“Yes.”
Megan blinked. She’d been joking, but he looked serious. “Ean, that’s very kind of you, but I’ll be fine on my own.”
“I know, but I’d like to walk with you tonight.” His casual words played with her heart.
Megan glanced around. If she looked at him too long, his hypnotic olive eyes would claim her soul. “It’ll take me a while to get ready. We’re making sure everything’s in order before closing the store.”
On cue, Wesley emerged from one of the aisles. His blue button-down shirt was slipping free of the waistband of his navy pants again.
“Ms. McCloud, I’ve straightened the shelves in the back.” The seventeen-year-old jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to . . . Hey! Aren’t you Ean Fever?”
“Yes, I am.” Ean extended his right hand. “Who are you?”
“I’m Wes Hayes. I play ball for Heritage High.” A broad grin lightened Wesley’s usually solemn features. His lanky body vibrated with excitement. “I want to be just like you one day. Leave this place behind and make a name for myself in the big city.”
Ean shot a glance toward Megan, releasing Wesley’s hand. “Keep your grades up. Not everyone makes it in the pros. I didn’t.”
Wesley shook his head. His thin brown braids swung above his shoulders. “No, but you were making serious jack with the law firm. I wanna do that.”
“How are your grades?”
“They’re all right.” Wesley shrugged, still staring at Ean as though the lawyer was a pop star.
Megan smiled at Wesley’s modesty. The high school junior was taking Advanced Placement classes and his grade point average was almost a perfect 4.0.
Ean knitted his brows. “Your grades will have to be better than ‘all right’ if you want to get into a good college and law school.”
“Yes, sir.” Wesley’s grin remained in place. “Maybe you could give me some tips. I’d like to attend the schools you went to.”
“Sure. Since we’re going to be neighbors, you can stop by my office anytime. It’s just a few doors down.” Ean nodded to his right.
The air drained from Megan’s lungs. “Your office?”
“Cool! Thank you, Mr. Fever.” Wesley’s brown features glowed with joy. “See you later, Ms. McCloud, Mr. Fever.”
Megan regained her breath. “Your office?”
Ean watched Wesley jog from the store, closing the door behind him. “Does he remind you of me when I was his age?”
“No.” Megan turned toward her own office. She knew he would follow. She was right. “Wes has a quiet intensity. He thinks things through. You were much more outspoken. You said whatever was on your mind, always assuming you were right.”
“I usually was.”
“Or so you thought.” Megan rolled her eyes, even though Ean couldn’t see her.
Why wasn’t he answering her questions? What did he want? And why was he renting office space in the Trinity Falls Town Center?
“If I was so obnoxious, why did you have a crush on me?”
Megan stopped mere steps from her door. Why had she armed him with that information? Ean bumped into her from behind, causing her to stumble even closer to the threshold.
“I have no idea what I was thinking.” Megan began the ritual of leaving for the evening. “Are you really renting office space in the center?”
“Yes. I’m opening a law practice.” Ean turned away from her to examine the bookcase across the room.
Megan contemplated his broad shoulders, covered in his gray London Fog jacket. He reached out to handle the framed photograph of her and Ramona posing with their grandparents and a children’s book author. It was the closest Ramona had gotten to reading that summer.
“Why?” She turned back to her desk and logged off her computer.