Page 31 of Final Escape
His hands slid slowly down her arms and captured her hands. “I do know it’s impractical to have someone watching over you day and night. But at least give Penny or me a call whenever you go somewhere so we’ll know where you’ve gone and when you plan to be back.”
“I can’t expect you to—”
“Yes, you can.” With a low growl tinged with frustration, he pulled her gently into a warm, comforting hug.
Well—maybe that was the intent.
Instead, warm tingles of awareness rushed through her at the wonderful sensation of being held in his strong arms, and when she breathed in his unique, masculine scent of pine, fresh air and a faint hint of woodsy aftershave she felt as though she’d come home. She stilled, wanting the moment to last. Knowing she should step away. Wondering what it would be like if he dropped his mouth to hers for a kiss.
When he abruptly released her and stepped back, his breathing ragged and his expression dazed, she knew he’d been affected, as well.
“I...I’d better go,” she faltered, thankful that the darkness hid the warm blush climbing up her cheeks. “I...have assignments to grade and...um...it’s late.”
“Keep your cell phone by your bedside,” he warned. “Call me ifanythingseems suspicious.”
He waited until she went inside, then slowly turned away after she waved to him from a window.
She’d brushed aside his concern, not wanting him to feel obligated. Not wanting to be a burden. Knowing, after a lifetime of experience, that the one person she needed to rely on was herself. But his concern had echoed her own, and now, in her empty apartment—save for one sleeping cat—she glanced around and felt the walls closing in on her.
God—I know You’re here with me. Help me feel Your strength and Your presence, and to remember that I’m really never alone.
* * *
LONG AFTER SHE’D SETTLEDinto her apartment for the night and finished grading the papers, Carrie roamed her rooms, unable to settle down. Unable to let go of a premonition that had been tying her stomach into knots.
A few hang-up phone calls and unfounded worries about her ex-husband were hardly proof of trouble, she reminded herself as she settled back down at her desk and turned on her laptop. Billy was probably somewhere in New Mexico, and her foolish imagination was simply working overtime.
Since she couldn’t sleep, she might as well email Trace and Kris, and ask about how their wedding plans were coming along. Catch up with some old school friends on her social-networking websites...or even work on her lesson plans for next week. After an hour or two, she ought to be able to fall asleep without any problem at all.
She opened her email program, slid the cursor over to New Messages. Clicked. And felt her heart lodge in her throat.
A long list of incoming messages filled the page.
And every last one of them was from Billy.
CHAPTER EIGHT
