Page 6 of A Thin Line

The heat on my face flared again as I forced a smile, his eyes seeming to peer deep inside my soul, absorbing my secrets. Another few minutes with this man and I would be willingly giving them up. “I wouldn’t go that far.” And then I made my feet begin moving once more, relieved that the auditorium would be in sight as soon as we rounded another corner. “Just about there.”

“I’m almost sad to hear that.”

As was I—but I wasn’t about to voice it. I was too stunned by my visceral reaction to a man I’d just met. We turned the corner to see our destination just down the hall. “There it is—the auditorium.”

“Thank you for your guidance—and your company.” His white teeth gleamed through his smile, once again magnifying his overall good looks.

“My pleasure.”

As we approached one set of doors, he paused with his palm on the handle. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to track you down after this event so we can chat a little more.”

The smile on my face couldn’t be stopped. “I’d like that.” And my entire body felt like it was on fire, rumbling and purring as if an engine had been started. Never in my life had I felt desired by a man like this…and my insides felt like they were melting because of it.

When he opened one of the doors, I walked in. I’d only peeked inside this new space before but now was my chance to take it all in. It was designed to function as both a lecture hall and a performance space—and I’d heard Dr. Rakhimov say more than once that the college could rent it out to the community to generate additional income. The space was a bit overwhelming and I couldn’t imagine students actually sitting in here taking notes for a class. Still, for an auditorium, it felt intimate as the earth-tone chairs wrapped around the house space in a semi-circle. The stage was somewhat unassuming, with a black floor, royal blue curtains at the back, and a wooden podium front and center.

However, Dr. Rakhimov was standing just in front of the stage with a couple of students flying back and forth onstage, looking busy so they wouldn’t incur her wrath. Like a hawk, she noticed me and the tall man getting closer to the stage, and she focused on us like prey. “Finally, my programs. Piper!” she barked, and the girl onstage stiffened, almost cowering as she waited to see what she’d done wrong.

And where was Jenna, by the way?

“Yes, ma’am?”

“For heaven’s sake, do not call me ma’am.”

“Sorry…” said the slight blonde girl.

Pointing at me, Dr. R. said, “Annalise has the programs. Show her where we’re setting everything up.”

Without a word, the girl rushed off the stage, but I couldn’t see where she went.

Dr. R. then barked, “She’ll meet you in the hallway.”

Was she talking to me?

Without warning, her tone softened, a tight smile forming on her lips. “Where are my manners?” As she started walking up the aisle toward me and the man, I knew I needed to get out of there before she gave me another tongue-lashing. I said Excuse me to the gorgeous stranger beside me as his warm smile made every muscle in my body tighten. I relished the thought that the rest of the night, no matter how nasty Dr. R. got, I’d be floating on cloud nine—and awaiting more attention from the man with the piercing blue eyes when all was said and done.

Turning, I began making my way up the aisle, knowing that if I didn’t quickly obey her order, I’d get snapped at. Behind me, though, Dr. Rakhimov’s voice weirded me out as it turned into a syrupy purr. “When did you get here, Sinclair?”

“Just a bit ago. This, uh—” The sound of his voice changed, and I could tell he’d turned his head to look at me, but I was already pushing on the door to leave. “—student led me here.”

As the door softly closed behind my back, reality settled around me.

I knew I hadn’t misunderstood what Dr. Rakhimov had called him. That man I’d just helped—the one I’d found so charming and handsome, the one I’d been ready to marry if he’d only asked—he was the son of my family’s mortal enemy. He was a Whittier.

He was my nemesis.

Chapter 2

Just seconds later, the blonde girl named Piper joined me in the hallway in front of the auditorium. Her expression mirrored how I often felt around Dr. R., a mixture of terror and hypervigilance. “Uh, hi.”

“Hi,” I replied. “I have the programs.”

“I think Dr. R. wanted to have you help me get everything set up out here. She expects people to start arriving around 5:30.”

“We have an early bird,” I said, referring to Sinclair Whittier.

Piper managed a smile. “I don’t think he counts.” Then she moved to the right in the big space between the two sets of doors leading to the auditorium where three long tables were propped against the wall. “We need to set up these tables.”

“Okay.” Putting the programs down on the floor, I grabbed one side of the first long folding table and let her lead where we were going to put it. My feet screamed at me.

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