Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(92)

“Bell? She came back?” he asked.

Miranda told him about the ghost showing up at Holiday’s. “Holiday says she’s here because of the baby, but she says it’s weird that she’s

only shown up when I was around.” Miranda let go of a deep breath.

“Has Bell said anything? There’s a chance she might know where Jax is.”

“No. Holiday tried to talk to her, but she just left.”

“That has to be scary.”

She nodded and glanced to the front window. “Do you think a ghost can possess trees?”

“What?” he asked.

She told him about her newfound phobia of trees.

“Did you tell Holiday?” he asked.

“No, it didn’t occur to me that it might be the ghost then. And it makes me sound crazy.”

“You’re not crazy. You’re smart and beautiful.” And she was his now. The thought shot a wave of joy all over him.

“Don’t say that, either.” Her tone sounded defeated, not very Miranda-like.

“That you’re beautiful?”

She sighed. “Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder. But I’m not smart. I bombed the SAT test—even with someone reading me the test. I’ve got

one week to retake it. If I don’t make a good score, I won’t…” Her voice shook. “I won’t be going to college with Della and Kylie.”

There was a time Perry would have been happy about her not going—wanting her all to himself. It had been thinking about her leaving for

college and how he wouldn’t fit into her world that had initiated him breaking up with her.

Now he knew how much Miranda wanted this. No way would he stand in the way of her dreams. Nothing should.

“Then why aren’t you studying?” he asked. “I’ll help you.”

She looked up at him. “Not at this hour. Plus I’ve studied about six hours today. My brain’s mush. Not to say I’ve given up. I almost had,

but Della and Kylie knocked some sense into me. I’m going to give it my all. If I don’t make it, it’s not because I didn’t try.”

“You’ll make it,” he said. “I know you will.”

She smiled. “If I don’t, and I can learn to fight, maybe I’ll work for the FRU.”

“Really?” He hoped his expression didn’t give him away. But he couldn’t see her doing that. Miranda was just … soft. Softhearted. Soft

spirited. He couldn’t see her doing that job.

“Do you know how much I’ve missed this?” she asked. “Us, talking. It’s as if everything bad in the world gets pushed back when I’m with

you.”

“I know. And I missed this.” He leaned in and kissed her. It went from sweet to sweeter, from hot to hotter. They ended up stretched out,

their legs tangled up. They had to work to find a way the cast didn’t come between them.

He moved his hand under the back of her shirt, followed the soft curve of her waist, feeling bare skin, feeling Miranda.

His body reacted to her closeness. Their hips met. Even with their clothes on, it sent vibrations of pleasure to all the right places. Or it

did, until she jerked her leg from between his.

“I’m sorry,” he said without opening his eyes, knowing she’d felt his growing problem. “It just happens.” The fact that it startled her,

startled him. In the past, she even joked about it. She’d been happy that she had that effect on him. Maybe things between them weren’t

really back to normal.

He forced his eyes open. Worried he’d see anger in those beautiful eyes. She didn’t look mad … She looked … tattooed. He almost said

something, but didn’t want to make her feel self-conscious.

“I want you to stay here.” She nipped at her bottom lip. She always did that when something was hard to say. “But I don’t … I don’t want

our first time to be wrapped up with my worry over Tabitha, our parents, and the stupid SAT scores.” She put her palm on his chest. “Am I

asking too much?”

“No,” he said. “We’ve gone a lot further than this before. You know I wouldn’t push you. Ever.”

“I know. I just … I want it, too. I’ve regretted that we didn’t do it earlier. I just don’t think now’s right. Remember the night we went

skinny-dipping?”

He smiled. “Every time I close my eyes.”

“Well, that’s how it needs to be. No worries, no problems. Just us. Together.”

He brushed her hair from her cheek. “That sounds really good.” He still worried. “You know that’s not all I want. This…” He motioned to

the tent in his jeans. “Yes it means I want things, but I want more than that. And I’d never—”

She put a finger over his lips. “I trust you with my life. That’s why I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Emotion filled his chest and he felt his eyes grow moist. Not once during all that happened with his parents had he wanted

to cry. But hearing her say she loved him made him weepy.

Not wanting her to see his weakness, he pulled her against him. Every ounce of her, against him, was the sweetest weight he’d ever felt. And