"I can't believe he would do that to a woman like you."
The words were said in such a soft tone, Samantha was almost convinced she hadn't hear them. The warmth in his gaze though, and the curve of his lips indicated that yes, indeed he did speak. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"You don't have to say that to make me feel better, Donovan."
He shook his head, picked up her hand and offered a reassuring squeeze. "I don't say things I don't mean. I always knew you would go places, be successful. You know, I had a major crush on you back then."
"You did?" She couldn't help it, her voice squeaked.
He'd had a crush on her? No one had a crush on her back in high school. She'd lusted after the normal hot jocks that every other girl wanted back then, but they never paid attention to her. No one did. She didn't come into her own and start dating guys until she went to college. She was what her mother called a late bloomer.
More than anything she hated being called a late bloomer. It made her feel so ... lame.
Donovan nodded, still holding her hand. "Oh, yeah. Our freshman and sophomore years in band, I'd stare at you from across the room, trying to think of a way to ask you out."
"No wonder you didn't turn into a jazz great," she breathed.
He chuckled. "You're probably right. You don't know how disappointed I was when you dropped out of band. We never had a class together besides that one."
"Why didn't you ever talk to me?"
"I did, sometimes, but I said stupid stuff. You made me too nervous." He smiled, making Samantha's stomach flutter. "You still make me a little nervous."
"I do?" She squeaked again, darn it. She didn't think she made anyone nervous.
)
