been good,” he told her. “Real good.” He rubbed his face, trying without success to wipe away the overwhelming desire to take her in his arms again and assure her that everything would be fine. But as Preston Ware had pointed out, that was no longer his right to do. “So you became a teacher? What do you teach?”
“Chemistry.”
“You always were good at science. Better than me, that’s for sure.” He glanced around at the room they were in. He’d been holding back a slew of memories that had emerged the moment he’d stepped through the door into Lakeshore High. He’d spent four years at this school, good years. “Didn’t we have a class in this room?”
She nodded. “Western Civ.”
He grinned, remembering those days. “Coach Rollins. I wonder whatever happened to him.”
“He died of a heart attack last year.”
He forgot he wasn’t just reminiscing with some old friend. She’d been here in town. She’d kept up with all those people he’d left behind. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Look, Matt, there are a lot of places in this building, even in this town, where we took classes or hung out together. I know it must be awkward for you, but I face those places every day. I put those memories behind me a long time ago.”
Ouch, right to the point. “Claire, I owe you an apology.”
“Don’t. Please don’t apologize. We were just kids back then.”
“The accident—”
“Was just an accident, Matt.”
“I shouldn’t have been drinking and driving.”
“We were both drinking that night. We both used bad judgment.”
“Then you at least have to let me apologize for leaving the way I did.”
“It’s not necessary.”
He flashed back to the night of the accident and the sight of her broken body being pulled out from the wrecked car. It was the image of her he’d carried with him for the past ten years. “You look good, Claire. Are you... Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “It took a few surgeries and a lot of rehab, but I’m okay now.” She rubbed her hip unconsciously and he wondered if it bothered her. He’d noticed her limping earlier. “You are hurt,” he said, motioning to her hip.
She reddened, then waved away his concern. “It’s nothing.”
“You need to have that checked out.”
“It’s nothing,” she insisted, and the red on her face deepened. “It’s from an old injury. It just acts up on occasion.”
He realized her old injury was from the car wreck and shame filled him. She was still suffering from his wrong choices even after all these years.
She set the coffeepot to the side. “Actually, I’m tired. It’s been a very long day and I’m ready to go home and crawl into bed.”
“That’s a bad idea,” Matt said. “You shouldn’t be alone until we find the person who killed Luke and attacked you.”
“I’ll be fine. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. No one is after me.”
“We don’t know that, Claire. You could still be in danger.”
She glanced up at him, curiosity pooling in her eyes. “Why? What did you find?”
“Luke didn’t send you that text asking you to come to the school. He couldn’t have. He was already dead by the time that text was sent.”
“But it came from his phone. How can you possibly know that with any certainty?”
“I saw enough dead bodies during my time with the rangers and I’m telling you Luke has been dead for hours, which means someone else used his phone to send you that text message. Whoever it was lured you here and was waiting for you, Claire.”
He saw her mind racing. “Who would do that? Who would want to hurt me?”
“That’s a good question, and one we need to figure out.”
“I’m sure the text thing was just a fluke. Sometimes text messages get hung up in cyberspace.”
He shook his head. He’d meant it when he’d said he wasn’t leaving until he knew Claire was safe...and that was looking less and less likely. There was no way he was going to let her go home alone. She would be a sitting target. “Why don’t you go and stay with your folks for a few days? Just until we have time to sort all of this out?”
“My parents are on a cruise.”
“What about friends? I would feel better if you weren’t alone.”
“Matt, I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine. I’m sure you’re worried about nothing. Like you said, I don’t know anything, so there’s no reason to believe my life is in danger.”
Her stubborn streak hadn’t changed, and past experience told him that once she’d made up her mind, it was no use arguing. All he could do was try to figure out who killed Luke as quickly as possible. “Fine, but I’m driving you home.”
“That’s not necessary. I have my car.”
“I know, but I would feel better if you’d let me drive you.” Drive her home. Make sure she’s safely inside. Then back to his life and let Detective Preston Ware step into the role of good guy. It no longer fit him.
She chewed on her bottom lip, a clear indication she was nervous about being alone with him. At least that hadn’t changed. Finally, she gave a resigned sigh and agreed to let him drive her.
* * *
What on earth had she been thinking?
Allowing Matt to drive her home had been a phenomenal mistake.
She nearly burst out laughing as he climbed into her Volkswagen Bug, his long legs claiming the front seat and his knees nearly in his chest. He pushed back the seat to its farthest position, then started the engine.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked him. “How will you get back to your vehicle?”
“It’s only a couple of miles back to the school. I’ve hiked farther than that with a loaded pack in the pouring down rain. A clear spring night with a slight breeze will make it a piece of cake.”
She’d imagined him before doing his army training, and now she had an image of him carrying a heavy pack in the rain.
One more image of Matt Ross to file away.
He looked so different and yet so much like the Matt she remembered. He was taller and broader, a man instead of the boy she’d known. But his hazel eyes were still intense and his gaze on her still held the power to make her toes tingle. She turned to stare out the window as she felt her face flush with embarrassment.
She pointed the way and he turned into her driveway and stopped the car. He got out and walked her to her door.
“Thank you for bringing me home, Matt.”
“You’re welcome. It’s the least I could do for you, Claire.”
She shuddered as he placed his hand on her arm and walked with her toward the door. The air was chilly, but it wasn’t as much from the cold that she shivered. This reminded her that she was wearing his jacket.
“I should give this back now,” she said, slipping out of his coat and handing it to him. “It was good to see you again, Matt.” She didn’t think she could stand another ending with Matt Ross, but at least this time she could have a goodbye.
She turned to say it and spotted a car slowing down as it approached her house.
“Claire,