Harkham's Case (Harkam's #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

down on himself and she couldn’t bear to see him do that. The poor guy was stressed easily as it was. “But I do plan to participate even from back here in our cave.” She snapped her jaw shut. Her instinct was to tell him he was not in charge and to quit acting like his micro-manager of a sister, but she knew deep down he wasn’t trying to be a jerk or tell her what to do. This was probably how he survived day-to-day. It was important he get his needs met. Somehow she simply knew that, so she kept her mouth shut.
    “I don’t like CFLs,” he tacked on at the end of their conversation.
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” She pulled out her pencil and rolled it on the desk.
    “You definitely like me.” He grinned and settled into his seat.
    Mari sunk into her chair too and figured taking notes was unnecessary for this class anyway. She knew the literature because she was a bookworm and studied the classics for fun.
    They were reading Jane Eyre, and it was doubtful this teacher could provide any kind of decent insight she didn’t already know since she’d read it three times.
    Adam was silent for the rest of the class, but there were a few times she felt his fingers kind of caressing hers, and he even patted the back of her hand, then gently squeezed it. Those actions made her fingers tingle, and she would inadvertently wind up kneading his side and ribs. It certainly was warm and cozy—that spot he intended to keep their hands.
    Yep. He still smelled terrific. That was a plus, making it unlikely her hand would wind up stinking like a sweaty teenage boy’s armpit or something—if she ever got it back, that was.
    When the bell rang, Adam remained sitting with a stoic look on his face.
    “It’s lunch time,” she reminded him.
    “I know.”
    “Are we going, then?”
    “No.”
    She nudged his leg. “Why not? Aren’t you hungry?”
    “You’ll ditch me.” His head sagged forward, but he looked up at her through his lashes. “You’re already sick of me. I’m trying your patience.”
    “It’s fine. I don’t mind that you have some preferences.” She offered a kind smile while her heart sunk.
    How could she have hurt him? She didn’t mean to. And why did her eyes sting so badly?
    “You really don’t mind?” His voice shook.
    “No. It’s nice to be needed sometimes,” she said, reminding him of how he told her she would like to be needed by him so much. She nudged his leg once more and stood up.
    He rose slowly after her, but his head stayed down.
    “Why don’t I lead the way this time? But I’ll let you pick where we sit, okay?” She waited for him before she began to lead the way.
    “You really won’t leave me alone in there? Cafeterias are vile places. I have a hard time being in them.” His lips trembled.
    She took his other hand and faced him straight on. This hand was ice-cold. “Why would I leave my good friend, Adam, who likes to be with me? I don’t have a ton of friends, so I’m always happy to have more. Especially ones who smell good and say what they mean.” Oh shit! She did not just say that.
    Odds were, he would use it against her at some point. She really needed to think more carefully before she spoke. But how was she supposed to do that when he was constantly so jarring to be around?
    He swallowed and gave a brief hint of a nod.
    She let go of his hand and reached for her backpack she had barely been able to secure the last few times he took off.
    “I’ll carry that for you from now on. It’s the least I can do since I’m such a social cripple.” He snatched it out of her hands.
    “I’ve got it,” she said, reaching for it to take it back.
    He swung it behind him, and a look of utter devastation crossed his eyes. “I want to help you, too. And if this is all I can offer you, then you’re going to let me!”
    “Oh . . . If you . . . Okay.” She had no idea what to do or say around him. She swallowed, and her breathing shallowed. He looked dangerous all at