Sighing, he rolled away from her, reaching for his clothes. “My robe is on the end of the bed—er, no, I guess it’s on the floor now. You can wear it to go back to your room.”
Nodding, she fumbled for the soft terry robe, then wrapped it around herself. She studied Connor through her lashes as she gathered her own tangled garments. Although she couldn’t completely interpret his expression, he definitely looked more relaxed. Completely alert. She suspected that he would be able to concentrate fully on his studying now.
She supposed she should be pleased about that. After all, she’d wanted to help him relax, right?
He tugged his shirt over his head. “You can go on to bed, if you’re tired. I’ll put out the lights and check the locks when I’m ready to turn in.”
She could take a hint. Even though it was a full hour earlier than she usually went to bed, she nodded. “I am a little tired. You’re sure there’s nothing I can do to help you study tonight? Because I’d be happy to—”
He interrupted by dropping a light kiss on her forehead. “Thanks, but I’ll do better tackling it on my own tonight.”
“Okay, then. Good night, Connor.”
He was already moving toward the door. In a hurry to get back to his studying…or running away from the emotions that had sprung up between them? Maybe a combination of both, she decided, following more slowly.
He turned to her in the doorway, after glancing down the hall to make sure all was still quiet from his daughter’s room.
“Mia,” he said, his voice very low. “I’m sure you already know this, but I—”
She held her breath when he hesitated, her heart beating rapidly in her throat.
“I’d be completely lost without you,” he finished after a moment. “I just want you to know how much I appreciate you.”
She forced a smile. “Go study, Connor. And then try to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, okay. Good night.”
“Good night,” she whispered, then headed wearily toward her room as he moved off in the other direction.
Connor overslept Friday morning. No big surprise because he hadn’t gone to bed until almost 3 a.m.
Surprisingly enough, he thought as he showered quickly and threw on his clothes, he’d actually been able to study during those quiet nighttime hours. He would have expected to be distracted by thoughts of Mia, by second thoughts and misgivings, or at the very least by leisurely mental replays. Instead, his mind had been clear and focused, his mood almost light as he’d gone over material that seemed oddly uncomplicated in those hours.
He was such a guy, he thought with a wry shake of his head. He’d been revitalized by the oldest method on record. Amazing what a round of hot, great sex could do for a man after a long, dry spell of going without.
But it was more than that, he told himself as he threw his things into his car and started the engine. He hadn’t wanted to be with just any woman. He’d wanted Mia. Wanted her so badly he hadn’t been able to concentrate fully on anything else for days. Weeks.
He didn’t know what the future held for him and he didn’t have time to dwell on it at the moment, but as he drove toward the campus, he felt more optimistic than he had in some time. Once he got past this final, he promised himself, he and Mia would have a l
ong-overdue talk.
He was working with his study group in James’s apartment when his cell phone rang later that afternoon. Seeing Mia’s number on the screen, he moved across the room to take the call. “Mia? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine. I hope I’m not interrupting anything…”
“I can take a minute. What’s up?”
“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to take Alexis to my family’s house on Lake Catherine this weekend. They’re all gathering there for my dad’s birthday, which is Sunday. I’d planned to take her for a few hours Sunday, but I think she’d enjoy staying the weekend to play with Nicklaus and Caroline.”
He frowned in response to what sounded like an odd tone in her voice. Was she a little self-conscious about what had happened between them last night? Understandable, of course, but for some reason, he thought there was more to it. “Sure. Of course. When are you leaving?”
“In about an hour, I guess. As soon as I can get our things together. We’ll be home Sunday afternoon.”
“Oh. I see.”
“It’s probably best for you, anyway. After all, you have that big test Monday and it will be easier for you to study without us there to bother you.”
“You know I like having you both there.”