the country.”
“Highpoint isn’t that far from Denver. We can get together if you’re willing to drive a little farther.” He wouldn’t do it, of course. Not often, anyway. Jack hated Highpoint as much as Annie loved it.
Abruptly he stood and started to pace. “You could try compromising a little. What about Colorado Springs? If you lived there you’d be able to see your brothers every weekend if you wanted, and it still would be simple for me to drive down for a visit.”
She watched him pace, exasperated. “Are you suggesting I should shape my life and my career around your dislike for our hometown?”
He stopped. That odd look was back in his eyes when they met hers, a strange hardness she wasn’t used to seeing on her old friend’s face. “No, I’m suggesting you shouldn’t shape your life around fear.”
Her heart jerked in her chest. “You think I’m running away. That I’m a silly, scared fool.”
“I don’t blame you for being frightened by what happened. Hell, my hands shook for half an hour after I heard. But running home isn’t the answer.”
“I’m not ‘running home.’ I like it in Highpoint, Jack. I like it better there than anywhere else I’ve been. Why wouldn’t I want to live there?”
“You’ve never really been anywhere, Annie. You’ve never cut the ties. You keep the past knotted up around you like a rope. It’s familiar, it’s comforting, and it’s keeping you from following your dreams.”
She shook her head. “I’m not giving up my dreams. I’ll still teach—”
“Forget about teaching. I’m not talking about that. What about travel? What about all those places you always wanted to see someday?”
“Travel is your dream, not mine.”
“You teach English as a Second Language because you’re fascinated by other places, other peoples.”
“I—you’re wrong. There’s a great demand for ESL teachers—it made sense to go where I’d be needed, that’s all.”
His lips thinned. He paced over to the box she’d just finished filling and started digging around in it.
She came to her feet. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I know they’re here somewhere.” He moved to another box, one she’d already sealed, and pulled the tape off.
“Stop that.” She moved over to him, shoving at his hand.
He ignored her, ripping open the box and grabbing a handful of the contents—her collection of old National Geographic magazines. “How many back issues do you have, Annie? How long have you been dreaming about faraway places?”
“Oh, good grief! Millions of people read National Geographic who don’t have some secret yen to take off for Tunisia!”
“But most of them weren’t abandoned by parents who preferred those faraway places to staying home and raising their kids. Parents who died in one of those faraway places.”
She froze. How could he? How could he throw that in her face? “My mother didn’t abandon us. And my father had to work.”
“You mother was gone almost as much as your father, from what Charlie has told me.”
“She felt that her place was with her husband, whenever possible,” she said stiffly. “She knew we’d be fine with Nana.” Hurt throbbed through her. She turned away. “I had no idea you were building some kind of a fantasy based on my reading material. There’s no deep, dark secret here, Jack. I like to read about distant places. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Doesn’t it?” He shook his head. “Maybe I’ve got some selfish reasons for not wanting you to move back to Highpoint, Annie. But not all of my reasons are selfish. I don’t want to see you bury yourself there.”
She turned around. He was close. Too close. He stood only a hand’s breadth away now, his bitter-chocolate eyes intent on her face, his long, perfect body near enough that she could feel the heat from it. Her heart began to pound out a strange, erratic beat. “You’re seeing me through the lens of your own compulsions, Jack. I’m not the one who feels trapped if I stay in one place for too long.”
“No, unfortunately you don’t feel trapped in Highpoint. You feel safe.”
“What’s wrong with feeling safe? What’s wrong with wanting to be around people who know me, people I’ve known all my life?”
“I hope there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be around people who know you.” His crooked grin was familiar. The look in his eyes wasn’t. “Since that’s one of the things I like best about you. You know me better than just about anyone. Annie, don’t go back to Highpoint. Come away with me, instead.”
“What? What did you say?”
“Come with me when I leave on my next job. You can teach. There will be plenty of people who want to learn, believe me, and I’ll take care of you. I can make you feel safe, Annie.”
“I can’t believe you said that.” Jack had never been overprotective the way her brothers were. He’d been the one who taught her rock climbing—he had insisted on it, in fact, showing her how planning and knowledge minimized the risks. Annie could handle almost anything if she knew what the risks were and could plan for them.
But you couldn’t control some risks. She licked her lips nervously. “You’re looking at me funny. I wish you’d quit it.”
His eyes drifted to her mouth. “Funny?” he said absently. “I guess so. I’ve always liked your mouth, Annie.”
“What?” Alarm had her heart jumping into her throat. She raised one hand to where her pulse throbbed, as if she could force her heart back where it belonged. “What are you talking about?”
“Your mouth. Maybe…” he murmured, and she had the feeling he was talking to himself, not her. “Maybe it’s time.” He started to lower his head.
She jerked hers back. “What are you doing?”
His grin flashed. “Isn’t it obvious? Here. I’ll show you.” And his mouth came down on hers.
The shock of it held her still for a moment too long. Long enough for the pleasure to catch her, a shimmering loop of pleasure that settled over her in one quick shiver. Long enough for a thrill to chase itself up and down her spine as his lips moved on hers…oh, such smooth and clever lips. She had wondered. For years she’d wondered about Jack’s kisses as much as she’d feared them, fighting the need and the curiosity with her too-complete knowledge of the man. One taste, and wonder overtook fear in a burst of heat. His hand was at her nape and his fingers were as clever as his mouth, drawing chills across her flesh, making her ache. It was too much.
It wasn’t enough.
That thought made her turn her head away from his lazy, maddening mouth. “Jack, this is stupid. You don’t think of me this way—you know you don’t!”
Turning her head
