[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.” His voice was soft, his eyes troubled.“Good night, Connor.”He went out through the great room.She heard the front door open and close.And a minute or two after that, she heard the SUV start up and drive away.She sat there at the table for a long time after he left her, feeling sad and weepy—but refusing to cry.Connor McFarlane was not the man for her.She had to accept that.It was better that he had left, that his thing between them went no further.Getting into it with him would only lead to hurt and heartbreak.Alone at the table, she nodded to herself and swallowed down the lump of tears that clogged her throat.Yes.Really.It was better that he was gone.Chapter FiveConnor was halfway back to his rented house, feeling like crap, trying to come to grips with the fact that his enjoyable summer with Tori Jones was over before it had even begun, when he realized that he’d left her without canceling their plans for tomorrow.At the house, after spending a few minutes in CJ’s room, watching him play his endless video game, he went to his own room.He took a shower and sat in front of the television, channel-surfing with the sound down, paying very little attention to the images that flashed in front of his eyes.He kept reliving what it felt like to hold her in his arms.He’d been really looking forward to doing that again, and frequently.And he’d done some serious fantasizing over what it was going to be like the first time they made love.It would probably be really good, if the chemistry between them was any indication.Maybe she would call and tell him formally that she wouldn’t be coming to the picnic tomorrow.Maybe he ought to call her.But the phone didn’t ring.And he decided it would be easier just to go ahead and proceed as planned tomorrow.At worst, she would call it off when he and CJ came to pick her and Jerilyn up.He could live with that.And if she decided to go through with it, well, he could stand that, too.It would be awkward, yes, but at least CJ would be happy to have some time with the girl he liked.In the morning, Connor had breakfast with CJ and then went to his study to look over some paperwork from the main office.The phone rang at eleven.He jumped at the sound.But it was only his father, making the usual demands, that he come back to Philly immediately, to stay.That, if he insisted on doing the resort deal, he get on it and get it over with.Connor made noncommittal noises and told his dad to give his mother his love.An hour later, he and CJ left the house.“You okay, Dad?” CJ asked him as they drove the quiet Sunday streets on the way to Tori’s house.Connor almost ran a red light.It was the first time in the past year or so that his son had expressed the slightest interest in him or anything he might be doing or thinking.It was a clear sign that he was actually making progress with the boy.He should have been ecstatic.And he was.But the thrill was muted by the knowledge that whatever progress he was making with CJ was mostly due to the excellent advice of a certain strawberry-blonde schoolteacher.And then there was also the possibility that whatever gains he’d made would be lost if Jerilyn was not at Tori’s house when they got there, if Tori had decided to call the afternoon off.Really, he should have discussed the picnic with her before he walked out on her last night.Or called her later.But he hadn’t.And now he was stuck with having no clue what would happen when they got to her house.Bright move, McFarlane.He pushed his dark thoughts away and sent his son a warm glance.“Thanks, I’m okay.”“You’re really quiet.”“Just…thoughtful, I guess.”At Tori’s house, the bicycle that had been on the front walk the evening before was propped up on the porch.But other than that, everything looked just as it had last night.He still had no clue whether Tori and Jerilyn were coming with them, or not.CJ jumped out of the car and was halfway up the walk before Connor got out and followed him.It was CJ who rang the doorbell.Connor was just climbing the steps when the door opened.Tori, in jeans, boots and a cute, snug Western shirt, grinned at CJ.“Right on time.”Relief, sweet as cool water on a hot day, poured through Connor.They were going.He’d never been so pleased about anything in his life.Jerilyn, also in jeans, peered over Tori’s shoulder.“Hey.”“Hey,” CJ replied, his voice cracking on the single syllable.He cleared his throat and said it again.“Hey.”Tori’s gaze shifted to meet Connor’s.She gave him a careful smile and a nod.He did the same.“I packed a basket,” she said.“Some cheese and fruit, some whole-wheat crackers.Some juice…”Jerilyn pulled a face.“All totally healthy,” she added.And she and CJ groaned in unison.“Ready to go?” Connor asked.“Yes, we are,” Tori replied, her gaze sliding away from his.“I’ll get the basket and we can be on our way.”His relief that she wasn’t backing out on him faded.He could see the day stretching endlessly out ahead of them [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]