Page 74 of A Twist of Faith
Dee’s phone buzzed into the unusual quiet, drawing her from contemplation.
Lou lifted her head from Dee’s shoulder and frowned. “You’re buzzin’ like a bee, Dee.”
Dee grinned down at Lou’s easy use of her name and reached for her phone. Alex Murdock’s number popped onto the display window, an unwanted intrusion. It buzzed in her hand and she pushed theignorebutton.
“Everything okay?”
“Fine.” She shrugged to ease the tension in her shoulders. “Just Dr. Murdock. Probably calling to check up on the status of my research.”Well, that was partially true.Oh what a tangled web we weave …
A cloud passed over Reese’s face. “He sure does keep close tabs on you. Seems to me, you’re doing a fine job.”
“Thanks.” Dee weighed her next words; one slip of the tongue could unravel more than her career. Telling the truth was tricky business and she desperately wanted to fix things without hurting anyone in the process. “We have some shared projects and he’s anxious about the … um … outcome of those.”
She should confess—honestly confess her part in the wager with Alex. Riding in a crowded truck to a family gathering probably wasn’t the best time or place, but maybe later.Afterthe Autumn Leaves Ball?
Coward.
“I do need to talk to you sometime though.”
He lifted a brow and glanced sideways. “How about we send the kids inside and we can talk about it now?”
Air lodged in her throat. Now? When she hadn’t sorted out a logical, convincing, heart wrenchingly honest explanation? “Sure,” she squeaked out the word, brain rushing through a plan, or confession, or both.
Reese unbuckled Brandon from his car seat and sat him on the ground, followed by Lou. “Will you help Brandon get inside, Lou? We’ll be there in a minute.”
Lou gave him a warning look. “Don’t be too long. Granny’s tater-cakes don’t wait for nobody.”
“Tell you what.” Reese looked to Dee as he spoke. “I’ll just blame it on the city girl so Granny will feel sorry for me.”
Lou’s expression turned doubtful. “She won’t buy it, Daddy. Granny can sniff out a fib faster than Haus can tree a coon.”
Lou walked toward the house, urging Brandon to follow, and Reese climbed back in the truck. He trailed his hand along the back of the seat until his fingers came in contact with Dee’s hair. She instinctively slid a little closer, even though she shouldn’t, for clarity’s sake. He threaded her hair between his fingers and gave her a look of complete trust. She was the worst human being in the world.
“What did you need to say, darlin’?”
The truth lodged tight, anchored in place by six hard years of graduate school.Just say it.Confession won top spot on her list for two weeks. Every ounce of confidence fled. He cared about her. It shone in his eyes and whispered in his touch. And the truth? His wife broke his heart with her deceit, and though Dee’s offense couldn’t compare to unfaithfulness, she’d used him for her own gain. Like a pawn.
“You look mighty intense. Something wrong?”
Her gaze went to the source of his words. His lips. Which caused a whole new dilemma. The idea of kissing him combined with pure cowardice distracted her from her well-meaning confession.
She looked up and fumbled around in her thoughts for a little too long.
His grin hitched up on one side. “I think I know what you have on your mind.”
“Um, you do?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, his expression growing serious. “Scootch over here a little closer and I’ll tell ya.”
She wasn’t sure how it happened so fast, but before she slid more than a few inches, he had her in his arms. His lips, warm and wonderful, covered hers and sent the fire in her cheeks spreading through her entire body.
He didn’t seem to mind her limited practice—and she certainly didn’t mind the idea of practicing, especially with the marvelous side effects. He drew back, but she kept her eyes closed, allowing the memory to settle deep, in case her confession stole him away. His breath brushed against her cheek and his lips followed.
“Did I guess right?”
“Good guess.” She opened her eyes, breath tripping into a staccato rhythm. “Thatwasone thing I had on my mind.”
“As I said before, I like your train of thought, darlin’. I’ve been thinking about it all week.”
