A Profiler's Case for Seduction(9)

As he walked toward the building that held the lecture hall where Dora had been in class yesterday, his thoughts turned to her. He told himself she was the perfect tool to use to gain some knowledge about Melinda and her friends and colleagues on the campus. But that didn’t explain the quick beat of his heart as he thought of basking in the warmth of Dora’s smile once again.

He sank down on the same bench he’d sat at the day before. He had no idea if Dora had classes in the same building today, but this particular bench and building was fairly central in the campus. From this viewpoint he could see the comings and goings of students in all directions.

If he didn’t catch her between classes, he’d wait until later this evening and meander into the bookstore. He just knew that before the day was done he wanted...he needed to see Dora again. It was an alien emotion that he refused to dwell on because it unsettled him.

He’d like to learn a little bit more about Melinda’s graduate assistants, Amanda Burns and Ben Craig. The background checks had shown both of them to be law-abiding, upstanding citizens, not even a speeding ticket between them. They were both from good families and took their positions as Melinda Grayson’s assistants very seriously.

Mark knew from casual conversations with several other students and staff that both Amanda and Ben worked hard for Melinda, helping her with research and the mundane tasks that a professor of Melinda’s ilk would need done. They were both bright and apparently devoted to their boss.

All thoughts of Melinda Grayson flew from his head as Dora stepped out of the building and into the afternoon sunshine. Her long legs were encased in navy dress slacks, and a feminine long-sleeved white blouse with pearl buttons emphasized her slender waist and the fullness of her breasts.

A knot of heat twisted in Mark’s stomach as her eyes indicated surprise, yet her mouth curved in a smile that drove all rational thoughts of murder and mayhem out of his mind.

* * *

Dora’s heart gave a healthy bounce in her chest. Mark was obviously waiting for her. Like yesterday he was dressed in black slacks and a white shirt and black jacket and his hair looked as if it had never met a comb or brush. Yet the messiness of those rich dark strands only added to his overall attractiveness.

“Fancy meeting you here,” she said, and tried to ignore her jitters.

“I was just hanging around wondering if maybe you’d like to catch a cup of coffee with me again,” he said.

Two days in a row. Dora couldn’t help the fact that his words caused a little thrill to race up her spine. “Unfortunately, I don’t have time today. I’ve got to get right to the bookstore for work.” It was probably for the best, she thought, that this casual meeting for coffee...that he didn’t become a habit.

“What time do you finish up at the bookstore this evening?” he asked, obviously unwilling to let the topic drop. Once again a small dance of pleasure kicked a jig in the pit of Dora’s stomach.

“We close the store at eight on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” she said. “We’re closed on Sundays and open the rest of the week until ten.” She closed her mouth, realizing she’d given way more information than he’d asked for and that’s why she didn’t trust herself to have relationships at this point in her life.

“So, you’ll be off at eight this evening,” he said, apparently easily picking through the minutia she’d just offered him. She nodded. “Then why don’t I meet you at the bookstore at eight and we can grab a cup of coffee or something then?”

“That sounds great.” Dora heard the words falling from her lips and knew they were probably the wrong thing to say, but she didn’t seem to have the power to stop them.

“Great!” His blue eyes glowed with obvious pleasure and his sexy smile curved his lips. “Then I’ll see you later.”

She stood stock-still as he turned and headed down the sidewalk away from her. You should have said no, a little voice whispered inside her head.

Turning in the opposite direction to head to the bookstore, she tried to list all the reasons it was wrong to have coffee with Mark again, but she kept coming up with the same defense...it was just a cup of coffee with a man who would soon be gone from town.

It shouldn’t feel as frightening, as exciting or as earth-shattering as it did. She chided herself for being so silly, for trying to make it all bigger than it was in her mind. He was an out-of-towner, with only colleagues around him every day for almost a month. Maybe he just found himself a bit lonely for regular conversation and she was convenient.