Free Midnight Sons Volume 2 by Debbie Macomber Page A

night of Chrissie’s accident. There was only so much temptation a man could take, and that evening had stretched his endurance to the breaking point.
    He found Bethany sitting at her desk. Her eyes widened as he walked into the classroom. “Mitch, hello! It’s good to see you.”
    He smiled slightly. “I hope you don’t mind my dropping in like this.”
    “Of course not.”
    “It’s about Chrissie,” he said hurriedly, for fear Bethany would get the wrong impression. “I’ve been a little, uh, concerned about her grades.”
    “But she’s excelled in all her subjects. She’s getting top marks.”
    He was well aware that his excuse was weak. From the day school had started, he hadn’t had to hound Chrissie to do her homework. Not once. She would’ve gladly done assignments five hours a night if it meant pleasing Ms. Ross.
    “I’ve been wondering about her grades since the accident,” he said.
    “They’re fine.” Bethany flipped through her grade book and reviewed the most recent entries. “I’ve kept a close eye on her, looking for any of the symptoms Dotty mentioned, but so far everything’s been great. Is there a problem at home—I mean, has she been dizzy or anything like that?”
    “No, no,” he was quick to reassure her.
    “Oh, good.” She seemed relieved, and he felt even more of a fool.
    Mitch stood abruptly and turned as if to leave. “By the way,” he said, trying to make it sound like an afterthought, “I don’t mean to pry, but rumor has it you’re having dinner with Bill Landgrin this Friday night.”
    “Yes.” She stared at him. “How’d you know that?”
    “Oh,” he said with a nonchalant shrug, “word gets around. I didn’t know you two had met.”
    “Only briefly. He was on a flight with Duke and stopped in at the café the same time I was there,” she explained.
    “I see,” he said thoughtfully. He started to leave, then turnedback with a dramatic flourish. “What about John? Do you often date men you’ve just met?”
    “What about him?”
    “Why aren’t you seeing him anymore?”
    Bethany hesitated. “I don’t think I like the tone of your question, Mitch. I have every right to date whomever I wish.”
    “Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to imply anything else. It’s just that, well, if you must know, Bill has something of a…reputation.”
    She stiffened. “Thank you for your concern, but I can take care of myself.”
    He was making a mess of this. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Bethany. It’s just that I’m all this town’s got in the way of law enforcement, and I thought it was my duty to warn you.”
    “I see.” She snapped the grade book shut. “And I’m a policeman’s daughter. As I told you earlier, I can take care of myself.” She made a production of looking at her watch. “Now if you’ll excuse me?”
    “Yes, of course,” he said miserably, turning to go. And this time he left.
     
    Bethany wasn’t sure why she was so angry with Mitch. Possibly because he was right. She had no business having dinner with a man she barely knew. Oh, she’d be safe enough. Not much was going to happen to her in the Hard Luck Café with half the town looking on.
    It went without saying that she’d agreed to this dinner for all the wrong reasons. John Henderson had started seeing another woman recently. One of the newer recruits, a shy young woman named Sally McDonald.
    After nearly six weeks here, Bethany had to conclude that Mitch didn’t want to become romantically involved. The nightof Chrissie’s accident, she’d felt certain they’d broken through whatever barrier was separating them. She remembered the way his eyes had held hers after the love scene in the movie. Bethany knew darn well what he was thinking, because she was thinking it, too. Then, when things looked really promising, Mitch had leapt away from her. Since that night, he’d had nothing to say—until now. Bethany was left feeling frustrated and confused.
    When Bill