Last Christmas (Private 0.60)

she scanned the names below each mailbox until she found Mr. Holmes's slot. She pulled her paper from her

bag and stood on tiptoe, sliding it into his already overstuffed cubby.

A loud clatter in the hallway shattered the silence, and Ariana instinctively ducked behind the wall of

mailboxes. She had thought she was alone. Immediately she felt silly. Easton was the safest place in the

world. She just wasn't used to the place being empty. Shaking her head, she was about to come out when she

heard footsteps, and something told her to stay where she was. She heard a door opening-or was it was the

wind rattling the ancient windows? She couldn't tell. She held her breath and closed her eyes. Silence. What

was going on? The campus was practically deserted. Who else would be coming to Hell Hall at this hour?

Slowly, Ariana pulled open the door and stepped cautiously into the hallway. It was empty. She quickly

headed for the door but felt the overwhelming sensation that someone was watching her. Her steps turned into

a jog, and the only sound she could hear was her heart pounding loudly in her ears.

This is stupid, she chided herself even as she ran. There's no one here. No one. No one. No-Just a few feet

from the double doors, she slammed into something. Someone. Ariana screamed. A hand clamped over her

mouth and her back slammed into the wall. A hooded figure. Strong and tall, but thin. Ariana opened her

mouth to bite down when she caught the familiar, spicy scent of Thomas Pearson.74 "Calm down! It's just

me." He let her go and she gulped in a huge breath. "Jesus, Thomas. Do you have a death wish or

something?" Ariana sank back against the wall, adrenaline draining from her body. She wiped her clammy

hands on her coat and tried to slow her breathing. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Just in the neighborhood." He lowered his hood and laughed. She felt her body begin to relax. Even in the

dimly lit hall, his eyes were stunningly blue.

"Try again." She felt the heat radiating from his body. She knew it was ridiculous, but suddenly she felt

warmer. " Okay. I knew you would need a little help getting to the chapel." Ariana's heart skipped a beat, but

she remembered her decision. She had to stick to her plan. "I can't. I have to catch a cab. I'm meeting Daniel

in Vermont tonight." "So go in the morning," he said simply, moving closer. She took a step back, bumping

in to the hallway wall. He was mere inches from her now, and Ariana felt the resistance melting from her

body. It was as if he had some sort of power over her. The power to make her forget what she had with

Daniel. To forget what could happen if anyone saw her with him. What she could lose. Billings.

Easton. Her

mother.

But when he was that close, all that existed was Thomas. All that she wanted was Thomas. "You know you