Free Bound to the Past (Starville Series Book 1) by Lauryn Michaels Page B

turned to mush! Not to mention that sheʼd pushed him away as if terrified. No, even a schoolgirl would have reacted way more maturely than her. She was so inept when it came to men, no wonder Jack had made a dash for it.
    Still holding the sheets in her arms, she headed toward the stairs…and, just like the night before, she crashed right into Jack. This time, though, she was so shocked to see him that she jumped backward with a loud squeal, and her arms gave up their grip on the sheets. They dropped to the floor and entangled all around her legs, making her lose her balance and reel forward. She wouldʼve fallen facedown had Jack not caught her in his arms.
    “Weʼve really got to stop meeting like this,” he joked.
    Still too baffled to react, Sara didnʼt answer. He pulled away to give her a questioning look. Her confusion must have been evident, because suddenly his face darkened and the amusement dancing in his eyes faded.
    She dropped her gaze and bent over to pick up the sheets. “Jack… Iʼm sorry, I didnʼt know you were still here.”
    “Yeah, I got that.”
    Sara followed him quietly to the living room, watching him as he looked around as if to make sure he wasnʼt forgetting anything. She noticed that he was wearing a clean pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, but only when she saw his bag already strapped over his shoulder did she realize he was about to go.
    “Would you like some breakfast?” she asked, trying to delay his departure. She knew it was pathetic, but, for whatever strange reason she didnʼt even want to investigate, the thought of him leaving was as unacceptable now as it had been the night before. Maybe even more so.
    Jack dropped the bag onto the couch and turned to her, a sarcastic grin on his face. “Save your act, Sara.”
    Sara blinked, more and more disoriented. “What?”
    “Oh, cʼmon. Okay, so last night you were exhausted, maybe moved to pity toward me―whatever made you ask me to stay, I appreciate it. But itʼs clear that things are different this morning and you canʼt wait for me to get the hell outta here.”
    If anything, his words seemed to jerk her out of the numb state she had fallen into. “The blow on your head must have caused more damage than we thought, because youʼve obviously lost your mind!” she blurted. “Or maybe you were always this idiotic, and I just never noticed. Either way, I have no idea what the heck is going through your head right now, but itʼs ridiculous.”
    “Is it, Sara?” Jack leaned abruptly into her, and she automatically took a step backward. “Thatʼs what I thought.” Without another word, he grabbed his bag, strapped it back over his shoulder, and started toward the front door.
    “If youʼre talking about the fact that you almost kissed me last night, yes, it did freak me out!”
    Her words had the effect she hoped they would, because he halted with his hand on the knob and slowly turned around to look at her. His eyes, however, stayed cold and emotionless.
    “Because I might be a murderer.”
    “Yes, because of that, too,” Sara admitted. “But mostly because, for some crazy reason, you make me feel things that Iʼm not used to feeling, and…itʼs terrifying.” There. Sheʼd said it. After all, Jack was about to get out of her life forever, and she would never see him again, so what did she have to lose? She owed him the truth, at least.
    She saw his jaw tighten, but when he didnʼt move or comment, she blew out a resigned sigh and forced herself to continue. “I came downstairs last night because I couldnʼt sleep. And I was afraid youʼd leave without saying good-bye. When I woke up and saw the empty couch, I was disappointed and mad that I hadnʼt heard you go anyway.” She dropped her eyes at the shocked expression on his face. Crap. Sheʼd met Jack barely two days ago, and already sheʼd given a whole new definition to the word pathetic !
    At least one long minute went by before Jack was able to react.
    How did