A Profiler's Case for Seduction(52)

He didn’t know how in-depth the background search had been on her considering that most of the team considered her a victim, not a suspect. He wanted to know everything about the beautiful professor, from the day she was born until she’d arrived here at Darby College. Even though his teammates didn’t believe it, she was the key to everything. All he had to do was somehow prove it.

All thoughts of Melinda bounced out of his head as he spied Dora coming out of a nearby building. Clad in a pair of brown slacks and a rust-colored lightweight sweater, she looked stunning amid the fall colors. Her hair glinted in the sunshine and for a moment he remained seated on the bench, just watching her as she walked, obviously not seeing him.

She appeared deep in thought, her laptop case against her chest and her purse slung across her shoulder. He stood and their gazes met. She appeared to hesitate a moment and then her beautiful smile stretched across her lips. But in her momentary hesitation, Mark smelled morning-after regrets that hadn’t been there when he’d left her house earlier that morning.

“I didn’t expect to see you hanging around here today,” she said as she approached where he stood.

“I wanted to find you to tell you that there’s been a new development that suggests the stalker isn’t after you, but rather is after me.”

Her eyes widened as she gazed up at him. “Really?”

He nodded, when he’d rather pull her into his arms. But the laptop remained against her chest in a defense position and she was standing a couple of inches away. “I don’t think you’re in any danger, Dora. I think whoever was watching you was actually looking for me and knew we’d probably be hanging out together.”

“Well, that’s a relief for me, but what about you?” Her concern for him was evident in the deepening of her voice.

He gave her what he considered his most self-assured smile. “I’m a big, bad FBI agent. I can take care of myself.” His smile fell away as he eyed her intently. “You aren’t entertaining any day-after regrets, are you?”

She stepped closer to him, as if afraid that one of the passing students might hear their conversation. “Yes and no,” she confessed. She released a sigh. “I didn’t expect you, Mark. I’d made decisions about my life and one of those decisions was no men, no relationships. I just didn’t expect you to sneak into my bed.”

He gave her a crooked smile of amusement. “As I remember it, I didn’t exactly sneak. I was willingly dragged up those stairs by you.”

She nodded in acknowledgment. “I know. What I don’t know is what to do with you now. We have no future, Mark. I don’t want a future with you or any man.”

Her gaze didn’t quite meet his, making him wonder about the truth of her words. “What are you afraid of, Dora?” he asked softly.

“Nothing.” She raised her gaze to meet his, a hard defensiveness in her eyes he’d never seen before. “I’m not afraid of anything. I just know what I want, what I’m willing to give to somebody else, and I’d never be able to give what it takes to make a successful relationship. I know my limitations, Mark.”

“But, I don’t think you’re aware of your strengths,” he replied.

Again she looked at him in surprise and then released a deep sigh. “I don’t want to be hurt, Mark, and I don’t want to hurt you.”

A beat of panic boomed in his chest. Was she somehow calling a halt to everything? Would he not have the opportunity to spend more time with her, to make her realize that somehow, someway, they could make a relationship work between them?

“Let’s just enjoy our time together while you’re here in town,” she continued, making the boom of his heart quiet. “I’m offering you coffee and conversation—nothing more.” Her cheeks bloomed with splendid color. “Last night was wonderful, Mark, but we can’t have a repeat. It just wouldn’t be right.”

“I’ll play by your rules for the time I’m here,” he said, although it was difficult to capitulate to her wishes in this area. “I just want to spend my downtime with you, to enjoy your presence, and we still have a bonfire date for next Friday night,” he reminded her.

She smiled then, a full, warm smile that gave him renewed hope that eventually she’d understand that he was in this for the long run and that she could trust him with her heart, with her future.

“I’ve got to get to my next class,” she said with a glance at her delicate gold wristwatch.