A Child's Wish

Meredith’s soft, sweet mouth surprised him. She pressed gently, filling him with warmth. He would pull back now, probably should never have leaned forward to begin with. But he wasn’t ready to let go. To be alone. To send her out into the night with whatever demons were lurking behind those expressive eyes—demons she faced alone.

She was mystery and woman and friend. And he opened his mouth. She opened hers, too. Tilting her head slowly to fit him more securely. He shared the connection with her, a moment that made no sense—and made perfect sense. Until his tongue took them into something else.

Something powerful. Compelling. And dangerous.

“I HAVE TO GO.” Meredith yanked away from Mark’s lips, aghast. What in the hell had she done? Whose feelings had she been experiencing right then? Please let them be Susan’s.

Mark nodded, looking none too pleased himself.

With awkward movements she got to the kitchen, found her bag. Mark was behind her.

“That never happened,” she said to the wall, afraid of looking at him again.

“And that’s no way to handle this.”

She turned around against her better judgment. Searching for meaning in the eyes that had led her to betray her best friend. Something she’d thought she’d never do.

“If we pretend, hide, run, we give it power.”

He was right. She had nothing to add.

“It won’t happen again.” He sounded sure about that.

“Of course not.” She didn’t feel sure at all. About anything. Who was this woman who’d taken possession of her, and how would she find peace again? Was it even still there?

“Look, it’s been a long night, Meredith. We’ve been through a lot, both in real time and in reliving other times.”

She nodded.

“We had some pretty heavy-duty conversation. Unusual conversation.”

Agreed.

“It gave us a sense of…momentary closeness.”

Okay.

“And with that came a natural inclination to make a physical connection.”

She could go with this. “It wasn’t sexual,” she said.

“No sexual intent whatsoever.”

Fine, then. She wanted to ask him if he found her sexually unattractive, but the question was ludicrous.

“We haven’t just jeopardized our jobs.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Or been disloyal to Susan.”

“Not in the least.”

His peace didn’t make her feel peaceful. “Are you going to tell her or am I?”

He was quiet for a moment. And then shrugged. “Tell her if you need to.” The response was completely unsatisfying.

“Don’t you think we owe it to her?”