sophisticated appearance, but he chalked it up to her natural elegance and paused to appreciate the overall effect of clinging jersey and nylon-sheathed legs. Unknowingly he pursed his lips in a silent whistle before he asked, “You ready?”
At Amanda’s nod Brady stepped forward to assist her with her coat. He then reached out to gently free her golden hair from its subsequent imprisonment beneath the collar of her coat. The feel of his hands on her nape induced a now familiar surge of excitement, an electrifying shiver that danced over her. There it was again, what the song writers so lyrically called “black magic.” Determined not to become a victim, Amanda quickly moved away.
Outside, the night air held a promise of frost as they rustled through the dried leaves on the sidewalk. Brady generously offered his assistance, asking her if she needed help raking the colorful offerings.
“No, thanks. The boy next door would be brokenhearted if you stole his job. Work’s hard to find in a college town, especially if you’re only eleven.”
“Far be it from me to condemn an eleven-year-old to the breadlines,” Brady laughed as he opened the passenger door of his car.
It wasn’t until Amanda was inside that she realized what kind of car it was, an unmarked patrol car. “This is a police car!” she accused Brady as soon as he slid behind the wheel.
“Then aren’t you lucky that a police officer is driving it, otherwise you’d be in real trouble,” he mocked.
“Don’t you have a car of your own?”
“What’s wrong? Afraid I’m too broke to pay for tonight’s tickets?” he mocked in return, avoiding her question.
“I can pay for my own ticket tonight,” she offered. It really wouldn’t be fair to expect him to pay for both of their tickets, since he was bound to hate the concert anyway.
“No way, Mandy. I invited you, I’ll pay. By the way, I never got a chance to check. What group’s playing tonight?”
“It’s a surprise. And Brady, I’d rather you didn’t call me Mandy.”
“Why not?”
“Because it isn’t suitable.”
“Suitable?” Brady tossed back his head with a shout of laughter that made Amanda grip her purse in indignant frustration.
Sensing her anger, Brady tried to restrain himself. “I’m sorry, Mandy, but if you could’ve heard the way you sounded.”
“Don’t apologize,” she purred. “It’s my pleasure to provide amusement for you.”
“Amusement isn’t the only thing I’d like you to provide,” he huskily imparted. “And as for your pleasure…”
“Shouldn’t you keep your mind on your driving,” she reprimanded with gentle firmness.
Mandell Hall was the central hub in a wheel of buildings, with radiating walkways forming concrete spokes. Amanda had not anticipated that such a large crowd would be attending the concert. She and Brady walked into the auditorium foyer with a group of other people who blocked the evening’s program posters from Brady’s eyes. It wasn’t until they filed down the center aisle that he became aware of what was in store for him.
The stage did not hold large amplifying speakers or microphones as it would have had this been a standard rock concert. Instead it was set up with alternating, semicircular rows of empty chairs and music stands. Some of the musicians had already begun to assemble and were tuning up their instruments.
Brady accepted the pair of programs from the student usher and turned to hand Amanda’s hers with a speaking look. “Some surprise, Mandy.”
“Don’t you like classical music, Brady?” she questioned, borrowing his pseudo-innocent expression.
“We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we,” he murmured as they sat down.
Anticipating his upcoming discomfort, Amanda’s lips formed an unsuccessfully hidden grin. She didn’t think she’d have any more trouble with Detective Brady Gallagher after this evening.
Brady noticed her grin, and could easily guess the reasons for it. He also
At Amanda’s nod Brady stepped forward to assist her with her coat. He then reached out to gently free her golden hair from its subsequent imprisonment beneath the collar of her coat. The feel of his hands on her nape induced a now familiar surge of excitement, an electrifying shiver that danced over her. There it was again, what the song writers so lyrically called “black magic.” Determined not to become a victim, Amanda quickly moved away.
Outside, the night air held a promise of frost as they rustled through the dried leaves on the sidewalk. Brady generously offered his assistance, asking her if she needed help raking the colorful offerings.
“No, thanks. The boy next door would be brokenhearted if you stole his job. Work’s hard to find in a college town, especially if you’re only eleven.”
“Far be it from me to condemn an eleven-year-old to the breadlines,” Brady laughed as he opened the passenger door of his car.
It wasn’t until Amanda was inside that she realized what kind of car it was, an unmarked patrol car. “This is a police car!” she accused Brady as soon as he slid behind the wheel.
“Then aren’t you lucky that a police officer is driving it, otherwise you’d be in real trouble,” he mocked.
“Don’t you have a car of your own?”
“What’s wrong? Afraid I’m too broke to pay for tonight’s tickets?” he mocked in return, avoiding her question.
“I can pay for my own ticket tonight,” she offered. It really wouldn’t be fair to expect him to pay for both of their tickets, since he was bound to hate the concert anyway.
“No way, Mandy. I invited you, I’ll pay. By the way, I never got a chance to check. What group’s playing tonight?”
“It’s a surprise. And Brady, I’d rather you didn’t call me Mandy.”
“Why not?”
“Because it isn’t suitable.”
“Suitable?” Brady tossed back his head with a shout of laughter that made Amanda grip her purse in indignant frustration.
Sensing her anger, Brady tried to restrain himself. “I’m sorry, Mandy, but if you could’ve heard the way you sounded.”
“Don’t apologize,” she purred. “It’s my pleasure to provide amusement for you.”
“Amusement isn’t the only thing I’d like you to provide,” he huskily imparted. “And as for your pleasure…”
“Shouldn’t you keep your mind on your driving,” she reprimanded with gentle firmness.
Mandell Hall was the central hub in a wheel of buildings, with radiating walkways forming concrete spokes. Amanda had not anticipated that such a large crowd would be attending the concert. She and Brady walked into the auditorium foyer with a group of other people who blocked the evening’s program posters from Brady’s eyes. It wasn’t until they filed down the center aisle that he became aware of what was in store for him.
The stage did not hold large amplifying speakers or microphones as it would have had this been a standard rock concert. Instead it was set up with alternating, semicircular rows of empty chairs and music stands. Some of the musicians had already begun to assemble and were tuning up their instruments.
Brady accepted the pair of programs from the student usher and turned to hand Amanda’s hers with a speaking look. “Some surprise, Mandy.”
“Don’t you like classical music, Brady?” she questioned, borrowing his pseudo-innocent expression.
“We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we,” he murmured as they sat down.
Anticipating his upcoming discomfort, Amanda’s lips formed an unsuccessfully hidden grin. She didn’t think she’d have any more trouble with Detective Brady Gallagher after this evening.
Brady noticed her grin, and could easily guess the reasons for it. He also
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