Page 66 of Echoes of a Silent Song

Blair’s eyebrows shot up.“So you kissed me because you were angry with me?”

“No, I kissed you because I wanted to kiss you.And at the time, I thought you felt the same way.But if I misread the situation, or if something changed during, then ...I’m truly, deeply sorry it happened, and I hope you can forgive me enough to maintain a truce for the rest of the school year.”

She studied him over the rim of her coffee cup.“I didn’t ...notwant that kiss.”

“Wow.A double negative.What a ringing endorsement.”

“Callum.”

“Sorry,” he mumbled.“I didn’t sleep well.”

“Neither did I.”

He grinned.“I figured there was at least a chance of that.Hence the coffee.”

“Thank you, Callum.”

He ran a hand through his hair.“I ...didn’t have any idea kissing was something you wanted.”

“Neither did I,” she admitted.

“If I’m honest, I’ve never ...that kiss was ...”Why did words have to be so hard?Music was the only thing that could describe a kiss like that.

Her cheeks turned pink, and she fiddled with one of her earrings.“Yeah.”

Now he wanted to kiss her again.“I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to another one.If you felt the same.”

Last night’s fire lit in her eyes.Her lips parted.She started to say something but then looked away.Stared at her coffee cup as if it contained ancient secrets.

“Blair ...please stop hiding from me.”A desperate, unplanned plea.

She met his eyes again.“What do you mean by that?”

He stood and took a cautious step toward her.“You are a gorgeous, passionate, amazing woman.You’re an incredible musician.You care about those kids more than I’ve ever seen anyone care about kids.You have this big, huge, beautiful heart, and they get to see it, but it feels like you’re walling it off from me, and ...and ...and it hurts, if I’m honest.I’m starting to take it personally.”

She pushed a lock of hair behind her delicate ear.His heart pounded.A distant intercom announcement in the hallway summoned some kid to the front office.

“I’ve been hurt before.”The words came out so fast he could barely make them out.“Badly.By someone who I thought loved me, but who in fact just used me as a stepping stone to further his career.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you.I’m sorry that guy didn’t see what a treasure you are.But that’s not what I’m doing here.”

“I believe you,” she said slowly.“At least ...I want to believe you.But what happens if you and I get involved and then you up and leave?How is that not using this place—using me—in the same way Derek did?”

Ouch.She had a point.How would he not just be using her as a stepping stone?Especially now that his heart was involved.And hers.

And how could he think rationally when she watched him with those luscious brown eyes and teased every cell in his body with the warmth from hers?

“Can’t we cross that bridge when we come to it?”he asked.

“Not when you’ve made it abundantly clear that you’re only here for this year.If you and I start something, and then you leave, I ...I’m not sure how I recover from that.It takes a lot for me to trust someone.”

His heart sank.“So ...you’re saying you don’t trust me.”

“Not entirely, no.”

“Fair enough.”He sought her gaze.“How can I earn that trust?”

“Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep.”