EXCERPT

“Hello,” she said without a smile.

“You came back,” he answered shortly. “I wasn’t?sure you would.”

She gestured toward the padded table. “Of course?I came back. You can’t scare me off that easily.”

He turned his back to peel off the sweats. He wore his shorts underneath, she was relieved to note, but she could feel that he still didn’t want to uncover the scars to her. He got up on the table without?another word. She plugged in her machine and began to move it lightly over his leg, standing with her?back to him again. It was easier this time.

She started whistling, something she’d done as a nervous habit?as a child.??She hadn’t done it in years, and when she realized?that she was?whistling “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?” she cut it off hard and made a face, praying?that he hadn’t noticed.

But he had. If she’d turned around at that point,?she would have seen a smile in his eyes. He watched?her stiff back, the swing of her full, shining hair, and?he was reminded of just how young and na?ve she was.

Carrie Harlow, he thought to himself,?don’t you?know I?am?the big bad wolf? Don’t you know you?ought to run for the woods right now?

“Before I gobble?you up,” he whispered aloud.

“What?” she asked, looking back.

He shook his head, very slowly. She went back to?work. The sound waves from her machine pulsed,?an evening breeze blew in and stirred the papers on the desk, and her scent filled his?senses. Spring flowers. He closed his eyes, trying todeny what he felt.