Burn You Twice - Mary Burton Page 0,75

she allowed in order to avoid a scene.

Ann had not been totally honest with Joan. She had seen Elijah again a few days later . . .

“I did it wrong the last time,” he said, closing the door behind him.

All traces of the sensitive young man were gone, and in his place was a darker, edgier persona. “What?”

Nerves in her belly tightened, even as a thrill of excitement shot through her. Last night, Clarke had come by. They had had sex, but she had gone through the motions.

“You want it different.” There was emotion. “I saw.”

“What?” She moistened her lips.

“Take your shirt off.”

“What?”

“Do it.”

Intrigued, she reached for the hem of her blouse and pulled it over her head. Her nipples hardened under the thin fabric of her bra.

“Take all of it off,” he said.

“What about you?”

“This is what you want, isn’t it?”

She hesitated before whispering, “Yes.”

“Then get naked.”

She slid off her bra and then her jeans and panties. When she stood bare before him, he smoothed his hands over her shoulders and then turned her toward the wall. He did not hurt her but held her firmly in place as he leaned down and kissed the nape of her neck. His pants zipper opened, and then he pushed into her hard. She gasped, curling her fingers into fists, and arched toward him.

When she came, she went limp against the wall, her heart pounding fast.

“You won’t forget this fuck. Ever,” he said.

And then her house had burned to the ground. And then the doctor told her she was pregnant. And then Clarke and she were married. And then . . .

Steady footsteps sounded in the hallway outside her room, and she knew it was Clarke. His heels always struck the ground as if he were rushing to the next fire.

Color rose in Ann’s cheeks, as if she had been caught recalling the forbidden. She closed her notebook and braced for another sales pitch involving her moving back into town. His wide shoulders filled the doorway, and he was dressed in his uniform.

He strode down the aisle between the long tables set up classroom-style. His aftershave curled around a lingering scent of smoke and reached out for her. Ann had always loved his scent. For a second, he was the old Clarke, and she was the old Ann. Surprised and troubled, she cleared her throat.

“Your office said you came to the classroom early,” he said. “You didn’t answer your cell.”

“It’s on silent.”

“What if Nate needs you?”

“I can see his texts.”

“Is he all right?” Clarke asked.

“He’s fine.” Nate had been curious about the damage and insisted on inspecting it before school. Boys his age were naturally inquisitive, so she’d chalked up his curiosity to his gender. “I dropped him off at school and will pick him up by one thirty so he can audit his university math class.”

“He wasn’t traumatized?”

“Not at all.”

That seemed to please him. “A chip off the old block.”

“Yes,” she said carefully. “He’s not afraid.”

Dark eyes glistened with pride. “You’re sure he’s fine?”

“Positive.”

“He’s spending next Wednesday night with me, right?”

“He’s looking forward to it.” Which was true. Nate and Clarke were very different in so many ways, but that did not undercut the love.

“Have you thought any more about returning to town permanently? If you come back to town, we’d have a better chance of figuring this all out, whatever it is. I can find an apartment for a few months.”

“We’re staying put, Clarke.”

“We have to talk about all this soon.”

“I know. And we will. I promise.”

He looked as if he wanted to pull her into an embrace but instead cleared his throat. “What about the damage at the ranch?”

She was relieved to be off the topic of them. “I’ve already called the ranch manager, and he’s coming out midday with his crew to see what he can do about the cleanup. Have you inspected the damage?”

“I’m headed out there now.”

She did not like the idea of him on her property without her there. It was not that she expected him to do anything nefarious, but the ranch was her space, not theirs, and he did not belong there.

“Okay.”

“I’ll warn you now, Ann, that last night’s fire had all the hallmarks of the College Fire.” As he stepped toward her, she sensed the restrained energy. He was trying to maintain a calm front, like a cowboy wooing a wild mare, but it was a struggle. “Elijah set that fire.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I can’t prove it yet. But I will.”

“Joan believes