It Started One Christmas. Susan Mallery

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СКАЧАТЬ asked. “How did you do that?”

      April and Keira exchanged a look of frustration. Everyone always asked the same question. It was so embarrassing.

      “We didn’t give ourselves enough time to get to the lab,” Keira said with a sigh. “And then we got lost. We were twelve minutes late, and our lab assistant had already locked the door.”

      “Huygens,” Dalton said. “He’s a jerk who enjoys torturing freshmen.”

      “And you don’t?” Keira asked.

      “I have better things to do with my time.” He pulled a pen out of his white jacket pocket and signed their paperwork. “You are done for the quarter, ladies. At least with your science lab. Have a good holiday.”

      “You, too,” April said as she headed to the door.

      Keira hesitated. She couldn’t help noticing the sweat on Dalton’s forehead and the pallor to his skin. He didn’t look well.

      “Are you feeling all right?” she asked.

      “Not really.”

      April paused, one foot in the hallway. “Keira, come on. I have a plane to catch.”

      April lived in eastern Washington and was flying home for Christmas break. Keira had a very short drive to her house, and she would be taking a cab.

      “You go ahead,” Keira told her. “I want to make sure Dalton gets to his place okay.” She had to do something to make up for her selfish thoughts from before.

      April nodded. “Have a good break. I’ll text you.”

      “Bye.”

      Dalton put his arms on the desk and his head on his arms. “Just go. I’ll be fine.”

      “You look awful. Come on. I’ll help you to your car or apartment or whatever. You need to get into bed.”

      She half expected an awful leer at her last remark—she’d encountered plenty since starting at the university. But Dalton didn’t stir.

      “No, thank you.”

      “You’re really sick.”

      “I’m aware of that, however, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

      “All evidence to the contrary? Yeah, I’m not leaving, so you might as well give in. Just as an FYI, I’m really bossy and stubborn. You can ask anyone, so surrender to the inevitable. It will be easier, trust me.”

      For a long moment, Dalton simply stayed where he was. Keira had time to notice his too-long hair was a pretty shade of dark brown before worrying he’d passed out. Finally he raised his head, pushed up his glasses and sighed.

      “Yes, I’m sick, but I will recover. The human body has amazing recuperative powers, mine more so than most. I appreciate your concern, but it’s unnecessary. Have a good holiday. You are free to go.”

      “Uh-huh, so what part of stubborn wasn’t clear?”

      She expected him to shout at her or something. What she didn’t expect was him to blush. He was so pale that the sudden flush of color contrasted significantly with his clammy skin.

      “It’s complicated,” he mumbled. “Please, just go.”

      “Nope, I’m curious.” She perched on the corner of the desk. “What’s the real story? I have all the time in the world.”

      “Lucky me.”

      She smiled, determined to wait him out.

      “My apartment is rented for the holidays,” he began. “To the visiting family of one of my professors.”

      “That’s very nice of you.”

      He cleared his throat. “I was supposed to be going to Aspen with my girlfriend for the holidays.”

      “I hear Aspen is lovely this time of year.”

      He returned his head to his arms. “Yes, that’s what I hear, too.”

      “I take it you’re not going to Aspen?”

      “She dumped me.”

      “Did you do something dumpworthy?”

      He raised his head again. The color was gone, and he looked close to passing out. “I didn’t have to. She’s beautiful. I mean, startlingly beautiful. I never had a chance with her.”

      “But she was your girlfriend.”

      “For two weeks.” The head dropped again. “It’s my failing. I’m incredibly smart. Seriously, I’m probably the smartest guy you’ve ever met. I started college when I was fourteen. I’ve already been to medical school, and now I’m getting a PhD. But when it comes to women, I’m an idiot.”

      “You mean when it comes to beautiful women,” she teased. “You have a thing for them. It’s cute.”

      “Thanks.”

      “So you have no home, no girlfriend and you can’t go to Aspen until you feel better.”

      “I can’t go at all. She stole my ticket and, I think, the ski clothes I bought.”

      “She sounds amazing. I wish I’d met her.”

      “She wasn’t amazing. She was just...”

      “Beautiful.”

      “Yes, that.”

      She considered the situation. “Where were you planning to spend the holidays?”

      “In my car. It’s not so bad. I’ve done it before.”

      “I thought you were smart.”

      “I am, but I’m also poor. It’s not as great a combination as you’d think.”

      Keira swung her backpack over her shoulder. “Come on, Dalton. Get your stuff.”

      “You’re going to walk me to my car?”

      “Yes, then I’m going to take you home with me. We have a spare room. You can recover there. No one should live in their car over Christmas.”

      “Maybe I’m Jewish.”

      “Fine. Then over Hanukkah.”

      He looked at her, his gaze out of focus. “I’m not Jewish, but I like what you said. You’re very accepting.”

      “For me, it’s the spirit of the season, not the religion. But then, what do I know? I’m eighteen years old.” She frowned. “How old are you?”

      “Twenty-four.”

      “And СКАЧАТЬ