From the Heart

“In any case, we go back tomorrow.”
    “What are your plans then?”
    “After I check in at the station I’m going to sleep for the rest of the weekend.”
    “When’s the last time you saw Washington?” he asked, as grilled pork chops were set in front of them.
    “What are you talking about? I see Washington every day.”
    “I mean for fun.” He picked up his fork. “Have you ever played tourist in D.C. ?”
    Liv frowned as she cut into the meat. “Well, I suppose . . .”
    “Ever been to the zoo?”
    “Of course, I did a story on . . .” She paused and looked up. He was grinning at her “All right, what’s your point?”
    “That you don’t relax enough.”
    Liv lifted a brow. “I’m relaxing now, aren’t I?” she asked.
    “There isn’t time for me to show you London properly,” Thorpe put in. “Why don’t you let me show you Washington?”
    Warning signals sounded immediately. Liv toyed with hermeal as she formulated a safe answer. “I don’t think so,” she said carefully.
    Thorpe smiled and went on eating. “Why not?”
    “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, Thorpe.”
    “What’s the wrong idea?” His voice was bland and friendly. Glancing down at her hands, he remembered how her fingers had moved over his face when he kissed her.
    “Look.” Liv paused, wanting to choose her words carefully. “I’m not totally averse to your company, but—”
    “Carmichael, you slay me with compliments.”
    “But,” she continued, shooting him a look, “I’m not going to become involved with you, and I don’t want you to think otherwise.” Because the words made her feel ungracious, she unbent a little. “We can be friends . . . of a kind, I suppose.”
    “Of what kind?”
    “Thorpe,” she said impatiently. “Stop it.”
    “Liv, as a reporter, I need concise information.” He gave her an easy smile before he sipped at his beer.
    “As a reporter,” she countered, “you should be intuitive enough to understand my meaning.”
    Leaning closer, he grinned. “I’m crazy about you, Carmichael.”
    “You’re crazy period,” she corrected, and tried to ignore the sudden increase in her pulse rate. “But I’m trying to overlook that so that we can deal together amicably. Now if you’d just agree to keep things on a friendly basis,” she continued.
    “What’s your definition of friendly?” he inquired.
    “Thorpe, you’re impossible!”
    “Liv, I’m just trying to understand the issue. If I don’t have the facts straight, how can I reach a viable conclusion? Now, as I see it”—he took her hand—“you’re willing to admit you can tolerate my company. Is that right?”
    Liv drew her hand from his. “So far,” she said warily.
    “And you’re willing to take the second step and be friends.”
    “Casual friends.” Though she knew he was leading her, she was as yet unable to see the trick.
    “Casual friends,” he agreed. Lifting his beer, he toasted her. “To the third step.”
    “What third step?” Liv demanded, but he only smiled at her over the rim of his glass. “Thorpe . . .”
    “Your dinner’s getting cold,” he warned, then gave her pork chops an interested glance. “Are you going to eat all that?”
    Distracted from the point she had been going to make, Liv looked down at her plate. “Why?”
    “I missed lunch.”
    Liv laughed and cut another slice. “So did I,” she told him. She ate every bite.
    When they stepped back outside, it was raining lightly. Liv lifted her face to it. She was glad Thorpe had found her—glad to have had his company over dinner. If it didn’t make sense, it didn’t matter. If it wasn’t safe, she didn’t care. She had needed an evening with someone who could make her laugh, make her think. Make her feel. If it was Thorpe, she wasn’t going to question why tonight.
    A few stolen hours was all she wanted. A few hours to forget all the promises she had once made herself. She didn’t need the promises tonight. Tonight she was free of the past, free of the future.
    “What are you thinking?” Thorpe turned her into his arms as she laughed.
    “That I’m glad it’s raining.” Still laughing, she shook back her hair. Then his mouth was on hers. Liv threw her arms around his neck and gave herself totally to the moment.
    He hadn’t meant to kiss her. God, he hadn’t meant to. He had only so much control to call upon. But at that instant, when she laughed and lifted her face to his, he