Free Summer Fling (Players of Marycliff University Book 1) by Jerica MacMillan Page B

He'd taken off his tie on the way over, undone the top button of his shirt, and rolled up his sleeves so he could be a little more comfortable.

    She opened the door, standing in the opening so he couldn't get in or see past her. She was wearing the shirt he'd bought her on Sunday with a pair of Bermuda shorts that were styled like dress pants and the sandals she wore to the party on Saturday night. "Hey. I didn't think you'd make it this quick. Megan's on her way home, so she can just take me. You're off the hook." She gave him a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes.  

    "I'm already here. I don't mind taking you. You'll obviously feel better if you get there sooner than later."  

    Abby's eyes flicked over his clothes, then studied his face. She nodded once. "Thanks, Lance. Let me just grab my bag and we can go."  

    Lance waited outside for a moment, then Abby was back, locking up the apartment on her way out. He walked her to his car and opened the passenger door for her.  

    She looked up at him just before he closed it. "Thanks for doing this for me."

    "No problem." Lance walked around the car, slid into his seat and started the engine. "So, where to?"

CHAPTER EIGHT

    The ride to Abby's mom's house passed in silence. Lance would glance over at her every so often, but Abby kept her face directed at her window.  

    He tried to engage her in conversation, but everything he tried was met with the shortest answer possible. She had shut down, not projecting any emotion. He'd seen Abby nervous before, but never completely withdrawn.

    "What's your mom's name?"

    "Diane." She said it evenly, still staring out the window.

    "What does she need help with?"

    "I don't know."

    "She didn't say?"

    Abby just shook her head, still not looking at him.

    Lance drove in silence for another ten minutes. "How was work today?"

    Abby turned her head slightly in his direction, but still didn't face him. "Fine."

    He left her alone with her thoughts after that. He didn't know what was going on, but figured she'd tell him when she decided that he needed to know.

    When they got off the freeway, she seemed to shake herself back to awareness of her surroundings. She faced forward, looking out the windshield and giving him directions.  

    She took him to the outskirts of town onto a dirt road. There were pine trees all around and every so often they came to a driveway leading to a run down mobile home. Eventually she indicated an opening in the trees on the right and told him to turn there.

    "Driveway" was a generous term for what was little more than two rutted tracks nearly overgrown with knapweed, clover, and dandelions. The weeds made hollow sounds as they scraped along the bottom of his car. The track led to a double-wide mobile home on a concrete slab. It was a dirty gray color and the ends of the siding were starting to crumble.

    Lance stopped where the track ended near the concrete steps leading to the front door. When he killed the engine, Abby finally turned and looked at him for the first time since she had answered her door.

    "So, my mom has some issues. Mostly anxiety and she doesn't really like meeting new people. I'm not sure what she needs help with today or how long it will take. I'm hoping it won't take long. I don't want to ruin your evening." She hesitated and looked toward the front door. "Do you mind waiting in the car?"

    "You want me to wait in the car?" Lance tried to keep his voice as even as possible, but couldn't help letting his disbelief seep in.

    Abby nodded. "Please?" Her voice held a note of pleading. It was the only crack he'd seen in her emotionless facade.

    He let out a breath. It was going to be a hot, boring wait, but he couldn't tell her no. At least the trees around meant that he was parked in the shade. "Yeah, sure. I'll be here."

    "Thank you." He watched Abby get out of his car and go to the front door. She tried the handle first, then knocked before pulling out her keys and opening the