Susan Mallery Page 0,122
we’re going to Texas.”
* * *
Alec wasn’t sure he’d ever been to the Glendale Galleria. It was a perfectly nice shopping center, with lots of stores and people. It was well lit, open and friendly—the antithesis of how he was feeling.
As he walked the length of the mall, ignoring the stores and shoppers, he tried to reconcile who he had always considered himself to be with who he had obviously become. He’d worked hard to create a life that was orderly and purposeful. There were those who wouldn’t see the value in what he did, those who thought the ancient scraps of papyrus should go undeciphered, but their opinions didn’t matter. He preferred the opinions of other scholars, university professors and fellows, and his peers. He was well respected, admired even. He had created a perfect life in a wonderful home and somehow it had all gone to shit.
After a lifetime of reining in his emotions, after years of training to keep himself orderly and responsible, after carefully considering every action, he’d become impulsive and unpredictable. He’d physically attacked another man—he’d nearly hit him. The need to come between Margot and her ex-boyfriend had grown until he’d reacted without thinking. It was the incident with the wine, but on steroids. He wanted to say his life was out of control, but it wasn’t his life—it was him. He was the problem.
He knew the cause—he understood how one small act had led to another and another until he had spiraled out of control. While he only blamed himself for the results, the catalyst came in the form of a beautiful woman, a warm and intriguing laugh, a sharp mind with a unique worldview. He had seen her, wanted her, developed a relationship with her and had entwined himself with her. He’d allowed himself to experience a connection and in doing so he had lowered his carefully erected barriers until emotions were free to come and go, grow and wane. He’d allowed that side of him, the dangerous, impulsive part of him he feared and sought to control, to run amok and now there was a price to be paid.
He started for the parking garage. The decision had been made. He’d known what he had to do long before he’d left the house, but he’d needed to be sure he was willing to do what was necessary to restore world order. There was a price for everything—his relationship with Margot had reminded him of that. And now the bill had come due.
* * *
Sunshine was surprised when her cell phone rang about nine-thirty in the evening and she saw Declan’s name on the screen. He’d already called earlier to talk to Connor and check in with her. Foolishly, she considered those brief conversations the highlight of her day. The man was traveling on business—of course he wanted to check in. It wasn’t as if he were calling because he missed her.
“Hi,” she said, putting down her magazine. “How’s it going?”
“Good. I’m in Texas.”
“So you mentioned before. Connor can’t get over the fact that his ant farm saved the day. He’s so excited to be able to see the construction of the hotel’s ant farm.”
“We’re getting plenty of information from the bug guy.” Declan groaned. “There’s a word for him and I can’t remember what it is.”
There was something about his voice. A tone or a looseness that had her—
“You’re drunk!” She did the math and realized it was eleven-thirty in Texas, then laughed. “You went out drinking!”
“What? No. Okay, buzzed but not drunk. There were shots. Heath and I needed a break from our clients.”
“At least you’re not in a rock quarry examining fossils.”
“That would be grim. I miss you.”
The unexpected statement caught her off guard. She waited, wondering if he would take it back and when he didn’t, she said, “I miss you, too.”
“No. You’re busy with your regular life. How’s school?”
School? He wanted to talk about her math class? Couldn’t they talk about the missing more?
“Good. The tutoring is helping. I’ve signed up for a summer class. It’s going to be brutal. Four days a week for three hours a day, plus the homework. It’s a general education class. Sociology—so lots of reading. I’m nervous and excited.”
“Good for you. It’s just you’re so easy to be around. And beautiful.” He swore. “Sorry. I guess I’m more buzzed than I thought.”
Beautiful? “It’s okay.”
“You sure? I think we’re heading into dangerous territory.”
She shifted so she was lying on the bed rather than