“Just say it!”

He winced at my tone. “I have these…feelings for you. And when I saw you over here, with that same look on your face, I was afraid you’d never speak to me again if I didn’t explain.”

“You have feelings for me?”

His face fel . “I can’t get you out of my head.”

That simple sentence had my heart pounding through my chest. He lightly cupped my jaw and brushed his thumb against my cheek. His touch sent a jolt of electricity throughout my body from my head to my toes.

A sultry guitar solo played from the jukebox. I knew the song vaguely, but wasn’t paying enough attention to it to figure it out. Jared’s mouth turned up into a half-smile, and he pul ed on both of my hands.

“Come here,” he said.

He walked backwards and led me to the smal wooden dance floor. Pul ing me close to his chest, his eyes never left mine. Everyone in the room must have been staring at us through the smoky haze, but I couldn’t disengage my gaze from his, even for a moment. He wrapped his arms around my middle, and I slid my hands up his arms, stopping at his shoulders.

I wasn’t sure if we were even dancing, with al of my focus on the fact that our bodies were so close. He broke his stare and leaned down to press his lips to my hair. I pressed my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes.

He tightened his grip, and every inch of me that was in contact with him burned in a wonderful way. I looked up and my eyes stal ed on his lips, the bottom a bit ful er than the top. I bit my lip in anticipation, the alcohol dissolving al of my inhibitions.

His body stiffened and I turned to fol ow his glare to the bar. One of the older men stil loitering in the pub had approached Claire.

The man reached for Claire and Jared’s grip on me tightened, stepping just slightly in front of me in a protective stance.

The man leaned over and patted Claire on the back. He laughed loudly and attempted to whisper into her ear. Claire was staring ahead, her body rigid; seeing just half of her expression it was obvious that she was about to lose her temper. The man lost his balance and used Claire to right himself.

“Claire—,” Jared warned, but it was too late.

In the same second, she knocked the man’s legs out from under him with incredible speed and then stood up on the rung of her bar stool, slamming his head, cheek down, to the bar. The wood made a cracking noise with the force of her blow, and the man wailed in pain. He flailed his arms, reaching above him for Claire’s face, but she quickly reached around with her other hand and grabbed his fingers, wrenching them back. The bones in his fingers snapped and I recoiled, even though I stil hadn’t quite processed what was going on. The man’s blood-curdling scream sent the bartender running over to try to separate them.

Claire leaned down and yel ed over the music into his ear. “Was that good for you, Baby?” and then slowly licked his cheek. Claire released her grip, and he slithered down to the floor. The entire room seemed frozen in time.

Jared heaved an exasperated sigh. He looked at me with a tired ache in his eyes, and then let me go. He walked over to Claire, grabbed her arm and then ushered her out.

“She broke my damn fingers!” the man howled, cradling his arm to his chest.

Several of the older patrons rushed to his side and helped him up while he moaned in pain. Beth grabbed my hand and pul ed me out of the pub.

The cab waited for us outside in a cloud of exhaust.

I looked around, but Jared had disappeared.

Beth tugged at my coat frantical y. “Get in, Nina, before the cops get here!”

I ducked into the cab and my ears were fil ed with shrieking and chattering in high tones. I wasn’t listening to any of it; I was too confused about what I had seen. Jared wasn’t surprised at al that his teenaged-sister had broken the hand of a ful grown man as if he was made of glass.

I went over it in my head; the memory seemed more like a kung fu movie than something that had unfolded in front of my eyes. Tiny, delicate Claire seemed to have superhuman strength and speed, and Jared’s reaction didn’t make sense. He didn’t act to protect her, and yet he seemed to know that carnage was on the horizon; he even shielded me from it.

“Nina! Are you listening to me? Wasn’t that incredible? The way she just—,” Beth set in motion with a series of karate chops and then jerked her hand forward in the same motion Claire used to slam the man’s head into the bar, grunting with each move. Beth giggled with delight while I shuddered at the recol ection.

“I’d hate to meet her on a dark playground, I’l tel you that,” Kim joked.

Ryan shook his head. “She’s al of ninety-five pounds and when she grabbed my hand, I couldn’t break free. What is she? Sixteen? Seventeen? She isn’t normal.”

“She has to be in high school, stil ,” Beth said.

“She’s old enough to drive, though. Did you see her car?” Kim added.

I perked up, then. “You saw them leave?”

Beth nodded. “She took off down the street in some kind of sports car; Jared was with her. They looked like they were arguing.”

“It was a Lotus,” Kim said.

“It was a phantom black Lotus Exige S two-sixty. Nice, nice car,” Ryan mused. “It costs over twelve-grand just for the paint.”

“Doesn’t Josh’s dad have one?” Kim asked, elbowing Ryan.

Ryan shook his head with raised eyebrows.

Kim looked at me. “It’s a good thing she wasn’t his date, Nigh. That would have been one short catfight.”

“Hey,” Beth prodded. Her giggling had tapered off. “What’s wrong? You’l see him again, I’m sure of it. You should have seen the way he looked at you when you were dancing together.”

I couldn’t help but notice Ryan frown at Beth’s words.

My attention was drawn to the passing lights outside my window. Seeing him again was exactly what I wanted, but my sense of self-preservation cried foul. The entire situation was one big red flag, but did I believe Jared was dangerous?

Something about Jared’s eyes assured me that in the short time I’d known him, he was safe. Every piece of me that had been guided by my father to be reasonable and wary was screaming run, but I knew I would intentional y try to cross paths with him at the earliest moment fate al owed. The moment of sadness in his eyes before he left me played out over and over in my head. I had to see him again.

The next study group session, Ryan col apsed in the chair beside me. He teetered his pencil between his fingers while I went over my notes.

“Nina?” Ryan whispered.

“Yes?”

“Who was that guy the other night?”

I feigned a confused expression. “What guy?”

He smirked at me. “You know who I’m talking about. That Jared guy. Are you dating him?”

I shrugged. “No, not real y.”

“What does that mean?”

I kept my eyes on my paper. “I’ve gone to lunch with him once, he’s given me a ride home a few times, and I’ve see him around town…,” I was purposeful y vague. I didn’t know where the conversation was headed.

“So what was that, at the pub? Why did he show up with his sister to tel you he wasn’t there with her?”

“I haven’t talked to him to get that figured out, yet.”

“But you’re going to talk to him?” His voice was growing impatient with my answers.

“I don’t know, Ryan. Why?” I said, unable to conceal my irritation with his line of questioning.

Ryan squirmed in his seat and then turned to face me. “I wanted to ask you…if…you know… if you wanted to grab dinner sometime.”

“Oh,” I rubbed my forehead, “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”

Ryan nodded indifferently. “I just thought I’d ask. I didn’t know if you and that guy were….”

“It’s not about Jared,” I lied.

“Do you think he came there to check up on you?”

I contemplated that for a moment. “I don’t know, maybe. I’ve been running into him a lot, lately.”

“That’s pretty creepy.”

“I like to think of it as fate stepping in,” I mused.

Ryan’s face twisted to petulance. “Sounds like stalking to me.”

“You should talk, trying to fight over a girl you barely know.”

“He had his hands on you,” he grumbled.

“Thank you,” I smiled, nudging him.

“You’re welcome. You know that guy’s got to be bad news, right?”

“I don’t believe that.” Ryan scowled at my words, but I shrugged off his skepticism. “I can’t explain it. There’s something in his eyes.”

Ryan shook his head in disapproval. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. His little sister is insane.”

“I’m with you on that one.”

We both laughed and then Ryan shrugged. “Maybe once you get things al sorted out with your stalker, you’l reconsider.”

“He’s not a stalker.”

“MmmHmm,” he said, trying to appear interested in his algebra book.

Beth began gathering her plethora of organizational aides and Kim stood up and stretched. The rest of the group disbanded as Kim, Beth, Ryan and I walked out of the library together.

“I’m starving,” Kim said.

“I could eat,” Beth chimed in.

Ryan turned to me. “Is an after study snack out of the question?”

They al eyed me expectantly. “Let’s eat,” I shrugged.

Ryan and Kim went over possible plans for the weekend over pancakes and hash browns while Beth and I discussed our intentions to attend the basketbal game. Even with the ever-growing puzzle that was Jared, life was a shade of ordinary again. I felt the unease I’d been feeling for weeks slowly dissipate into the greasy air.

While walking out to the car I noticed a short, squat man walking paral el to us. Ryan veered to the outside of our group, positioning himself between us and the stranger. The man arrived at Kim’s Sentra the same moment that we did.

“Are you Nina Grey?” The man asked me in a hoarse voice. I felt my body tense.

“What do you need?” Ryan asked, stepping forward.

The man noted Ryan’s presence but spoke only to me. “I was an associate of your father’s. My name is Charles Dawson. It’s important that I speak with you.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, the mention of my father created a stabbing sensation in my stomach.

“I would like to speak with you alone, if you don’t mind,” he said, his squinty eyes shifting from each of my friends and then back to me.

“Nina, do you know this guy?” Ryan asked, jerking his thumb at Mr. Dawson.

I studied his face for a moment. He wore an expensive suit like the hundreds of other men I’d seen in my father’s company through the years, but his face wasn’t familiar.

I tried to be polite. “I-I don’t think I do, sir. I’m not sure I could help you.”

Mr. Dawson took a step toward me and Ryan did the same.

“I’ve been trying to get in touch with your father for some time, now. It’s come to my attention that he’s passed away.”

I worked to separate my lips long enough to form the words. “That’s correct.”

“Your father had agreed to sign over some property to me, and I was wondering if you were at al familiar with our transaction?”

Kim spoke up. “Nina, this is probably not the appropriate time to—,”

“I think you’d rather speak to my father’s attorney, Thomas Rosen,” I interrupted. “He is with Rosen and Barnes in Kennedy Plaza. I’m sure he wil be able to assist you.” I turned to get into the car, but the man took several quick steps to thwart my efforts. He held my door and his face turned grave.

“It’s of the utmost importance, Nina. I’ve exhausted al of my options, and I’m asking for your help.” His eyes darted to Ryan and then back to me. Mr.

Dawson kept his voice low, “Jack has a safe. Maybe you’ve seen it? My papers are there in that safe and I need to obtain them right away.”

The already uncomfortable feeling that I was experiencing grew as the man inched closer to me. I heard Kim make wide strides to intercede, but Ryan beat her to it, stepping between me and the stranger. I slid into my seat and shut the door while Kim wheeled around, hurrying to start the car.

Ryan paused for a moment, eyeing the man, and then joined Beth in the back seat. I saw Ryan’s arm slide between my shoulder and the door, reaching to press down the lock.

Mr. Dawson leaned down to peer at me through the glass. “I need those papers, Nina. It would be wise of you to help me.” He pul ed out a card and held it against the window with his palm. I scanned it quickly and attempted to smile.

No one spoke until we were almost back to the school parking lot.

“Does anyone else think that was completely creepy?” Beth shrieked.

“Beth! You scared the crap outta me!” Kim said.

“What are you going to do?” Ryan asked.

“I’m going to cal Mr. Rosen tomorrow, and then I’m going to cal my mother,” I said, fidgeting.

Beth nodded with wide eyes. “Your mom is gonna freak.”

“I know,” I grumbled.

Kim waved and set off to Andrews while Beth and I said our goodbyes to Ryan.

Beth patted Ryan’s shoulder. “I’m glad you were there, Ryan. That guy was…I don’t think he would have let Nina in the car had you not been there.”

“Yes, thank you,” I said, hugging him.

Ryan pul ed back to look at me, stil keeping me enveloped in his arms. “I’d do anything for you,” he said, brushing my bangs away from my eyes.

I took a step back and glanced at Beth, whose eyes were bouncing back and forth between Ryan and me. He scratched the back of his head nervously. “Yeah, wel …guess I better head back to the dorm. I’l see you ladies at our next study group.”