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Reverend McAllister was quick to grab her hand, smile at her, and joke that she’d brought the bad weather. He had to be in his midthirties but looked younger, one of those faces that would always hold a hint of the boy he once was. “This is a great place,” he told her, “once you get to know us. I’m really sorry you came at such a bad time.”
Bert Flannagan’s handshake was a grip of steel, his expression intense. Jordan Ayres was friendly enough, a real take-charge woman who seemed to be sizing her up during their brief conversation. Jules then made small talk with Adele Burdette and Tyeesha Williams, both somber as they acknowledged the tragedy of losing a student to such violent means.
Jules was just about to extricate herself from the group as a whole when Cooper Trent approached her. “Hope you’re settling in,” he said as they were within earshot of the other instructors.
“Not quite, but I’m getting there.”
“It takes a while, you know, as we’re so isolated, but I think you’ll find Blue Rock interesting.”
“I’m sure I will,” she said, meeting his gold-hued eyes and remembering how they darkened with the night, how his pupils would dilate when he stared at her.
She swallowed hard and folded her arms, afraid she might reach for his hand. Being close to him was not a good idea. She couldn’t take these memories of how she’d once loved him. She had to suppress the quicksilver flashes of their passion that burst inside her whenever he was near.
“Let me know if you need anything,” he said.
A little too late … no, make that a lot too late.
“Thanks,” she said through lips that barely moved. Of all the men in the world who were qualified for the PE instructor job at Blue Rock, what twist of irony was it that brought Cooper Trent here? Talk about bad luck!
As if reading her mind, he stared at her a second too long, then turned away, leaving her to bob and weave her way past a few others on her way to the door.
Once outside, she took in a huge breath of air. Her nerves were as tight as piano wire from the ordeal of keeping up her facade, and she’d just arrived! Maybe it would get easier as she went along. She’d never been a great liar, and now she had to stay on her toes, not
let anything slip.
Lost in thought, she followed a dark path toward Stanton House and nearly jumped out of her skin when a box hedge shook, a dark figure rising behind the snow-covered green.
“What the hell!” Jules backed away, nearly falling into a mound of snow at the edge of the walkway. She caught her balance as she recognized her sister. “What’re you doing?”
“We have to talk,” Shay said in a stage whisper as she fell into step beside her. “Just keep walking and tell me how you think taking a job here is going to get me out.” Her greenish-gray eyes flashed with anger beneath the brim of a watch cap with the Blue Rock insignia on it.
“I told you already.”
“My roommate died last night.” Shaylee’s lower lip wobbled on a sob. “They’re thinking that somebody here killed her!”
“I know that, Shay. I’m so sorry.”
“So let’s go.”
“We can’t just walk out of this place. Remember: A judge put you here.”
“I know, but people are being killed!” Shay sniffed, starting to hyperventilate.
Jules put a steadying hand on her sister’s back. “Hey, calm down. Just hang in there.”
“I thought you were going to help.”
“I am.”
“Is anything wrong?” Trent’s voice boomed from behind them, and Shay actually darted away from Jules as Trent approached.
“I’m handling it,” Jules said. Dear God, she didn’t want Shay to see her with Trent and somehow put two and two together. Shay might remember him. “Thanks, Mr. Trent.”
“No problem. Shaylee’s one of the students in my pod.”
“Everything’s cool,” Shay said without an ounce of conviction.
“You’re sure? I know this has been traumatic for you, what with Nona being your roommate and all.”
