“It needed to be modernized and expanded to survive.”
“Ramona’s changed, too. Business and politics had never held much interest for her.”
Megan struggled again with contradictory feelings for Ramona as mayor: pride that her cousin had accepted the responsibility when no one else would; relief that the town was better off now than it had been three years ago; frustration that Ramona was bullying the town into changes only she seemed to want.
Megan used the back of her wrist to wipe sweat from her upper lip. “And yet she’s launched her interior-design company and is running the town.”
Ean’s long strides picked up. Megan maintained her pace. Maybe his increased speed would carry him away from her.
Ean wiped the sweat from his chin. “I remember you following your grandparents around the bookstore. It was as though you were grooming yourself to take over for them. Did you major in business?”
Megan bit back a groan as Ean again adjusted his stride to hers. “I had a double major in business and accounting from the University of Illinois.”
Ean’s brows knitted. “Illinois is a good school. Ramona hadn’t mentioned that you’d gone to college out of state. I assumed you’d gone to Trinity Falls University, just as she had.”
“I got a sc
holarship.” With a wealth of relief, Megan nodded toward an old, curved tree several yards ahead on their left. “This is where I turn back. Enjoy the rest of your run.”
“I’ll join you.” Ean’s response was swift.
“That’s not necessary.” Megan declined his offer just as quickly.
“It’s still dark. I can’t leave you to jog home alone. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself.”
His words weakened her resistance. She fought hard not to give in. “Don’t cut your run short on my account. I’ll be fine.”
“I can come back to the park after I take you home.” And then he flashed his wicked grin. Deep dimples creased his cheeks. Hypnotic lights danced in his olive eyes.
Megan blushed at the direction her thoughts took. “All right. Thank you.”
They arrived at the tree with Megan just a half step behind Ean. In silence, they circled it, then jogged back the way they’d come.
Megan glanced at Ean’s strong, chiseled profile. Sweat molded the gray T-shirt to his pectorals. Her brain cells leaked from her ears. She kicked up her speed, anxious to end this torture.
Ean’s voice broke the uncomfortable silence. “What hobbies do you have besides jogging?”
“Why are you asking so many personal questions?” She tossed him a cheeky grin. “Are you going to ask my sign next? My favorite color?”
Ean laughed. “I only want to get to know you better.”
Her stomach seemed to drop. “What are your hobbies?”
Ean was silent for a moment. “I don’t think I have any others. In New York, all I did was work and run.”
She was angry for him. That wasn’t a life. “Reading. I like to read.”
His chuckle strummed the muscles in her lower abdomen. “Your face was always buried in a book.”
“And you, Darius and Quincy were always arguing over comic books.” Her blush was becoming a permanent condition.
“We weren’t arguing. We were debating.” His eyes warmed as they shared the memory.
Megan exhaled in relief as her grandparents’ house—now her home—came into view at the end of the block. “I’ll race you.”
She issued the challenge to mask her desperate need to escape him. Ean laughed as he pulled away from her. A latent competitive streak stirred to life inside Megan. She dug deeper, raising her knees and pumping her arms, straining to keep up with him, hoping to pass him.
Her gaze dropped to the fine, firm muscles of his derriere. A thread of an idea sewed into her mind. Megan reached forward and grabbed the waistband of his black gym pants. Ean came up short. The surprise stamped on his copper features was comical. Megan laughed as she sprinted past him.