and flannel to a whole new level.
The patch that had covered Aiden’s eye was gone, and Maddie felt the full impact of his cobalt blue gaze. Her heart began to perform a series of crazy little pirouettes inside her chest that might have, under different circumstances, warranted a call to the heart specialist Maddie saw once a year.
“The sign in the window said Closed, but the door was unlocked...” A casual shrug punctuated the statement, hinting that Aiden was the kind of man who viewed posted hours as a guideline, not a hard-and-fast rule. “Sorry for interrupting.”
Maddie hadn’t bothered to lock the front door because Castle Falls rolled up its streets after six o’clock this time of year. And the only thing Aiden had interrupted was the silence that had been hanging over the room like a blanket of fog since the teenagers had arrived.
It was the second time that week Maddie had met with the three students, but she’d never met a group so resistant to her help. Maddie had a hunch it was because these particular seniors, unlike the others she’d worked with in the past, hadn’t asked for it.
When the principal had called and given her the names of the teenagers she’d be working with, he’d asked Maddie to have them sign an attendance sheet. Maddie naively assumed it was a new policy, until they’d slinked through the door.
One look at the expressions on their faces, and Maddie knew they didn’t see the library as the starting point that would set them on an exciting course to their futures. No, in their minds it equaled two hours of detention, and Maddie was their warden.
The icebreaker she had chosen for the opening session on Monday night had been a complete failure, and they didn’t seem particularly interested in this evening’s presentation about the importance of research, either.
As a matter of fact, the three teenagers didn’t seem to be interested in anything.
Until Aiden crashed the study session.
Maddie had no idea why he was here, but she closed her laptop. “You’re not interrupting. We’re almost finished.”
A collective sigh of relief traveled around the table and Maddie tried not to take it personally.
“Great.” Aiden smiled his quicksilver smile. “Do you mind if I hang around for a few minutes?”
Fortunately, he didn’t wait for her answer.
Because the musky scent of autumn leaves and fresh balsam clinging to Aiden’s jacket as he claimed an empty chair was overriding the “walk in the woods” diffuser on the mantel—and apparently Maddie’s ability to put together a coherent sentence, as well.
Focus on your notes, Maddie.
She put a checkmark next to The Importance of Research. “On Monday, I’d like everyone to bring a list of possible topics, and we’ll try to narrow it down to your top two.”
“Why can’t you just tell us what to do?” Tyler asked.
“The faculty wants your senior presentation to be more personal than a term paper or essay,” Maddie said. “They’re not only interested in what you’ve learned over the past four years, they’re interested in you.”
“Yeah, right,” Skye muttered.
Maddie knew better than to engage in something that could potentially turn into a debate. “If you’re having trouble finding a topic, I’ve encouraged other students to look at the results of their career assessment surveys for ideas.”
Her suggestion was met with blank stares.
“You haven’t taken it yet?” Maddie asked cautiously.
“What’s a career assessment survey?” Skye wanted to know.
Well, that answered her question.
“It’s a series of questions that helps you determine what career might fit you best.”
Skye’s eyes narrowed. “Sounds like a test.”
“Actually, it can be kind of fun,” Maddie said. “The questions are designed to help you pinpoint your interests, discover your gifts and abilities. And the results can help you decide what degree you’ll pursue in college.”
“College?” Tyler scoffed. “I’m not even sure I’m going to graduate from high school.”
Maddie made a mental note to call the guidance office first thing on Monday morning and find out more about the students she’d volunteered to help.
“Okay.” She exhaled a silent prayer for wisdom. “If you can’t find time to take it at school, I’ll see if you can take the test online at the library during our next session. Trust me—it will make choosing a topic for your presentation much easier.”
The word presentation elicited another group sigh.
Maddie stifled one of her own. Unless the principal had made attendance for the study sessions mandatory, there was no guarantee she’d ever see them again.
“I think that’s it for tonight.” Maddie waited for the inevitable stampede out the door, but suddenly the teenagers who’d fidgeted through her entire PowerPoint no longer seemed to be in a hurry to leave.
Justin drifted over to the plate of chocolate chip cookies Maddie had set out before the meeting, and Skye began to apply another layer of lip gloss. Tyler, who hadn’t paid any attention to the folder Maddie had given him, took his time sliding it into his empty backpack. When he finally got it positioned just right, his eyes locked on Aiden.
“I saw your picture in the paper.”
“Yeah?” Aiden stiffened, but Tyler didn’t seem to notice.
“Yeah. That rope bridge you’re building over the river...it sounds pretty sweet, man.”
The confused look on Aiden’s face told Maddie he hadn’t seen the most recent issue of the local newspaper. She retrieved the copy draped over the wire rack in the corner and set it down in front of him.
“It’s an article highlighting the activities for the fall festival.” Maddie had read it, too. Castle Falls Outfitters would be hosting a new event called River Quest during the weekend-long celebration, and the reporter had interviewed Aiden because he was the one who’d come up with the idea.
Some of the challenges sounded downright dangerous to Maddie, but she supposed that was part of their appeal. Until now, the most risky event in town had been the Five Alarm Chili Cook-Off.
Aiden’s gaze dropped to the black-and-white photograph on the front page. It had obviously been taken before the accident. He was leaning against the Castle Falls Outfitters sign, wearing jeans, a T-shirt with the Castle Falls logo on the front, and his signature grin.
“The headline is clever,” Maddie said, then read it out loud. “River Quest Promises Thrills, Chills and Possible Spills.”
* * *
Aiden might have agreed—if a knot the size of a baseball wasn’t clogging his throat.
He
