“But you know me.” She tilted her head trying to ignore the hurt flaring inside.

He shook his head. “I knew an eleven-year-old girl. Things can change drastically in ten years.” He scanned her. “Things have changed drastically,” he said, his eyes returning to hers. He leaned back slowly and switched gears. “Technically, I could bust you for having alcohol here. Tracy’s a minor.” He smiled a little.

Jennifer watched him closely, her eyes narrowing in response. “Were you acting with me?”

Steve shook his head slowly. “No.” He took a sip of the beer. “If I had been, nothing would have happened.” He closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat. “I should have kept my distance, but I couldn’t.”

“Do you regret what happened?” she asked, her voice small and tepid.

He sighed. “No. Not in the least.” He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

“The fact that you asked me that question hurt.”

Steve shrugged. To him, it was a matter of self-preservation and training. “I question everything, Jen. It keeps me alive.”

Jennifer studied him. “You look tired.”

He nodded. “I’m used to napping after, ah, you know.” Heat crept into his cheeks and a dimple made an appearance.

“Have you ever been shot at?”

Steve nodded. “It isn’t fun.”

“Have you ever shot someone?”

Steve shook his head. He stood and went out on the balcony. When she stepped next to him, he said, “Do you really think you can handle that part of my life?”

Jennifer quietly considered the question. “It doesn’t thrill me,” she said. “I don’t like the idea of you in harm’s way.” The dream crept back into her conscience and she shivered. “I don’t like that at all.”

“I can’t change who I am, Jen. I like putting the bad guys behind bars.”

Jennifer smiled. He always loved to play cowboys and Indians when they were younger. “Still the cowboy, I see.”

Steve started to laugh. “I guess.” He always made her play the Indian.

Jennifer joined him, giggling at the memory of him tied to the fence in her yard and her hopping around pounding the palm of her hand to her lips making funky Indian chants.

“So, can you?” His blue eyes implored her.

“I can handle it. But I still don’t like it.” She was rewarded with the slow sexy smile.

Steve glanced at the parking lot again and the road beyond. There was still no sign of Bill and Tracy, so he leaned over and stole a kiss. “How long are we going to play this game with them?”

Jennifer shrugged. “Maybe we should tell them. I would hate to see you get hit again.”

Steve half smiled. “It won’t happen again.” He glanced at her sideways. “Besides, do you think two days is really enough?”

Jennifer glanced at the lake. “No,” she said. “They set us up because we both had someone we love die.”

Steve’s jaw dropped and eyebrows rose at the admission.

“I kid you not,” she said, lifting her hands in an oath.

“Really?” He shook his head. “Okay. Then I’ll see you later.” He gave her a kiss and headed toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To get my car.” He looked at his watch. “Can you remember how to get to my Grandfather’s place?” he asked and she nodded. “I’ll meet you there in a little over an hour.” He smiled over his shoulder. “Oh, and I left after I apologized. I wasn’t going to wait around with you—I’m still an asshole.”

“It’s like five or six miles to campus,” Jennifer said.

“That’s just a warm up,” he said. “I’ll meet you at my grandfather’s. Wear something nice.” He closed the door behind him and headed out.

Steve sprinted the first few miles hoping he wouldn’t run into them. He wanted to be far enough along to make the timeframe realistic. When he’d crossed half the distance between the apartment and the campus, he settled into a moderate jog, getting his wheezing breath back into a natural rhythm.

He nodded to Tracy and Bill a few minutes later when they passed heading in the opposite direction. The matching wide-eyed slack jaw stare was priceless. He wiped the sweat off his face and laughed, continuing his exercise regimen back to the fraternity house.

Chapter 9

Jennifer watched him tear out of the building and wondered how long he could run at that pace. Fifteen minutes later she watched Tracy and Bill pull in. She still had some time before she needed to clean up, but not much. She sat back down in the lounge chair and closed her eyes.

“Jen?” Tracy called.

“Yeah?” she answered from the balcony, stepping into character.

Tracy and Bill came out holding a bag of Chinese food and it took everything Jennifer had not to smile. She looked up at them.

“What happened?” Bill asked.

“He apologized,” Jennifer said and closed her eyes again.

“Why didn’t he stay?” Tracy asked.

Jennifer opened her eyes. “He doesn’t like me very much,” she replied. “And the feeling is mutual.” She got up and headed toward her room.

“Jen?” Tracy whined.

“What?” Jennifer swung around. “What were you thinking?” She slammed the bathroom door behind her, shutting off any further commentary.

Chapter 10

Jennifer stepped into the shower as Steve turned onto Fraternity Row. Out of breath, he bound up the steps to his room. He glanced at his watch. “Not bad.”

The five-mile trek only took him a little over thirty minutes. He grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom to clean up. Twenty minutes later, he was on the road.

Jennifer took ten minutes longer than Steve had, and when she walked out of the bedroom in shorts and a t-shirt, carrying her oversized pocketbook, Tracy called from the kitchen. “We have dinner here if you want some.”

“I’m going out for a bit. I’ll see you later.” Jennifer closed the door behind her before either of them could question her. When she hopped in her car and took off, her memory didn’t fail her. She smiled when she pulled onto the almost hidden driveway.

Steve paced by his car, clad in gray dress pants with a light blue button-down shirt. The swelling had receded but the skin around his right eye still held an angry purple tone.

Her headlights shined in his eyes, making him squint as he approached the car. When she cut the lights and stepped out of the car, Steve stopped, scanning her casual attire. “You consider that nice?” He waved his hand at her.

“No. I figured I’d change when I got here.” She looked at the closed up cottage. “Do you mind letting me in?”

He glanced at his watch, sighed, and raised his eyes back to her. “Okay.” He reached in his car and pulled the keys from the ignition, heading to the cottage without a glance back.

“You look nice,” she said, letting him walk in front of her. “Very nice.”

“Thanks. We have reservations in fifteen minutes.” He leaned against the wall by the door, waiting.

“How far is it to the restaurant?” Jennifer peeled off her shirt in the middle of the living room and reached into her bag, pulling out a sexy little black dress.

* * * *

“Uh, about fifteen minutes.” Steve straightened, watching her slip the silky fabric over her head, the straps just covering those of her black bra. She smoothed it over her body and slipped her shorts off, revealing a hint of black underwear before the fabric of the dress fell over her thighs again. She quickly slid the black high heel sandals on and then turned to him, unclipping her hair and running her fingers through it. The transformation took less than a minute, and left him breathless.

“Better?” She stuffed her clothes, flip-flops and hairclip back in her bag.

He didn’t respond with words. He moved across the room and took her in his arms, kissing her deeply.

When he pulled away, she ran her hands over his clean-shaven face. “I’ll take that as a yes.”