[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
wore off, he d be right back in the hell that was now his life. The last thing he wanted to
do was follow in the steps of so many other cops, too many of whom were drunks.
He kept straight on the main highway, his destination still unclear. He looked at the
empty seat next to him. To have Tess there again would be good for him right now. He
had enjoyed her company. It had been comforting to be free of all the pain and guilt for a
little while, anyway, to be with the one person who knew him the best.
He thought, in due time, he d be able to get through the grief and confusion all on his
own. Even so, he desperately wanted to let Tess in. To tell her everything, the whole
story of his life with Lindsey, to tell her how sorry he was for letting her down in the
past. But he didn t think he had the strength or the courage to do so.
52 www.samhainpublishing.com
Undying Passions
It would only portray him as a coward. He should ve worked things out with Tess
back then, but she d wanted so much more than he d been willing to give, being as they
were both barely out of high school, inexperienced kids.
Months after the relationship ended, Johnny had tried reaching out to Tess, but she d
been too hurt to respond to his attempts. In the end, he had settled for her best friend. He
hated himself for thinking about his dead wife as a second choice, but the realization
erupted into the truth.
How long have I felt this way? Johnny was too tired to sort through the years. The
past was the past and all he had was the future. With that came more questions, and the
detective in him needed to find answers.
Or was it forgiveness?
When he reached Tess s, he didn t pull up the driveway. He parked in the street and
shut off the engine, unclear as to what he expected to find there. It was closing in on
midnight, and the house was dark except for a tawny glow illuminating her living room.
It wasn t a normal light, the way it flickered& He stiffened. Fire.
He blasted out of his SUV, running up to the house, to her window, in a panic&
Immediately, the stupidity of his fear hit him dead over the head. The fireplace was
lit, blazing away in the darkness. What had he been thinking? Had he really thought her
house was on fire? His panic proved his point that he was dangerously on edge these
days.
He couldn t stand it.
He didn t want to assess his life day by day with thoughts that the worst was going to
happen. Ever since seeing Lindsey, dead in her car, he d known the instant reactions of
dread would be set in his mind forever only stronger now than before.
He stood, looking through the window, not knowing where to turn, wondering why
he was allowing himself to care for someone this soon, to be her savior. Tess didn t need
saving, so why was he reaching out to ring her doorbell?
Johnny brought his hand to his side, took a step back, wanting to get as far away
from her house, this town, his life as he could, knocking over a large clay pot of flowers
in the process. If the pot had been plastic, it wouldn t have made near the noise that the
ceramic one did as it crashed to pieces all around him.
Son of a& he whispered.
www.samhainpublishing.com 53
Amy Mistretta
There was no sneaking away now. The previously darkened room was suddenly lit in
a strong blaze. Tess had heard the commotion, too. Johnny waited for the front door to fly
open, for Tess to witness his embarrassment, but nothing happened.
He went back to the window, saw Tess, fumbling with the phone, shaking, without
doubt calling 911. This time Johnny managed to ring the bell and knock on the door,
calling out her name as he did so.
Tess, it s Johnny, open up. He leaned back over to the window.
Their gazes locked. He watched her lips as she talked into the phone before hanging
up. He had scared the hell out of her. Johnny waited until the door finally opened. A
sleepy, petrified Tess stood in the doorway.
Johnny. Tess gasped, looking down at the broken pieces of the pot. What re you
doing?
Would you believe that I tripped? He went to her, held her by the shoulders, trying
to stop the quivering. I m sorry I scared you.
She exhaled. I never knew a cop could be so obvious. She looked toward the
darkened street, for what, he didn t know, trying to regain her composure. Aren t you
guys trained to be sneaky?
You d think so, wouldn t you? He smiled. Again, I m sorry.
Did you see anyone else out here?
Nervousness lingered about her.
No. Why? He bent down, picking up the larger pieces of the pot. Has something
happened?
You surprised me, that s all. Tess leaned against the door casing, nodding at the
mess. Just leave it. I ll clean it in the morning.
Maybe this wasn t such a good idea. Johnny felt foolish.
And what would that be? You peeping through my windows in the middle of the
night?
That too. He put his hands in the pockets of his jeans, wondering if he should run
for the SUV or take her in his arms and hold her close. At least she seemed to be calm,
now that she knew there wasn t a stranger at her door.
Do you want to come in?
Looks like I woke you up.
54 www.samhainpublishing.com
Undying Passions
Why would you think that? Tess asked, patting down her hair.
He smiled at her reaction, then nodded inside.
I guess I must ve fallen asleep by the fire.
About that& Why do you have a fire lit this time of year?
Trying to burn the chill out of my body. Tess rubbed at her arms.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Why don t you come in, and I ll make some coffee. Tess started to head back in
the house but turned around. Unless you have plans to peer into someone else s window
tonight.
You re a smartass.
You always liked that about me.
Yes, I did.
Johnny followed Tess into the house, closing the door behind him. Earlier when he
had picked her up, he hadn t taken the time to look around the place. After Tess
disappeared into the kitchen, he did just that.
She d done real well for herself. The house was attractive and situated in one of the
newer sections of town. If he remembered correctly, the cul-de-sac had been built a few
years ago. The walls were decorated with pictures, with flower swags above each and
every one of them.
Tess had always had a real knack for that sort of thing. Even though neither of them
had had a whole lot of money back then, she had managed to put her mark on the
apartment they had shared. And when she d left what seemed a lifetime ago that part
of her had always stayed with him.
When Tess returned from the kitchen, Johnny was still standing on the earth-toned
tile of the front foyer. He felt anything but comfortable in her house.
Do you want to talk about it?
Not really. Johnny continued admiring the spacious room, avoiding eye contact.
I m sorry you had to see that tonight. The accident.
Not as sorry as I am that you had to go through it. Tess moved in, until she was
standing mere inches from him. That had to be so horrible for you. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
wore off, he d be right back in the hell that was now his life. The last thing he wanted to
do was follow in the steps of so many other cops, too many of whom were drunks.
He kept straight on the main highway, his destination still unclear. He looked at the
empty seat next to him. To have Tess there again would be good for him right now. He
had enjoyed her company. It had been comforting to be free of all the pain and guilt for a
little while, anyway, to be with the one person who knew him the best.
He thought, in due time, he d be able to get through the grief and confusion all on his
own. Even so, he desperately wanted to let Tess in. To tell her everything, the whole
story of his life with Lindsey, to tell her how sorry he was for letting her down in the
past. But he didn t think he had the strength or the courage to do so.
52 www.samhainpublishing.com
Undying Passions
It would only portray him as a coward. He should ve worked things out with Tess
back then, but she d wanted so much more than he d been willing to give, being as they
were both barely out of high school, inexperienced kids.
Months after the relationship ended, Johnny had tried reaching out to Tess, but she d
been too hurt to respond to his attempts. In the end, he had settled for her best friend. He
hated himself for thinking about his dead wife as a second choice, but the realization
erupted into the truth.
How long have I felt this way? Johnny was too tired to sort through the years. The
past was the past and all he had was the future. With that came more questions, and the
detective in him needed to find answers.
Or was it forgiveness?
When he reached Tess s, he didn t pull up the driveway. He parked in the street and
shut off the engine, unclear as to what he expected to find there. It was closing in on
midnight, and the house was dark except for a tawny glow illuminating her living room.
It wasn t a normal light, the way it flickered& He stiffened. Fire.
He blasted out of his SUV, running up to the house, to her window, in a panic&
Immediately, the stupidity of his fear hit him dead over the head. The fireplace was
lit, blazing away in the darkness. What had he been thinking? Had he really thought her
house was on fire? His panic proved his point that he was dangerously on edge these
days.
He couldn t stand it.
He didn t want to assess his life day by day with thoughts that the worst was going to
happen. Ever since seeing Lindsey, dead in her car, he d known the instant reactions of
dread would be set in his mind forever only stronger now than before.
He stood, looking through the window, not knowing where to turn, wondering why
he was allowing himself to care for someone this soon, to be her savior. Tess didn t need
saving, so why was he reaching out to ring her doorbell?
Johnny brought his hand to his side, took a step back, wanting to get as far away
from her house, this town, his life as he could, knocking over a large clay pot of flowers
in the process. If the pot had been plastic, it wouldn t have made near the noise that the
ceramic one did as it crashed to pieces all around him.
Son of a& he whispered.
www.samhainpublishing.com 53
Amy Mistretta
There was no sneaking away now. The previously darkened room was suddenly lit in
a strong blaze. Tess had heard the commotion, too. Johnny waited for the front door to fly
open, for Tess to witness his embarrassment, but nothing happened.
He went back to the window, saw Tess, fumbling with the phone, shaking, without
doubt calling 911. This time Johnny managed to ring the bell and knock on the door,
calling out her name as he did so.
Tess, it s Johnny, open up. He leaned back over to the window.
Their gazes locked. He watched her lips as she talked into the phone before hanging
up. He had scared the hell out of her. Johnny waited until the door finally opened. A
sleepy, petrified Tess stood in the doorway.
Johnny. Tess gasped, looking down at the broken pieces of the pot. What re you
doing?
Would you believe that I tripped? He went to her, held her by the shoulders, trying
to stop the quivering. I m sorry I scared you.
She exhaled. I never knew a cop could be so obvious. She looked toward the
darkened street, for what, he didn t know, trying to regain her composure. Aren t you
guys trained to be sneaky?
You d think so, wouldn t you? He smiled. Again, I m sorry.
Did you see anyone else out here?
Nervousness lingered about her.
No. Why? He bent down, picking up the larger pieces of the pot. Has something
happened?
You surprised me, that s all. Tess leaned against the door casing, nodding at the
mess. Just leave it. I ll clean it in the morning.
Maybe this wasn t such a good idea. Johnny felt foolish.
And what would that be? You peeping through my windows in the middle of the
night?
That too. He put his hands in the pockets of his jeans, wondering if he should run
for the SUV or take her in his arms and hold her close. At least she seemed to be calm,
now that she knew there wasn t a stranger at her door.
Do you want to come in?
Looks like I woke you up.
54 www.samhainpublishing.com
Undying Passions
Why would you think that? Tess asked, patting down her hair.
He smiled at her reaction, then nodded inside.
I guess I must ve fallen asleep by the fire.
About that& Why do you have a fire lit this time of year?
Trying to burn the chill out of my body. Tess rubbed at her arms.
Yeah, I know what you mean.
Why don t you come in, and I ll make some coffee. Tess started to head back in
the house but turned around. Unless you have plans to peer into someone else s window
tonight.
You re a smartass.
You always liked that about me.
Yes, I did.
Johnny followed Tess into the house, closing the door behind him. Earlier when he
had picked her up, he hadn t taken the time to look around the place. After Tess
disappeared into the kitchen, he did just that.
She d done real well for herself. The house was attractive and situated in one of the
newer sections of town. If he remembered correctly, the cul-de-sac had been built a few
years ago. The walls were decorated with pictures, with flower swags above each and
every one of them.
Tess had always had a real knack for that sort of thing. Even though neither of them
had had a whole lot of money back then, she had managed to put her mark on the
apartment they had shared. And when she d left what seemed a lifetime ago that part
of her had always stayed with him.
When Tess returned from the kitchen, Johnny was still standing on the earth-toned
tile of the front foyer. He felt anything but comfortable in her house.
Do you want to talk about it?
Not really. Johnny continued admiring the spacious room, avoiding eye contact.
I m sorry you had to see that tonight. The accident.
Not as sorry as I am that you had to go through it. Tess moved in, until she was
standing mere inches from him. That had to be so horrible for you. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]