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Because I told her we shouldn't talk about anything personal.Mhac na galla.
Erica cranes her neck back for a better view of the underside of the hugeT. rexskull. Sunlight streams down from the skylight onto the bones, but I'm not admiring the prehistoric skeleton in front of us. No, I'm watching Erica's face and the way her expression turns from wonder into excitement, her lips curving up at the corners right before she breaks into a big smile.
I come up behind her, slipping my arms around her waist to link my hands over her belly. Resting my chin on her shoulder, I sigh with contentment, though I have no reason to feel satisfied this morning. Last night, aye. But today? I haven't even shagged her yet.
She leans into me, her head falling back against my chest.
"Tell me," I say, nuzzling her cheek, "why do they call this monstrosity Sue?"
"I don't know."
"But you're my tour guide, the one who knows all."
"Are you calling me a know-it-all?" she says in a teasing tone, turning her head to peek at me over her shoulder.
"I wouldn't dare." I straighten, and my chin brushes the top of her head. "Are you a dinosaur aficionado?"
"Suppose you could say that." Her head falls back again, nestled against my neck. "When I was a kid, I wanted to be a paleontologist."
"Why didn't you do it?"
"Eventually, I realized I needed to be practical. Jobs at universities are hard to come by."
"Do you love accounting?"
She hesitates before answering, but I can't see her expression. "It was more of a safe choice than a passion."
"What is your passion?"
She settles her hands over mine on her belly. "Well, I've always loved animals. Maybe someday I'll buy a farm, grow my own food and lots of flowers. Raise chickens, cows, horses, whatever."
"On your own?"
"Maybe." She twists her head around to look up at me. "Why do you ask?"
Good question.
"No reason," I say, pretending to survey theT. rexin front of us though I'm really wondering why I asked about her job and her secret passion. I nod toward the skeleton. "Tell me more about this charming lass."
Aye, that's called deflection.
Erica rattles off a litany of information about the skeleton and dinosaurs in general while I nod occasionally and make "hmm" noises where appropriate so she'll think I'm fascinated by the facts she has given me. Maybe I would find it interesting if I weren't distracted by wondering why I keep dragging us into discussions of sensitive issues. I told her "nothing personal," but I keep asking for details about her life.
"Sue is the most completeT. rexever found," Erica says, and it seems like she's wrapping up her mini-lecture. "Replicas of her have toured the world."
I make an appropriate noise, as if I've absorbed every word she said when I've heard only half of what she told me, at most. Stepping up beside Erica, I clasp her hand. Why? I have no bloody idea. But holding her hand feels natural and comfortable. The other visitors in the museum must think we're a couple enjoying a tour. No one would guess I'm a dirty old man who seduced a sweet lass into spending four weeks in my bed.
Erica shifts her weight from one foot to the other, glancing up at me before returning her attention to theT. rexskeleton. "Turnabout time. Is finance your passion?"
I lean sideways, our shoulders bumping. "No, it's not."
"What is your passion?"
"Haven't found it yet." Since I met Erica, my passion is to have a poke with her as often as possible. Other than that, I have no ruddy idea what I want out of life—except to be rid of Aisley.
A family of four wanders past us, the mother and father holding hands while the children scurry this way and that, their round little faces excited.
Erica watches the family with her face pinched, her lips crushed between her teeth. Her eyes glisten faintly.
