i get up , a knot of dread tightening inside my chest . with all due respect , i 'm taking her home . '' he broke into a run as he raced back for the main house . she found her three friends sound asleep . tickets for the game are already on sale . unconsciously she brought her fingers to her mouth , but her fingernails were already bitten so short there was nothing left to bite . because never in his life had he been so thoroughly fascinated by a woman so soon after meeting her . 