Page 34 of Almost Priest

The sound of movement had her looking up from where a mark was already forming on her skin.

“Sammy, are you okay?”

Shit. She let out a breath and the last of her composure slipped. With slumped shoulders she slowly turned and faced Colin. The moment he saw her face she knew there was no hiding the fact that she was crying.Damn fair Irish skin.

He still held the phone to his ear, but his eyes were held wide on her face. “I’ll have to call you back,” he said, shutting the phone and tossing it on the bed.

“You’re bleeding.”

“What?” she looked at her shoulder and sure enough there was blood. “It’s just a scratch. A trophy fell on me.”

He frowned examining her arm. “How did that happen?”

She wiped her eyes, hoping she’d seen the last of her tears. “I was trying to reach my suitcase.”

He looked at the bag on the floor and to her clothing piled on the bed. “Are you leaving?”

Better me than you.“I have to go. Something’s come up.”

“Is everything okay? Your family?”

“They’re fine. I just…I need to be getting home.”

He gave a silent "oh" and looked down at the carpet.

He was again in casual clothes. He looked as if he had run very hard that afternoon. Lengthening shadows from the fading sun brought her attention to his sneakers. The man looked perfect in just about anything, even ratty old Nikes.

“I suppose Braydon will be going too, then.”

“What? No. Braydon can stay. I can even take a train back. I just need a ride to the station.”

“Does he know you’re planning to leave?”

Tell me to stay, she thought yearningly and grew even more frustrated. “What?”

“Braydon. Does he know you’re leaving?”

“Oh. No, I just decided.”

He thought for a moment, that introspective look in his eye again. Then he looked back to the bathroom and down at his phone on the bed and back to her. Shit. He suspected she had been eavesdropping.

“Sammy—”

“Don’t. It’s fine. This is your home. I don’t want to cause anyone to be uncomfortable in their own home.”

“It isn’t like that—”

“It’s not a big deal. My parents will be glad to have the time with me anyway.”

“I thought Braydon said they were away.”

Damn it!“They cut their trip short.”Nice. Lie to the priest.

It didn’t matter anyway. He looked at her and she knew he didn’t believe her. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if he were getting a headache. She took the opportunity to retrieve her bag from the floor and carry it to the bed, careful not to get too close to him.

Ignoring Colin, she began unzipping the case and refolding her items before packing them away. When he grasped her arm she froze.

“Sammy, don’t. Don’t go because of me. Please. You have as much a right to be here as any of us. You’re Braydon’s guest.”

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