heart as she stood outside the door, then the quick tattoo of her footsteps as she ran out of the house, suddenly afraid without knowing why.
But he knew why. A primal instinct buried deep in her subconscious had recognized the danger that lurked beyond the door.
He took a deep breath when he heard her drive away. He grimaced against the pain that stalked his body, caused by his exposure to the sun. But the pain was of no consequence when compared to the pleasure of walking along the beach with Adrianna, of seeing her face in the full light of day, of watching the sunlight dance in the wealth of her hair.
Closing his eyes, he waited for the darkness to descend, waited for the blackness that would carry him into oblivion; the blessed darkness that would heal him while his body took its unholy rest; the cursed darkness that kept him from sharing the daylight hours with the woman he loved.
He groaned softly, the pain in his heart rivaling the pain in his flesh. He had no right to love her, no right to let her love him.
And as the blackness washed over him, he knew he would have to let her go.
Part Three Chapter Seven
"Not tonight, Marty," Adrianna said. "I really don't feel like going out."
"Come on, babe," he coaxed. "It's Friday. A movie and a meal is just what you need."
"I don't think so." She gazed out the front window of the book store, watching the rain come down. "I just want to go home and curl up with a good book."
"You're sure?"
"Afraid so."
There was a slight pause on the other end of the receiver, and then a sigh.
"Listen, Addie, tell me the truth. Am I wasting my time? If I am, just say the word and I won't bother you anymore."
"Do we have to talk about this now?"
"Yeah. Just tell me the truth, Addie. I'm a grown man. I can take it."
"We're friends, Marty. We've been friends for a long time, and I'm afraid that's all we'll ever be."
"Sure you won't reconsider? I'm a heck of a catch."
"I know. I'm sorry, really, but..."
"Hey, don't sweat it." He laughed, a hollow, forced sound. "We can still be friends, and if you ever change your mind, well, like they say, I'll be around."
"Thanks, Marty. Good-bye."
"So long."
Adrianna hung up the receiver, then sat back in her chair and stared out at the rain again. It was the first big storm of the year, and she loved it. She loved the thunder, the rain, the lightning that lit up the sky.
Another couple of hours and she could close up, go home and take a hot bath. Later, she'd curl up on the sofa with a pizza and a good book.
The idea wasn't as appealing as she'd made it sound. What she really wanted was to see Navarre. She'd spent every minute of the last four days waiting for him to call, waiting to see him again.
Why hadn't he called? She closed her eyes, reliving the time they'd spent on the beach. Had she read more into his words, his kiss, than he'd intended? She remembered the night he'd come to her house, remembered the sound of his voice when he'd told her he needed her. Had it all been a lie? If so, what had he hoped to gain?
She slammed her palm against the desk top. It made a satisfyingsmack . If only she had Nancy's confidence! A dozen times in the last four days, she'd reached for the phone, only to hang up. She couldn't call him. She'd chased him too many times already. This time, it was up to him.
And what if he never calls?
"Then he never calls!" The words hung in the air. How had she fallen for the man so fast? She hardly knew him, hardly knew anything about him. But the thought of never seeing him again sat like a lead weight in the pit of her stomach.
Muttering a very unladylike oath, she jumped to her feet. She wouldn't chase after him any more. It was Friday, and she was going out! She didn't need Mr. V. Navarre.
She glanced at the sign behind her desk, and read the words aloud: "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle."
With a nod, she picked up a stack of books and carried them out to the front of the store. She'd fill the "New Romance"