Page 37 of Rastor

For a long time, she said nothing, and her silence grew heavier with every step.

Finally, I had to ask, "Is this your way of telling me no, that it's over?"

Still moving, I glanced over at her. She looked lost in thought, and part of me wondered if she'd heard my question at all.

Too soon, we were at the foot of her long driveway. She stopped and turned to face me. I stopped too and studied her face. I saw a flicker of warmth tinged with caution.

She was thinking about it. I could tell.

I pressed my luck. "Chloe, I do love you."

She looked down at her feet. "I love you too. But I'm not sure it's enough."

"It's enough for me," I said. "The first time I saw you, I just knew."

And I had. Funny, I'd always laughed at guys who fell too hard and too fast. But with Chloe, it was impossible to do anything else. Maybe it was because of how we met.

I'd been lying there half-dead, and she hadn't letmeslip away. At the memory, I almost smiled. And now, five years later, here I was waiting for another chance.

She turned and looked toward the horizon. "It's really late."

I looked too. It was lighter now, almost sunrise. "No. It's early, remember?"

She turned and gave me a sad smile. "Lawton, I'm not sure you really know me. And if I'm being really honest, that's my fault not yours. But it is what it is."

"I do know you," I said. "At least all that matters."

She shook her head. "No. You don't. And honestly, I probably don't know you very well either."

Maybe. But somehow, I'd change that, even if it meant showing her things that I'd rather stay hidden. On impulse, I said, "You wanna know me? Come with me tomorrow."

"Where?"

"You'll see."

She bit her lip. "Tomorrow's not good."

"Then how about the next day?"

"Monday?" She gave a small smile. "I'm working that day, too."

"But you don't go in 'til late, right?"

"Yeah. But I can't afford to be late anymore."

I knew what she meant. Earlier tonight, she'd been at least a couple of hours late for work. My fault, not hers. "I won't make you late," I said. "I promise."

She hesitated, looking almost tempted.

I pressed the advantage. "C'mon. It's my last day in town this week. Say yes."

"You're taking a trip?"

"Not a vacation. Work. This event in Vegas." At a sudden thought, I smiled. "You wanna come?"

She gave a playful eye-roll. "Very funny."

"You think I'm joking?"