Touched by Angels Page 0,47

string you along. It isn't fair to you. Please, Joshua, try to understand."

"Can't do this to me?" he repeated, and it seemed to her that he found encouragement in her words.

She didn't want to argue with him. She glanced longingly toward the door, wanting this last farewell to be over as quickly as possible. Not wanting to dwell on the unpleasantness of hurting him.

"Good-bye, Joshua."

He caught her by the shoulders and brought her into his arms. She didn't resist him. Hadn't the strength. His kiss was more potent than Irish whiskey. More heady than fine wine.

"Don't you think you should be more worried about hurting Carl than me?" he asked, his lips against her hair. "You said you couldn't do this to me."

"I can't do this to Carl, either," she said in a rush, her words dwindling to a mere whisper. She squeezed her eyes closed, realizing her mistake. Her first thought had been of Joshua, not Carl.

"You don't love him," Joshua insisted.

Hannah backed away from him. "Please accept this, Joshua. I can't . . . I won't see you again."

He opened his mouth, then snapped it closed as if biting off an argument. "It isn't in me to make you miserable, Hannah. Nor can I force you into a relationship against your will. I'm here night or day, whenever you need me." He pulled a business card from his wallet, then wrote something on the back of it. "Here's my address and phone number. You can reach me twenty-four hours a day. Call me when you're ready."

"I won't call."

"Take the card anyway."

He opened her hand and planted it in her palm, then folded her fingers over it.

Having done that, he kissed her again until her knees felt as though they would give out on her. She could barely manage to breathe when he lifted his head from hers. He reached up and tenderly slid his index finger down the side of her face.

"Call me," he whispered, his voice low and seductive.

Pride demanded that she tell him she wouldn't be making that phone call, but his kiss had stolen her breath away. By the time her lungs had recovered, he'd turned and walked away.

Realizing she was still clutching the business card, she buried it in her coat pocket and as silently as possible unlocked the door to the deli.

Soundlessly she made her way up the backstairs to the family apartment. All the lights were out, and Hannah sighed with relief. Her parents had gone to bed.

Guided by what little moonlight was available, she crept toward her bedroom. Just when she thought she was home free, her father spoke from behind her.

"Hannah?"

She swallowed tightly.

"For the love of heaven, where have you been? Don't you have a clue what time it is? Your mother and I have been half sick worrying about you."

All through the afternoon, Brynn noticed that Suzie Chang's eyes avoided hers. Although the teenager didn't contribute freely to class discussions, if Brynn called upon her, Suzie would willingly share her thoughts.

Often Brynn had been grateful for Suzie's contributions. Her other students tended to get sidetracked easily. Brynn had come to rely on Suzie to subtly steer the topic back on course. Reading the teenager generally wasn't difficult, and Brynn knew from the way Suzie's eyes brightened when she had something she wanted to say.

It wasn't that way this afternoon, however. Suzie seemed to be trapped in a world all her own. Knowing the girl was miserable nearly broke Brynn's heart.

Brynn blamed herself. It had been wrong for her to look into scholarship possibilities without first discussing the idea with Suzie. Her intentions had been good, but in the process she'd somehow managed to hurt the girl.

The bell rang, and Brynn stopped Suzie on her way out the door.

"Could I speak to you for a few moments?" Brynn asked, hoping her voice didn't betray her worries.

"I can't this afternoon, Miss Cassidy," the teenager mumbled, her head bowed.

"It'll only take a moment, Suzie."

The room emptied, and Suzie stood just inside the classroom, her gaze fastened to the floor. She trembled like a frightened rabbit.

"It's about our discussion from the other day," Brynn began. "Remember I asked you if you had any plans for higher education."

"I can't go to college, Miss Cassidy."

"Suzie, if I said something to offend you, then I'm truly sorry."

The teenager bit into her lower lip, then slowly lifted her head. She offered Brynn a weak smile. "You didn't offend me. I was honored that you felt I .