“I trust you not to kill, main, or drown me without just provocation.”

“You coming?"She hesitated, weighing her options. Risk running back down the flaming aisles to find another exit? Or trust the guy who'd been stalking her all afternoon?The fire spread to the nearby shelves. The heat was growing unbearable."You cut me deep," he said. "You'd actually choose a fiery death over the prospect of my company. I have to admit, that stings a bit.”

“Just say, 'no', Alex, dear.""You make him sound like a drug.”

“He wants to get back together," she finished."And you said...?" he tried to keep his tone disinterested. "I haven't said anything," she said. "You interrupted me before I could answer him."He congratulated himself on his excellent timing.”

“Where are we?" She sat up."My room at the cabin.""Your room?"He propped himself up on one elbow and shrugged his other shoulder. "Needed someplace soft to land. Besides...Now when you teleport without a destination you've got a fifty-fifty chance of either ending up in the lake, or in my bed. I have to say, I like those odds.""Ha-ha.”

“You can't tell me you're not cold in those shorts.""Freezing," she admitted, handing Alex her messenger bag as she got to her feet. "But dammit, I look cute and we both know that's what counts.""Naturally.”

“Just keep her away from bookstores, if you can."Bookstores.Thanks, Grayson. That helps.Apparently whoever said, "no harm ever came from reading a book," hadn't met this girl.”