The termsstruck her as odd. Was that what she wanted?

Yes! The voiceshouted inside her head. After the turmoil of her childhood, shewanted some calm, some quiet. That’s why this place suited herso well.

She was done withdrama. She certainly did not need it in her life. And Bryce Whitlockwas drama on a very wide scale. She did not need any of it. Besides,he was a movie star who would be going back to his world very soon.It would be foolish of her to wish…

She stopped abruptlyand pressed one hand where her heart was beating wildly. Wish thatshe could feel his lips on hers again? His body, that lean muscularframe moving against hers…

Stop it!” Sheshouted. “Just stop. What the hell are you thinking? Are youinsane?”

“Great. Now Iam talking to myself.” The chill of the morning penetrated herlight jacket and made her rubbed her hands over her arms.

“Friends!”She decided. “Nothing more.”

*****

Jessica told her hewas in the library as usual.

Bracing herself, shewent to find him and stood there in the doorway, staring. He waswearing black. A seemingly casual but discreetly expensive silksweater and jogging pants. His hair was unruly, curls escaping overhis forehead and he had on a thin pair of eyeglasses that only addedto his enormous appeal.

He looked up as ifsensing her presence and his smile came readily. “Here she is.I was wondering if you were going to spend the rest of the day away.”

“I had somethings to take care” She gestured to the glasses.

“Eye strain.”He took it off a little self-consciously and put it on the sidetable.

“What are youreading?” She came forward and took a seat on a single sofafacing him.

“T.S. Eliot.”He sent her a distracted smile. “I have a leaning towards theclassics and so do you, from what I have seen.” He nodded tothe rows of books.

“My aunt was afan and so am I. I have added a few titles to the ones she left me.”She cleared her throat. “When are you leaving?”

His thick browslifted, and she realized how it sounded. “I mean, isn’tsomeone missing you and wondering where you are?”

His lips curved, andshe wished she could take it all back. “Are you trying to findout if I am seeing someone, Zahra? All you have to do is just ask.And no, I am single and disengaged.”

“Why?”The question was out before she could stop herself and had hercursing silently. “Please ignore that, it’s none of mybusiness.”

He gave her aneloquent look and she had to force herself not to squirm. “Idecided that I wasn’t going to settle for less than somethingmeaningful.” For some reason, his steady gaze and intenseexpression put an added meaning to the words, making them personal.

“I see. Ishould…” She started to rise when he held up a hand tostop her.

“Ask mesomething else.”

“Like what?”

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