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Astounded, Ellen darted him a sideways glance, but his features were unreadable. “You’re kidding, aren’t you?”
“I wouldn’t have asked you if I was.”
“But you must be exhausted.” Ellen guessed he’d probably spent most of the day driving.
“A little,” he admitted.
Her frown deepened. Suddenly, it no longer seemed right for them to be together—because of Danielle. The problem was that Ellen had been so pleased to see him that she hadn’t stopped to think about the consequences of their going out together. “Thanks anyway, but it’s been a long week. I think I’ll call it a night.”
When they reached the house, Reed parked on the street rather than the driveway. The light from the stars and the silvery moon penetrated the branches that hung overhead and created shadows on his face. Neither of them seemed eager to leave the warm cab of the pickup truck. The mood was intimate and Ellen didn’t want to disturb this moment of tranquillity. Lowering her gaze, she admitted to herself how attracted she was to Reed and how much she liked him. She admitted, too, that it was wrong for her to feel this way about him.
“You’re quiet all of a sudden.”
Ellen’s smile was decidedly forced. She turned toward him to apologise for putting a damper on their evening, but the words never left her lips. Instead, her eyes met his. Paralyzed, she stared at Reed, fighting to disguise the intense attraction she felt for him. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to lean toward him and brush her lips against his. She could smell the woodsy scent of his aftershave and could almost taste his mouth on hers. With determination, she pulled her gaze away and reached for the door, like a drowning person grasping a life preserver.
She was on the front porch by the time Reed joined her. Her fingers shook as she inserted the key in the lock.
“Ellen.” He spoke her name softly and placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t know why we went out tonight.” Her voice was high and strained as she drew free of his touch. “We shouldn’t have been together.”
In response, Reed mockingly lifted one eyebrow. “I believe it was you who asked me.”
“Be serious, will you,” she snapped irritably and shoved open the door.
Reed slammed it shut behind him and followed her into the kitchen. He set the pizza on the counter, then turned to face her. “What the hell do you mean? I was being serious.”
“You shouldn’t have been with me tonight.”
“Why not?”
“Where’s Danielle? I’m not the one who’s been patiently waiting around for you. She is. You had no business taking me out to dinner and then suggesting a movie. You’re my landlord, not my boyfriend.”
“Let’s get two things straight here. First, what’s between Danielle and me is none of your business. And second, you invited me out. Remember?”
“But...it wasn’t like that and you know it.”
“Besides, I thought you said you were far too old for boyfriends.” She detected an undertone of amusement in his voice.
Confused, Ellen marched into the living room and immediately busied herself straightening magazines. Reed charged in after her, leaving the kitchen door swinging in his wake. Clutching a sofa pillow, she searched for some witty retort. Naturally, whenever she needed a clever comeback, her mind was a total blank.
“You’re making a joke out of everything,” she told him, angry that her voice was shaking. “And I don’t like that. If you want to play games, do it with someone other than me.”
“Ellen, listen—”
The phone rang and she jerked her attention to the hallway.
“I didn’t mean—” Reed paused and raked his fingers through his hair. The phone pealed a second time. “Go ahead and answer that.”
She hurried away, relieved to interrupt this disturbing conversation. “Hello.” Her voice sounded breathless, as though she’d raced down the stairs.
“Ellen? This is Charlie. I got a message that you phoned.”
For one crazy instant, Ellen forgot why she’d wanted to talk to Charlie. “I phoned? Oh, right. Remember that algebra paper I was struggling with? Well, I got it back today.”
“How’d you do?”
A little of the surprised pleasure returned. “I still can’t believe it. I got a B-minus. My simple paper about the wonders of the number nine received one of the highest marks in the class. I’m still in shock.”
Charlie’s delighted chuckle came over the wire. “This calls for a celebration. How about if we go out tomorrow night? Dinner, drinks, the works.”
Ellen almost regretted the impulse to contact Charlie. She sincerely liked him, and she hated the thought of stringing him along or taking advantage of his attraction to her. “Nothing so elaborate. Chinese food and a movie would be great.”
“You let me worry about that. Just be ready by seven.”
“Charlie.”
“No arguing. I’ll see you at seven.”
By the time Ellen got off the phone, Reed was nowhere to be seen. Nor was he around the following afternoon. The boys didn’t comment and she couldn’t very well ask about him without arousing their suspicions. As it was, the less she mentioned Reed around them, the better. The boys had obviously read more into the letter, phone call and dinner than Reed had intended. But she couldn’t blame them; she’d read enough into it herself to be frightened by what was happening between them. He’d almost kissed her when he’d parked in front of the house. And she’d wanted him to—that was what disturbed her most. But if she allowed her emotions to get involved, she knew that someone would probably end up being hurt. And the most likely someone was Ellen herself.
Besides, if Reed was attracted to Danielle’s sleek elegance, then he would hardly be interested in her own more homespun qualities.
A few minutes before seven, Ellen was ready for her evening with Charlie. She stood before the downstairs hallway mirror to put the finishing touches on her appearance, fastening her gold earrings and straightening the single chain necklace.
“Where’s Reed been today?” Pat inquired of no one in particular.
“His sports car is gone,” Monte said, munching on a chocolate bar. “I noticed it wasn’t in the garage when I took out the garbage.”
Slowly Ellen sauntered into the living room. She didn’t want to appear too curious, but at the same time, she was definitely interested in the conversation.
She had flopped into a chair and picked up a two-month-old magazine before she noticed all three boys staring at her.
“What are you looking at me for?”
“We thought you might know something.”
“About what?” she asked, playing dumb.
“Reed,” all three said simultaneously.
“Why should I know anything?” Her gaze flittered from them to the magazine and back again.
“You went out with him last night.”
“We didn’t go out the way you’re implying.”
Pat pointed an accusing finger at her. “The two of you were alone together, and both of you have been acting weird ever since.”
“And I say the three of you have overactive imaginations.”
“All I know is that Reed was like a wounded bear this morning,” Derek volunteered.
“Everyone’s entitled to an off day.” Hoping to give a casual impression, she leafed through the magazine, idly fanning the pages with her thumb.
“That might explain Reed. But what about you?”
“Me?”
“For the first time since you moved in, you weren’t downstairs until after ten.”
“I slept in. Is that a crime?”
“It just might be. You and Reed are both acting really strange. It’s like the two of you are avoiding each other and we want to know why.”
“It’s your imagination. Believe me, if there was anything to tell you, I would.”
“Sure, you would,” Derek mocked.
From the corner of her eye, Ellen saw Charlie’s car pull up in front of the house. Releasing a sigh of relief, she quickly stood and gave the boys a falsely bright smile. “If you’ll excuse me, my date has arrived.”
“Should we tell Reed you’re out with Charlie if he wants to know where you are?” Monte looked uncomfortable asking the question.
“Of course. Besides, he probably already knows. He’s free to see anyone he wants and so am I. For that matter, so are you.” She whirled around and made her way to the front door, pulling it open before Charlie even got a chance to ring the doorbell.
The evening didn’t go well. Charlie took her out for a steak dinner and spent more money than Ellen knew he could afford. She regretted having phoned him. Charlie had obviously interpreted her call as a sign that she was interested in becoming romantically involved. She wasn’t, and didn’t know how to make it clear without offending him.
“Did you have a good time?” he asked as they drove back toward Capitol Hill.
“Lovely, thank you, Charlie.”
His hand reached for hers and squeezed it reassuringly. “We don’t go out enough.”
“Neither of us can afford it too often.”
“We don’t need to go to a fancy restaurant to be together,” he said lightly. “Just being with you is a joy.”
“Thank you.” If only Charlie weren’t so nice. She hated the idea of hurting him. But she couldn’t allow him to go on hoping that she would ever return his feelings. As much as she dreaded it, she knew she had to disillusion him. Anything else would be cruel and dishonest.
“I don’t think I’ve made a secret of how I feel about you, Ellen. You’re wonderful.”
“Come on, Charlie, I’m not that different from a thousand other girls on campus.” She tried to swallow the tightness in her throat. “In fact, I saw the way that girl in our sociology class—what’s her name—Lisa, has been looking at you lately.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“I believe you’ve got yourself an admirer.”
“But I’m only interested in you.”
“Charlie, listen. I think you’re a very special person. I—”
“Shh,” he demanded softly as he parked in front of Ellen’s house and turned off the engine. He slid his arm along the back of the seat and caressed her shoulder. “I don’t want you to say anything.”
“But I feel I may have—”
“Ellen,” he whispered seductively. “Be quiet and just let me kiss you.”
Before she could utter another word, Charlie claimed her mouth in a short but surprisingly ardent kiss. Charlie had kissed her on several occasions, but that was as far as things had ever gone.
When his arms tightened around her, Ellen resisted.
“Invite me in for coffee,” he whispered urgently in her ear.
She pressed her forehead against his shirt collar. “Not tonight.”
He tensed. “Can I see you again soon?”
“I don’t know. We see each other every day. Why don’t we just meet after class for coffee one day next week?”
“But I want more than that,” he protested.
“I know,” she answered, dropping her eyes. She felt confused and miserable.
Ellen could tell he was disappointed from the way he climbed out of the car and trudged around to her side. There was tense silence between them as he walked her up to the front door and kissed her a second time. Again, Ellen had to break away from him by pushing her hands against his chest.
“Thank you for everything,” she whispered.
“Right. Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Oh, Charlie, don’t start that. Not now.”
Eyes downcast, he wearily rubbed a hand along the side of his face. “I guess I’ll see you Monday,” he said with a sigh.
“Thanks for the lovely evening.” She didn’t let herself inside until Charlie had climbed into his car and driven away.
Releasing a jagged breath, Ellen had just started to unbutton her coat when she glanced up to find Reed standing in the living room, glowering at her.
“Is something wrong?” The undisguised anger that twisted his mouth and hardened his gaze was a shock.
“Do you always linger outside with your boyfriends?”
“We didn’t linger.”
“Right.” He dragged one hand roughly through his hair and marched a few paces toward her, only to do an abrupt about-face. “I saw the two of you necking.”
“Necking?” Ellen was so startled by his unreasonable anger that she didn’t know whether to laugh or argue. “Be serious, will you? Two chaste kisses hardly constitute necking.”
“What kind of influence are you on Derek and the others?” He couldn’t seem to stand still and paced back and forth in agitation.
