Free Repressed (Deadly Secrets) by Elisabeth Naughton Page B

over them as he turned her in a slow circle.
    “I don’t usually dance.”
    “You should,” he said. “You’re not half bad. You haven’t stepped on my toes once.”
    She frowned up at him. “We’ve only been dancing for fifteen seconds.”
    “And I’m already mesmerized.”
    She shook her head, but the smile on her lips said she liked that. Liked him the same way he liked her. And even though it was crazy, considering where he was and all that had happened to him in this town, he only wanted to see her smile like that for him again. As many times as he could.
    “You’re a charmer, aren’t you, Dr. McClane?”
    “No, I’ve been charmed. By a beautiful chemistry teacher I didn’t expect to meet.”
    Her pulse picked up, he felt it where he held her hand in his, but something darkened in her eyes just as her feet stopped moving. “Ethan, I’m not good at . . . ”
    “At what?”
    “At this. Relationships, dating, any of it.” She sighed and backed out of his arms, and though he only wanted to go on holding her, he let go because he didn’t want to push too fast too soon. “My track record with men is shit.”
    “I’m sure it’s not that bad.”
    She huffed a sound that was both humor and disgust. “It is. I have the inherent ability to get involved with all the wrong sorts of men at the most inopportune times. Did you ever watch Seinfeld ?”
    “Sure. Who hasn’t?”
    “Well, you know how Jerry always found something wrong with every woman he dated? That’s me. I always manage to screw things up.” He smiled, but she only frowned up at him. “I’m completely serious. I’ve never been in a relationship that’s lasted over a month. My last therapist called it a fear of commitment.”
    He reached for her hand. “Maybe you just haven’t met the right guy, Samantha.”
    “Yeah, well, it certainly wasn’t the therapist. I broke it off with him when I found out he was married.”
    She’d been involved with her doctor? That explained her animosity toward Ethan’s profession the first day they’d met. “Holy crap.”
    She grimaced. “See. Told you. Really bad judgment.”
    Things she’d said, the way she’d acted . . . it was all starting to make sense. He slid his fingers around her other hand. “Not all guys are like that, Samantha.”
    And that particular guy should be shot for taking advantage of her.
    “I know. I’ve even managed to get involved with some nice ones along the way. My ex-husband can attest to that.”
    His mouth fell open, but he closed it quickly, realizing he probably looked like a fool. Of course she could have been married. Why not? She was gorgeous and smart and absolutely entrancing.
    “Shocked, huh? It lasted all of three weeks before I managed to screw that one up.”
    “Recently?”
    “No.” She sighed and looked toward the car. “Back when I was in college. He was a great guy. It wasn’t his fault. I’m just not relationship material.”
    For some reason, he sensed that wasn’t the least bit true. “Sam—”
    “I’m not trying to brush you off, Ethan. I’m completely serious. And I like you—more than I probably should—which is why being honest is the best way to go at this point. I’m damaged goods.”
    The fact that she was admitting she was attracted to him set off an odd fluttering in his stomach. But knowing she didn’t think she was worth taking a chance on made something deep in his chest tighten. “No, you’re not. You’re cautious.”
    “Emotionally crippled.”
    He moved closer and slid one arm around her waist. “Prudent.”
    She didn’t fight him when he lifted her arm and drew her back into a slow dance. “Completely insane.”
    His whole body tingled as hers brushed his in the dim light. “You’re definitely not that. I think you’re just afraid. That’s normal.”
    Her gaze drifted to the collar of his sweatshirt, and she sighed. “I love the way you say my name. Nobody calls me by my full name