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She drew her hand away, tucking it behind her back as if restraining herself fro as if she was a million miles away, she murmured, "I've never seen one in real life What I do is la and shaping the chips of glass is one of the earliest uses of si"

So, but it wasn't the little Ros to me in the short time I'd known her A trespasser A woh I'd barely admitted that to myself, much less to her Since the , she'd been all of those things She was a challenge, and ultimately, a lifeline

Noatching her absorb every detail of the ancient glass bottle, I wasn't quite sure what she was So e and skill was tucked away in that head of hers

Fascinating was exactly the right word Not for the aryballos For Scarlett This wo

Reluctant to break the spell, I kept my voice low "Are you an artist?"

Scarlett blinked once, twice Her chin ca of one shoulder, she went back to scanning the shelves of books "Not really I have a side gig urines"

"Then what's your ?" I had to know more

"I'e" At my blank look, she added, "It's small About an hour outside Boston I also do appraisals here and there My specialty is glass art, though I have some expertise in related areas"

"You're an art history professor?" Of all the things I e professor was not on the list "How old are you?" Dumb question, but I'd never had a professor who looked like Scarlett

"Thirty-three, and I'm still an Assistant Professor Not as impressive as it sounds" Her eyes swiveled from the books to focus on me "How old are you?"

I letto love the way her cheeks flushed when she was annoyed "Thirty"

"Huuessed"

I let that one go, too curious about Scarlett to mind her i about Scarlett brought out the desire to tease and poke, to have her attention centered on me

Okay, maybe I was a little immature Orin her long waves of red hair, the swell of her breasts beneath the yellow sundress, the freckles scattered everywhere—no maybe about it I was very interested

Hey, she was stuck here anyway Why not have some fun?