Shane dropped his pen on the floor, bent down to pick it up, and hit his head on the table’s edge as he straightened. “Damn!” He looked so embarrassed and confused, Lauren almost laughed. “You okay?” she asked. “Yeah.” He rubbed his head. “I thought we were done with that conversation. As you said, it’s none of my business.” “I changed my mind.” She abruptly pushed her chair back and stood. “I’ll be right back. I need to put Josh to bed.” Unusual for her, she dragged out the bedtime ritual, reading Josh an extra two pages in their current book and then letting him retell part of what he and Shane did at the Aquarium. She needed a bit of time away from Shane. This whole evening was threatening to get out of hand. First there had been her untoward delight in having him in her home; then that long moment when they had simply stared at each other in her kitchen; and then her confession about her attraction to him.
