A smile lifted her lips, but it was forced. “Of course.” She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him.
Short and sweet. But he would hold onto it all year. “I hate to leave you.”
“You have to go, Josh. Go be a doctor.” She ducked her head, went inside her home, and closed the door.
Out at the dig site, Anna wandered around. She’d sent word to the Oppenheims not to come today because the team wasn’t working. Then she sent the other guys home.
It wasn’t right. Nothing was. Not the dig. Not the mess with the investor. Not her father’s suspicions. Nor her fight with Josh.
Joshua.
With him gone, what was she going to do? Especially after how she’d treated him.
Her dreadful temper. Every time, it got her into trouble. Because she couldn’t stand to be wrong.
Something in her made her gaze back over at the other side of the gulley. What if Dad and Joshua were right? Could Julian have hurt people? Could he have hurt...
She shook her head. No, it wasn’t possible. The man who brought Mary flowers every day at school? The man who had never stood up to one bully at school? He’d never raised a fist to anyone who said hateful things about him. He certainly wouldn’t hurt someone he cared about.
“Anna?”
She about jumped out of her shoes. She whirled and put a hand to her chest. “Julian. You scared me.”
“I’m sorry.” He smiled at her. “Come. You need to see this. My brand-new roses are beginning to bud.”
Her breath wouldn’t calm down. “All right. I need to catch my breath. You gave me quite a start.” Everything was fine. He just wanted to show her some flowers.
She followed him up the bluff to his garden.
“Look. It’s a pink one. Don’t you love pink?” His earnest expression toward her increased as he stepped closer and his eyes widened.
“Pink is beautiful.” Her promise to Joshua and her father came barreling back to her. She shouldn’t be here. She was breaking her word. “I need to get back.”
“No. Not yet.”
A chill rose the hair on her arms and neck. No? Did he think he could tell her what to do? She started to turn, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the house.
“Julian!”
“I need to tell you everything.” His face turned grim. The pressure of his hand on hers increased.
“Ow. That hurts.” What was he talking about? “I really need to get back, Julian.”
“Not yet.” He squeezed tighter.
He all but dragged her into the house and sat her down at the table. “Here’s some water. And pie. I bought it in Green River.”
“Oh, how nice. But I’m not hungry.”
He slammed down two blue ribbons on the table. Then two of her pencils. Then her sketchpad.
“What are you doing?” Her throat was dry as she swallowed. What would he do to her? Why hadn’t she listened to Dad and Joshua?
“Eat your pie, Anna.” Julian set another glass of water and plate of pie on the other side of the table and took his seat. “I’ve been waiting to share my heart with you.”
The look in his eyes ... it was so cold. Even his features were different. Hard. And his tone was harsh.
If she didn’t know better, she’d think this wasn’t Julian at all. “Your heart?” She swallowed, then reached for her glass of water. Took a small sip. But her hand trembled.
