Chapter３

It took me two more weeks with David before I finally snapped.

Sadness overcame me as I sat in my hot vehicle in the Lowe driveway. When our friendship ended, I felt a deep sense of loss. I yearned for the return of the man I'd loved, but I knew it would never happen.

The funeral for my grandmother, who died last week, was last week, but David did not go. He claimed to have had to work, which was great by him. But he also didn't show up for the visitation. Although I had been crying and looking at the coffin, he did not comfort me. He abandoned me to answer the never-ending "Where's David?" from my relatives.

I fabricated a "sick" excuse.

Our common acquaintances informed me that he had forgotten and gone to see a movie. Because of it, it was crystal clear to me how unimportant I really was.

I heaved a sigh of exasperation as I reached across the bench and grabbed my bag. In preparation for the inevitable moment of telling him I was done with him, I had brought a swimsuit and towel over. That was the first time I ever ended a relationship.

Not me; I didn't ring the bell. Confident in my ability to enter the Lowe home unannounced, I up the porch steps and pulled open the door. Should I consider this my last attempt?

The door slammed shut behind me as the wind pulled it tight, and I heard his father's heavy boots pounding on the wooden floor.

“Jessica?” The look of bewilderment that had crossed his attractive face faded into a casual grin.

My body just stopped moving. Hey, Dr. Johnson. Is it possible he didn't inform you I was coming over?

In an offhand way, he shook his head. I believe he is now submerged in the water.

“Oh. Okay.” I took a few steps toward the basement door before my sandal's toe snagged on the fringe of the foyer carpet. “Ah!”

I took a few wobbly steps forward while trying to keep my balance and ended up colliding into Dr. Johnson.

As I slammed into his solid chest, he let out a low moan. I was able to push him back halfway before his strong hands gripped onto my waist and wouldn't let go. I felt a flash of embarrassment, but as I looked up sheepishly into his eyes, the feeling quickly dissipated.

My chest tightened at the feeling of his hands on me.

His air of worry for my near-fall vanished as his grip tightened on me. His dark eyes collected what looked suspiciously like fire. His jaw tensed and the muscles that ran down it flexed.

I couldn't possibly be having these thoughts. No way was he gazing at me like he was contemplating putting his hands behind my back and pulling me to him. My whole being buzzed from the touch, and the more still we were, the louder and more frenzied the hum became.

Surprisingly, his hug threw me off more than the rug had.

There was a problem with our proximity, yet he had a magnetic presence. Even though I knew I should resist it, I found it difficult to shake my attraction to him.

Strange and shaky was the way his voice came out. What's up?

Yes, I sucked in a deep breath and said. I don't know why, but I never noticed how stunningly deep and blue his eyes were.

His grip suddenly loosened, and he dropped me as if I were a hot burner. His face suddenly blanked out as a wave of embarrassment swept over him. “Sorry.”

He walked away from me, turning around so that I could only see his hulking back. Exactly what did he have to apologize for? Preventing my free fall, if you will? A hand on me? Or his lustful, hypnotic look that reminded me of David's.

Before, I'd thought some unsavory things about Dr.Jonson. I tried not to feel bad about them, but I just couldn't stop myself. I told myself that these dreams didn't pose any danger since they were just mine. No longer did I have to feel bad about brooding about my boyfriend's dad.

A vivid blue pool was enclosed by a stylish black wrought-iron fence on the outside stone patio yard. The pool wasn't huge, but it was the perfect size for the large property. David was apparently swimming laps in it, and any of the Lowe men could do so if they so desired.

Apparently he felt my approach because he paused mid-stroke to wipe the water from his eyes, brush his wet, black hair back out of his eyes, and flick it aside with his fingers. He cocked an eyebrow at me in intense scrutiny.

You're not wearing a suit, are you? Without a hello. Simply his tone of annoyance.

I may say, "I have it with me." Seeing the vacant lounger by the pool, I cast my gaze in its direction. If I didn't feel like swimming, I could always just sit down and start the talk we needed to have with him.