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the front seat of his truck while Jon opened the passenger door for his date, then circled the car and climbed in. As he watched them drive away, Night decided tonight wasn’t a good time for a reunion. He groaned at the prospect of another night spent sleeping on the cold, hard ground, then started his truck and headed back toward the mountain.
     

 

Chapter Three
     
    Carly was quiet as he drove her home from the football game. In fact, she’d been rather subdued ever since his impetuous kiss in the restaurant. He’d wanted to talk to her about it, but at the football game she had carved them out a place in the midst of the faculty section. Surrounded by colleagues didn’t allow much opportunity for intimate conversation. Unfortunately, the long game—Lowell won in overtime—gave him too much time to worry about her response. He’d sensed she was confused, and he didn’t blame her. In the course of a few hours, he’d told her she was beautiful, threatened to spank her and kissed her in public.
    She lived close to the school and they were pulling up in front of her house before he’d had a chance to speak a word to her.
    “Carly.” He turned toward her as she reached for the door handle of the car.
    “Jon, you don’t have to say anything. It was just a little kiss. Don’t worry about it.”
    “‘Worry about it’?”
    “Yeah. I mean, you’ve been so sweet to me today, but you really didn’t have to kiss me just to make me feel better about myself.”
    “What?” He was perplexed by her comments.
    “I know I’m not exactly what you would call the most self-confident woman in the world, but I meant what I said about Adam. I’m not hurt by his decision, so you don’t have to worry that I’m in denial or pining away or lonely or anything.”
    She thought the kiss was simply to cheer her up? A pity kiss?
    She was still talking so he forced himself to tune back in to her rambling conversation. “…suppose I’m just not the type of woman to evoke that kind of passion in a man.”
    “What?”
    “I’m the girl next door, not the fantasy. Plus I’m a tomboy—always have been. Guys see me as a friend, not a conquest, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I mean, I think fellas are cool to hang out with. Much better than women, who only ever want to shop and talk on the phone.”
    He shook his head, certain he hadn’t heard her right. She thought he wasn’t attracted to her. That she didn’t ooze passion and sex out of every pore of her delectable body.
    “So thanks for the nice words and kiss, but you don’t have to worry, I don’t expect anything more. Nothing’s changed. We’re still friends.”
    “The hell we are!” he shouted, speaking with more heat than he’d intended. She flinched as if he’d hit her. “Don’t say another word.” He opened his door and circled the car to hers. “Get out.”
    She got out of the car stiffly, unsure how to react to his angry response. Grabbing her hand, he half-led, half-dragged her to her front door, barely keeping himself in check.
    “Where’s your key?” He grabbed it from her when she attempted to hand it over. Her hands were shaking now but he was too far gone to care. Reilly had lured the bear out of its den this afternoon and her comments had poked it into a fury.
    Once he had the front door open, he followed her in, latching it behind them.
    Warily, she turned to him. “Jon?”
    He didn’t reply to the question in her voice. “Upstairs.”
    He was slightly surprised when she followed his command without refusal. Having been in her home numerous times, he knew exactly where her bedroom was. When they reached the top of the stairs, she paused until he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward her room.
    Upon reaching his destination, he stood in the doorway as she moved away from him to the center of the room. Obviously she’d had enough time to gather her wits and she rounded on him, fury evident in her