“James!” she exclaimed, dropping her eyes.
“What?” he said with a grin. “Does that embarrass you?”
“Yes, it does,” she admitted.
“Well, turnabout’s fair play!”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw that picture of me on your desk!”
Maria grinned and c****d her head. “I put it there so I’d see it every day. No matter what happens, I come back to my room and see your smile, and it makes me feel better.”
James chuckled. “Wouldn’t say I was a ray of sunshine or anything!”
“You always brighten my day,” Maria said.
Despite his amusement, James realized she was being serious. A thought that had surfaced several times over the past week crossed his mind again. He stared at her, trying to find the right words. He wanted to express his feelings whenever her presence graced his life. James knew what he
