by Cheryl Holt
She threw a few bills on the table to pay for coffee that hadn’t been ordered. Then she jumped out of the booth and grabbed her coat and purse.
“We’re having supper tomorrow night.” She hurled it like a threat as she hurried out. “At seven. Don’t forget.”
“I told you I’m busy,” Amy replied. “I’m not coming.”
“You’re coming,” Pamela insisted. “Bring Rick.”
“He’s busy, too.”
“Stop being such a baby,” Pamela chided.
“I hate Chad, and I’m not eating supper with him.”
“It was four months ago, Amy. Grow up. Get over it.”
And she was gone.
Dustin felt as if a hurricane had blown through. Amy sighed, took a deep breath and let it out.
“I don’t like her,” Dustin said.
“I don’t, either.”
“We have something in common.”
“Good thing—considering that we’re madly in love.”
“Who’s Chad?”
“Her boyfriend.”
“He’s an asshole?”
“Yes.”
“Sounds like a match made in heaven.”
“They deserve each other.”
“What happened on June second?”
“Actually, it happened on the first. I had been dating Chad, and I caught him in bed with her.”
“You…what?”
“Don’t make me discuss it. It’s too humiliating.” Her cheeks flushed bright red. “She’s hoping they get engaged.”
“Wow.”
“Yes, wow, but now, I’m having a little revenge. She’ll tattle to Chad that I began dating you the day after he hooked up with her. He’s so vain; it will drive him nuts to think that I didn’t care about what he did.”
“You must have some very interesting family dinners.”
“We try not to get together too often.”
“I’ll bet you don’t.”
They stared out the window where they could see Pamela twisting and turning on her heels as she struggled with the reception.
“Give her another minute,” Amy advised. “She’ll leave, then we can go without having to speak to her again.”
They watched in silence, and evidently, Amy knew Pamela well. Precisely a minute later, she stomped off, alternating between punching buttons and jamming the phone to her ear.
Even after she disappeared, Amy gazed at the spot where she’d been, as if an old movie was playing in her head.
“Wanna tell me about it?” he gently inquired, and to his astonishment, he was genuinely curious.
She peered at him with those poignant emerald eyes of hers. They were so expressive, and he could read every emotion lingering there: hurt, exasperation, rage.
She seemed to be perched on the edge of a grand confession, as if a lifetime of sorrow was about to spill out, but the moment passed. She smiled, but sadly.
“No, I don’t want to talk about it.” She stood, abruptly eager to leave, too. “Thank you for letting me accost you. Thank you for letting me drag you into my wacky family drama.”
“I enjoyed it.”
“You’re a nice man.”
“I try to be,” he lied. He never tried to be nice. It simply wasn’t in his nature.
“Goodbye.”
She hustled out, and she had on sensible, flat-soled boots, so she was quicker than her sister had been. She was at the corner and across the street before he could scramble out onto the sidewalk.
“Amy!” he called.
She paused and glanced back.
“I want to see you again,” he shouted.
The wind was howling, and she made a motion as if she couldn’t hear him. He didn’t know if she really couldn’t or if she was pretending. She shrugged and waved, then whipped away and ran up the hill. In an instant, she was at the crest, then she vanished down the other side.
He nearly chased after her, and he just caught himself so he didn’t race off like a crazy person. Who was she? Why had he wasted any energy on her ridiculous intrigues?
He had business to attend. He had gorgeous, glamorous Chantal waiting for him at the hotel. The autumn days were very short, the sun dropping behind the mountain peaks, and he was anxious to get on the road to Denver.
He turned the other way from where she’d gone and headed to the newspaper office.
Praise for New York Times Bestselling Author
CHERYL HOLT
“Best storyteller of the year...”
Romantic Times Magazine
“A master writer…”
Fallen Angel Reviews
“Cheryl Holt is magnificent…”
Reader to Reader Reviews
“From cover to cover, I was spellbound. Truly outstanding…”
Romance Junkies
“A classic love story with hot, fiery passion dripping from every page. There’s nothing better than curling up with a great book and this one totally qualifies.”
Fresh Fiction
“This book pulls you in and you won’t be able to put it down.”
The Romance Studio
“This is a masterpiece of storytelling. A sensual delight scattered with rose petals that are divinely arousing. Oh my, yes indeedy!"
Reader to Reader Reviews
“Bravo, Ms. Holt, for continuing to entertain us with your exceptional talent."
Coffee Time Romances
The beautiful cover art for this novel was designed by Angela Waters.
www.angelawatersart.com
