Cammie Healy - Jennifer Foor Page 0,12

looking in my direction as he began to sift through papers.

I was in shock. I didn’t understand what had transpired. Surely he’d enjoyed the kiss. Why would he walk away? Had he realized this was a terrible idea? Maybe I’d pushed him to decide on letting things be instead of stirring the pot.

A good five minutes went by without a single sentence out of his lips. I was in rare form, stumbling on what to say to clear the air. When I couldn’t take it any longer, I stood and gathered my bag, flipping it over my shoulder. I made it three steps toward the door before his deep voice filled the room. “Leaving so soon?”

My hands waved around. “What else am I supposed to do?”

“Well, I was hoping you’d lend me a hand so we could get back to what we were doing a few minutes ago. This work isn’t going to do itself, and as good as that kiss was, I don’t need anymore distractions.”

My jaw dropped. He didn’t walk away because I’d done something wrong. He’d gotten up because he wanted to finish the work so we could do it again.

That evening we worked alongside each other like we’d been friends for years, and when the papers were situated back in his satchel, his attention was fixed on me. He led me over to the couch where we’d had our first kiss. Once again my heart beat rapidly, my palms clammy, and everything else going into a frenzy. I couldn’t contain my excitement, and just like that nothing else mattered. We were lost in the moment, forsaking everything that could go wrong for the chance at what could feel right.

Chapter 6

One week of sneaking kisses, ridiculous reasons why I needed to meet him, and most importantly regrets. It had been exactly seven days since our first embrace and I didn’t see things ending any time soon.

James had arranged to take me out for the first time. I dressed up, thinking we’d go to a quaint place away from campus where we wouldn’t be recognized. I knew no matter what happened I wouldn’t have anyone I cared about speaking ill of me. My family was across the country, unknowing what I’d gotten myself involved in.

The little black blouse and fancy bra was something I’d splurged on. My scholarship provided my housing, but personal expenses were paid for by my parents on a credit card they’d given me on the day I left for college. I used it for meals and essentials, but never once to buy myself something nice to wear, and especially lingerie. I knew if my mother looked at the bill and saw where I’d been shopping she’d have a ton of questions for me; most I wouldn’t be able to answer. A month was a long time away, so until she asked, I needed to make the best of the situation. My time with James was temporary. We both knew nothing would come of it. He was married, whether it was practiced or not, on paper they were legally bound.

Dressed to impress even the man who seemed to have it all, I set out to the location we were supposed to meet, regretting my choice in heels halfway there.

His car was parked on a side road off campus property. He flashed his lights when he spotted me, pulling out to come to my aching feet rescue. The moment I climbed into the vehicle I knew he wasn’t taking me somewhere public. Dressed in his workout attire, James greeted me with a chaste kiss. "You look exquisite."

"You said you were taking me some place special. I assumed it was nice."

He began driving, checking his rearview as if we were going to be followed. "It is special. It will be at least."

Moments later we pulled up on the side of the road. He reached in his pocket and handed me a set of keys. "Go on inside the building. I’m going to park my car somewhere else less conspicuous."

Right away I felt like garbage. We were sneaking around to see each other on campus, but this was another step to damnation. There were plenty of opportunities to back out of this situation, though I couldn’t grasp them. I was too caught up in the excitement of it all to take a second and allow myself to look at the bigger picture. I was ruining my life, one secret rendezvous at a time.

Like he requested, I used the