If Only She'd Loved Him

Chapter 82

Saturday 7:17 pm

"No," Sean said stubbornly. "I'm not taking you anywhere, and you can't make me." His head tilted towards Matt, but his eyes were on Jean.

She noticed his gaze. She glanced over at Matt. "Can you leave us alone for a few minutes."

"You're not going to hurt him, are you?"

"No," Jean didn't really smile, but she tried. "I'm not." Matt left the room.

She sighed, brushing a hair off his forehead. "Sean, you and I got off on the wrong foot. I'm sorry about that. Can you forgive me?"

He said nothing, just stared at her.

"I can understand that you're angry at me, and you have every right to be, but you have to understand that I'm just worried about my friend." She licked her lips with care, slowly, surely. "I'm feeling thirsty. Do you mind if I have a drink?" she asked, reaching for the open beer on the bedside table.

"I g-g-guess not," he stammered.

"Thanks. Want a sip?" she offered, turning up the full voltage of her dimples.

Her tongue daubed back around her lip, teasing him without saying a word. His head still hurt. He chugged half the warm beer. Almost instantly, he started to feel better. What a night! First, getting lost in the woods, then something hitting him on the head and now this, now Jean. She was playing him like a fish, but he didn't care. She was so hot. What was it about redheads? He looked up. She was still smiling at him. Could this get better? Yes, yes it could. Somehow the top button of her sweater had come undone. Staring straight down, all he could think of was a treat he had loved as a kid: snowballs. Mounds of cake and gooey frosting, covered in coconut. He could practically taste them as she leaned over. But now Jean was speaking again. What was she saying?

"Sean," she whispered, "Seany I need your help."

"Ummm coconut..."