Entangled Summer by Michele Barrow-Belisle Read Free Book Online Page B

give a crap?
    Troy’s footsteps jogged to catch up to me, then he caught my arm. “No. It wasn't.”
    His arm flexed as he held mine. Jeez, he really smelled good. My eyes locked on his then pulled away. Eyes one the floor. Not on him. I averted my gaze and tried to walk away, but he held fast.
    “I'm not judging you. You do know that, right?”
    Clearly I didn't know a damn thing, considering I'd just told my boss to screw-off and take his life-saving salary with him.
    “What makes you such an expert on the human mind that you think you have the right to enforce the monitoring of others?” I lifted my chin. “Pretty ballsy, considering.”
    His eyes narrowed. “Considering?”
    “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
    “You seem to be implying something Nora, spit it out.” He released my arm.
    “Maybe someone with such an ailing memory shouldn't be running a business. Or teaching kids. Or diagnosing his staff.”
    I felt him smile. How can you feel someone smile? It only made me more furious with him.
    He leaned against a tree, arms crossed over his chest.
    I watched the way his biceps flexed. Stop. Looking. At. His. Muscles.
    “June 6th, one year ago to the date last Friday. You had cherry pink lipstick, that actually tasted like cherries. Your hair was red and smelled like wildflowers. You wore a yellow sweater. V-neck. And a black lace bra. Clap in the front. You ordered the New England clam chowder, but ate dessert first—s’mores cheesecake.
    A pinprick of regret pierced me over my earlier comment. Clearly he did remember, and that set in motion a whole other range of emotions. Mostly embarrassment and humiliation, and a small flush of arousal.
    My face had to be red, but that didn't stop him.
    “We went to my place, because you didn't want to go back to yours. Then like Cinderella, you disappeared, just when we were about to...”
    “Okay. Okay. So your memory isn't that bad,” I said, holding up my hands. I’d give anything for a hole to fall into right now. The wind rustled through the leaves, carrying the smell of pine trees. I flipped my hair over my shoulder and looked around. More people would be showing up soon and this was embarrassing enough without an audience.
    “And just like the prince, I tried to find you. But since it wasn't a shoe you left behind, going door to door would have been awkward.”
    He flashed another smile and I wanted to crawl into myself.
    No… leaving a shoe behind would have been a whole lot classier than the lacy black bra I'd abandoned when I sprinted from his townhouse.
    He dipped his head forward. “Any chance you're going to tell me why you left?”
    “Any chance you’re going to tell me why you pretended not to remember me?” I cocked my head.
    Two junior counsellors emerged from behind the stage. They smiled and laughed as they waved to Troy. He had that effect on the female populous no matter what age they were. I waited until they were out of range then lowered my voice. "I don't think we should talk about this here."
    "Fine. Tonight then, as planned. Meet me at the office." He waited for me to agree, even though none of what he'd said sounded much like a request.
    "Fine." I folded my arms. "Tonight."

Chapter Eleven

     
     
    When I arrived at Troy’s office, there were papers for me to sign, but no dinner in sight. Maybe he’d changed his mind. Just as well, things were still a little tense between us. I penned my name with a flourish to the last of the pages, cause if you’re going to sign your life away, it might as well be with style. Then handed him the pen with an even look.
    “So, you wanted to talk?”
    “I do, but not here. Will you come with me?”
    Yeah. Did anyone ever say no to that request? Doubt it.
    We trudged along an uphill path deeper into the woods than I’d ever ventured before.
    “Where are you taking me?” I finally asked when my legs started to burn.
    “Almost there.”
    Almost where? I was about to