Read Online A Gift of Thought by Sarah Wynde - Free Book Online Page A

beige car was nowhere to be seen, Sylvie noticed. They must have called it in when James got away from them. Instead, there was a police car with two uniformed officers, one of whom was currently patting James down, the other who was staring after her, looking annoyed, and a blue Toyota, with Lucas stepping out of one side, brown suit guy on the other.
    As she reached Lucas, she cocked her head to one side. “Really? For a cup of coffee?” she said, voice dangerous. “Should I tell these guys what you were up to Friday night?”
    He sighed. He looked tired, she noticed with a pang, his blue eyes shadowed. “I’m sorry,” he said. “You wouldn’t believe the favors I called in for this.”
    Sylvie turned to the guy in the brown suit. “This is Raymond Chesney’s car,” she said. “You know that, right?”
    He grimaced, closing his eyes and shuddering with exaggerated dismay. Then he opened them and said cheerfully, “Five jobs, right?” to Lucas.
    “Yep.”
    Brown-suit-guy tapped his forehead and said, “I’ll leave you to it, then.” Grinning at Sylvie, he headed away, up to where the uniformed police officer was putting his gun away.
    “But not Zane,” Lucas called after him. “Not for another six months, anyway.”
    The guy waved over his shoulder as Sylvie said, keeping her voice low despite her fury, “What the hell is this, Lucas?”
    “I’m sorry.” He put his hand on her upper arm. Despite her anger, Sylvie didn’t resist, didn’t step away. “I know you don’t understand. I need—I want to explain to you. But it’s not—”
    A buzzing from his pocket interrupted him and he reached for his phone. “Oh, thank God,” he muttered as he looked at the screen. He put the hand that wasn’t holding the phone across his eyes, pressing as if to hide his expression or his tears.
    Sylvie saw him swallow hard and she felt the tidal wave of relief that washed over him. “Lucas?” she asked. What was going on? She was lost.
    “I know you must have questions. I know you must be angry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything. But it’s complicated and—” He paused as his phone buzzed again.
    “What are you talking about, Lucas?” Sylvie asked as he looked at his phone. “What’s complicated?”
    He half smiled. And then he rubbed his face again and took a deep breath. ‘ It’s okay ,’ he thought to Sylvie.
    ‘What’s okay?’ she thought back, frustrated.
    ‘You’re cool.’ His thought was flavored with joy and Sylvie shook her head.
    “Lucas,” she said carefully, speaking out loud again. “Do you need help?” She hated therapists. But maybe Lucas needed medical attention. A psychiatrist, perhaps?
    “No,” he answered. “But I do need to talk to you. Will you meet me?”
    Sylvie sighed. She looked back at James, who was no longer leaning against the car. He was talking to the police officer and brown-suit guy, and although their conversation looked friendly enough, he was going to be pissed. She thought about her schedule. She was working long hours and would be until the flu finished beating up their team and Ty managed to find a new employee, but . . . .
    “Wednesday night. I’m off at 8.” It was two days away. Would he be willing to wait that long?
    “I can do that.” He nodded.
    Sylvie’s eyes narrowed. The desperation she’d sensed earlier was gone. He seemed close to relaxed. Still intent, still focused, still Lucas, but the chaotic emotions she’d felt at Starbucks had settled into a peaceful exhaustion.
    “I’ll be on duty at a holiday party at the Fairmont. Do you want to meet me there?” The words were straightforward but the thought asked for more. ‘ Do you want to tell me what this is about?’
    ‘Wednesday ,’ he promised. He slid his hand up her arm to her shoulder and grinned at her.
    ‘Lucas,’ she thought a warning, feeling the dangerous heat spark in her belly. They were not, not, not going to repeat past patterns.
    “It’s okay,”