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“How about making that my permanent grade?”
“Maybe.” She smiled at him. “See you tomorrow.”
A few minutes later she left the building. Before starting up the car, she checked her cell phone. This time Jarod had left her a voice mail that he was on his way home.
There was no mention of anything personal. No mention of the flowers. He’d let the note say it all.
Were the lilies his way of softening her up before he had to face her in the flesh with the truth?
Sydney didn’t want to hear it. In her frantic state of mind, she couldn’t stand to go back to her apartment. If Gilly was home, she’d drive there.
Reaching for her phone to call her friend, she heard it ring and noticed it was Jarod calling again. Her heart raced with sickening speed.
Was he checking to find out if she’d received his gift yet? His consolation prize?
If I’d just met you first, Sydney.
She sat there afraid to pick up and listen to what he had to say because she feared her doubts had come true, and her mother’s prediction.
That man could destroy you. I’m frightened for you, honey.
Terrified to find out he might be phoning to call off the wedding, she let it ring and headed straight for Old Faithful.
The plane had been delayed, putting Jarod down later than he’d planned. He left the Gardiner airport and headed for Sydney’s apartment. Why didn’t she answer her phone? He didn’t know if she’d received his flowers or not.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel while he waited for the next light to turn green. That’s when he saw a black-and-tan Jeep headed for Mammoth at top speed.
Sydney’s?
He’d asked her to stay put at her place after school until he came for her. Deciding it couldn’t be her car, he kept going toward her apartment. But when he arrived there, he couldn’t see her Jeep. Completely frustrated, he made a check of the school grounds. Nothing.
Maybe it had been her car he’d seen after all. Why hadn’t she gone home to wait for him? He phoned her again.
To his relief she finally picked up. “Hello?”
It didn’t sound like her. “Sydney?”
“Yes?”
; “Where are you? I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I’ve been busy since class.”
That didn’t sound like her, either. “Did you get my flowers?”
“Yes, I did.”
He frowned. Something was wrong. “If it disturbed your class, I’m sorry.”
“No. The period had come to an end. Your timing was perfect.”
A groan came out of him.
He’d hurt her earlier this morning when she’d called and he hadn’t been able to really talk to her. No floral offering could undo the damage. It was a mistake he would never make again, but how to convince her of that right now?
“Darling—”
