Sallinger, Elene: Reflection (The Chrysalis Series)

‘Ross. Bridget Ross.’

She held out her hand to shake. It was tiny and delicate with perfectly manicured nails painted a deep shade of burgundy. His own hand engulfed hers and he liked the feel of her skin against his. So much so, he didn’t let go.

‘I’m Connor Reynolds, Bridget Ross.’ He grinned again as she tugged gently on her hand; only when she tugged harder did he let it go.

‘Well, Connor. I’d like to make it up to you, if you’d let me.’

He raised an eyebrow as he waited.

‘Would you let me buy you a cup of coffee?’

‘Coffee?’ He pretended a pout. ‘I’m going to be wearing a bruise for at least a week.’

She laughed at his obvious acting. It was a lovely sound, light and tinkling and made with her whole body. Not one of those weak, simpering laughs. This reached her eyes and made her face shine.

‘OK, how about coffee and a pastry of your choice? I have a bit of pull with the owner at Bean There Done That.’

‘Hmmm.’ He pretended to think it over when he already knew he was going to say yes. ‘OK, but it will have to be tomorrow. I have somewhere to be at the moment.’

‘Are you a photographer?’ She nodded in the direction of his equipment.

‘What I am is late.’ He dodged the question, but softened his words with a smile. ‘Is 11 a.m. good for you tomorrow?’

She shook her head saying, ‘I have a class at 11.30. How about after lunch, say 1 p.m.?’

‘One it is.’ He smiled again.

‘OK then, good.’ She smiled back and turned saying, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Yup.’ He waved as she moved off, taking a good, long look at her shapely ass which he’d admired so much that morning. His hand itched to cup it. He watched until she turned into the faculty parking lot before finally heading to the stadium to find Sam.

He didn’t even try to wipe the grin off his face.

What in the hell had possessed her to ask him out for coffee? She’d only planned to apologise, not ask him out. She seemed to lose the ability to think straight when it came to that man.

Connor. She liked the name. It fit him. He looked like a Connor, like something straight out of one of those Highlander movies. His grey eyes had been laughing the whole time. What a smartass. She snorted at the memory, but found herself grinning just the same.

‘Something funny, Professor?’

Bridget snapped out of her thoughts as Skyler dropped her exam on Bridget’s desk. She looked up at her student and nodded.

‘Yeah. Well, to me anyway.’

She noted that the rest of the class was already gone. Skyler was always the last to turn in her exams. A brilliant student, she nevertheless agonised over tests. Many a time, Bridget had to remind her to relax and breathe. That she either knew it or she didn’t. She wasn’t going to learn it while taking the test.

Once, Bridget had found her sobbing over a B that she’d gotten on an exam. She’d refused to open up when questioned as to why this was an earth-shattering event, but Bridget had seen this type of thing before. Students who pushed themselves so hard for one reason or another, but who all had a common thread of feeling like they had something to prove, whether to a parent or friend.

‘How are you doing, Skyler?’ She worried about this one. She seemed very close to a breaking point some days.

‘I’m good, Professor. Never better.’ The words were bright but she didn’t meet Bridget’s eyes.

‘I’m always here if you want an ear, Skyler.’

Wary brown eyes met Bridget’s green ones.

‘What makes you think I need someone to talk to?’ Her entire body went rigid as she spoke. Her chin jutted up in the air and the muscles along her jaw stood out in stark relief as if her teeth were clenched.

‘Nothing in particular. You simply seem a bit more tense than usual. I’m just making myself available.’

Skyler visibly relaxed at those words, confirming Bridget’s suspicion that there really was something troubling her.

‘Everything’s OK, Professor. Promise.’ She threw a shaky grin at Bridget and, with a quick hitch of her shoulder to adjust her backpack, left the classroom, leaving Bridget alone once again to ponder her stupidity at arranging a date with Connor.

No, not a date. An apology. One that happened to involve coffee and pastry. She was a grown woman. And she didn’t pick up men, or chase men, or anything men any more. She’d had enough disastrous attempts to learn that it just wasn’t worth it.

She’d given up men and had even gotten past her reservations enough to have a vibrator. Well, more like Claire had made sure she got past her inhibitions and got a vibrator.

She smiled at the thought of the unusual friendship she’d struck up with Claire. They’d met through the romance book club sponsored by her now husband’s bookstore, Bibliophile. At the time, it had been Claire who’d been in need of a shoulder and some unfettered friendship. They’d become close, closer than Bridget had been with anyone in a very long time. She’d been happy to see Claire and Evan get past their respective baggage and find happiness with each other. A year later, they were solidly married and had a baby on the way.

Pain stole through Bridget at the thought of Claire’s unborn child. Oh, she was happy for her best friend. Ecstatic. She knew she was going to be the best damn godmother ever put on the face of this planet, but how she wished a baby was in the cards for her.

But, just as the deep, intimate relationship Claire had was not destined for her, neither was motherhood. For just a second, tears threatened, but she refused to give into them. Bridget Ross didn’t sit and wallow in self-pity. This was the hand she’d been dealt and she was going to make the best of it.

A glance at the delicate, pearl-encrusted watch that adorned her wrist told her it was time to get a move on if she was going to be on time for her meeting – not a date – with Connor.

Connor was early, but he didn’t mind. He’d been to the coffee shop before, but never hung out there. He’d always grabbed a cup of the daily brew and been on his way. He wasn’t a “hang out” kind of guy. He liked his solitude, and bustling coffee shops always made him feel conspicuous. But if this is where Bridget wanted to meet, then so be it. He was happy to put up with the crowd for a chance to be with her.

He passed the time by people-watching along the small main street that hosted River Rock’s downtown. He wasn’t being very successful at his usual game of creating instant back stories for the people he saw. His thoughts continued to stray back to Bridget.

She’d dominated his thoughts since their encounter on campus yesterday and not in an innocent way at all. He’d had some very, very vivid dreams of her, to the tune of waking up with a raging erection that he’d had to handle himself in the shower since she wasn’t there to sink into. It hadn’t been nearly as satisfying as he’d hoped, considering how his dick wanted to rise up every time he thought of her or how it just ignored him altogether at the sight of her. Even now he tingled when he spotted her coming towards him down the street. As they made eye contact, she smiled and raised a hand in greeting.

Those coppery waves hung down her back today and he bet they’d feel silky wrapped around his hand. She was dressed conservatively at first glance. Simply cut black trouser pants and an emerald green sleeveless top that clung to her body and showed off her toned arms. The clothes were elegant and smart, hugging her body in a way that drew your eye to every lush curve. She held herself with the grace of a dancer and moved with the same litheness.