Page 9 of The Professor's Wife

He laughed with me, his eyes crinkling. “I’m not going to lie. I did.”

“In the span of a minute?”

“My thoughts are racing,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “Ice cream seemed like the safest bet. Who doesn’t like ice cream?”

I hesitated.

The sun was still out, but I didn’t know the area. I didn’t know him. I had already walked away from one life without understanding where I was going next.

I didn’t want to get lost.

Or worse, lose myself.

“I’m a busker,” he said gently, sensing my hesitation. “I come in peace.”

He thought I was wary of him.

If he only knew.

I played along. “Are you suggesting all buskers are innocent?”

He grinned. “No. We’re probably rougher around the edges than most.”

“That sounds like a warning.”

“Maybe it is.” His grin faded slightly. “Most of us are running from something.”

My movements slowed.

I studied him, unsure whether I wanted to ask what he was running from.

“I get that,” I said.

“I figured.”

I gave him the smile I reserved for moments like these. The hollow one. The one that said, Please don’t look too closely.

He reached for his guitar and slung the strap over his shoulder. Then he leaned in until he was only a breath away.

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“Let’s go hurt over ice cream, Daze.”

CHAPTER TWO

It was hot, but a cool breeze moved through the town. We walked side by side, and it felt natural. Like we hadn’t met less than an hour ago.

I felt small next to Tristan. He was easily over six feet and broad. The sleeves of his plain shirt hugged his biceps, straining slightly around them. The man was in tremendous shape.

Plus, his hands.

Good God, why did I keep staring at them? I had never been a hands kind of woman, but there was something about Tristan’s that made parts of me warm and tingle.

Within moments of leaving the pub, we passed the motel where I was staying. I didn’t tell him that, though. I didn’t know what this was or what it meant. I only knew I was tired of being careful. Tired of folding myself into safe corners.

Tonight, I wanted to live.

There were people everywhere, most of them drenched or red from the sun. A water park was nearby, and children could still be heard screaming in delight.