Page 46 of It'll Always Be Her

“One test isn’t usually sufficient proof of anything,” he said.

Well, we just proved that we have an explosive reaction to each other.

“Said like a true scientist.” She took her keys out of her pocket.

“I just meant that you have to run a few experiments to make sure your evidence is solid and not prone to errors.”

Bee stared at him. A laugh bubbled up in her throat. “So you think we have to experiment more?”

Adam shrugged and scratched the back of his neck. “Wouldn’t hurt.”

The laugh broke free, easing her disconcertion. She slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. “Good night, Adam.”

“Night, Bee. Drive safely.”

He waited until she’d reversed out of the parking space and started toward the exit. She waved at him through the front windshield and turned onto the road toward her apartment building.

She was still tingling. And though her eyes burned, she needed sleep. Her whole circadian rhythm was thrown off-balance, but she couldn’t wait to spend the night with Adam again.

Unfortunately, that was exactly the problem.

She liked him a lot. More than she’d liked a man in a long time. She felt good when she was with him. He made her laugh, and she knew she could talk to him about anything.

Even if they disagreed, their conversation would have depth, nuances, and respect. He was not only intellectually brilliant but also an easygoing guy. He had principles and integrity.

And of course, he lit her up like a whole booth of Fourth of July firecrackers and inspired enough dirty fantasies to power a porn website. And—if that weren’t enough—the man was a Capricorn.

Oh, Bee could get very attached to Adam Powers, all right. Epoxy-type attachment.

This was actually a bigger problem than their believer-skeptic troubles or even that he was here temporarily. Bee had lost track of the number of times she’d gotten attached to someone—a foster mother, a teacher, a would-be sibling who’d been kind to her, a friend—only to have them either walk away or be taken right when she dared to hope she might be with them forever. Thatthis timewould be different.

But it never was. She always ended up back in the social worker’s car, heading to either a new home or a group center. Finally, she’d learned how to smother any feelings of warmth and attachment. At least then, it hurt less when people left her.

She parked in front of the building and took the elevator to her third-floor apartment. After unlocking the door, she flicked on the lights. Edgar stirred and chirped, and she went over to spend some time with him.

Animals were different—she could take Edgar and Puff with her if she had to leave Bliss Cove…which she might very well have to do if she lost the Gardenia House and her job.

She ruffled the bird’s yellow feathers and rested her head against the slats of his cage.

Even though she’d practically just met Adam, she felt as if she’d known him forever. And already the old warning bells were going off in the back of her mind.

Don’t get attached.

Don’t like him too much.

Remember he’s going to leave, or you will. You’ve known that from the start.

If you let him in, you have no one but yourself to blame when it hurts…again.

But,a tiny voice argued…what if Adam is worth the risk?

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