Read Online A Shadow's Light BK 2 by J.M.Pierce - Free Book Online Page B

nervous and his speech was stammered, but not with Alyssa.
    Her eyes filled with attraction, Alyssa gently took Test’s hand in hers and the two of them walked into the woods. After a short stroll, they found a fallen tree with the perfect crook for a seat. The sun was streaming through the canopy and the air was so still it was as if time had stopped. Alyssa was the first to take a seat as she reached into the bag and pulled out a sandwich, handing it to Test with a smile.
    “Thank you,” replied Test as he sat beside her.
    The two of them remained silent for a bit while they ate their lunch. Test was careful not to be his usual self and inhale his food, though he took comfort in the fact that Alyssa didn’t appear to be timid in the moment.
    “How’s your day going?” asked Alyssa as she took the last bite of her sandwich.
    With a chuckle, Test replied. “All things considered…pretty good I guess.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, I’m lucky to have a job after yesterday,” replied Test in a matter of fact way.
    Alyssa looked at Test with a wrinkled nose. “Oh…I don’t think you were going to lose your job.”
    “Oh?” replied Test mockingly. “After that meeting with Enrique this morning, I’m pretty sure I’m on thin ice.”
    Alyssa took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, allowing her shoulders to relax and droop slightly. “Can I tell you something if you promise not to repeat it?”
    Test looked at her with an amused expression. “I’m pretty good at keeping secrets.”
    “Uncle Enrique had a son,” began Alyssa.
    “Yeah, he told me about him. Died when he was younger, right?”
    Choking lightly on emotion, Alyssa replied. “Yes. Mark was a heavy drug user. He went to sleep one night…and never woke up.”
    “Did you know him well?” asked Test respectfully.
    “We used to play together during the summer when we were younger. When he got older, he didn’t ever seem to have time when I was around.” She paused for a moment, looking off in the distance through the trees.
    “Why are you telling me this?” asked Test carefully, trying to be sensitive to her feelings.
    Alyssa looked into his eyes. “Because Uncle Enrique says that you remind him of Mark.”
    Test sat stunned, struggling to comprehend what she meant.
    Alyssa continued as she rested her hand on his. “You being around makes him feel like he has part of his son back.”
    “Wow,” replied Test in somewhat of a daze. “I don’t know what to say.”
    “That’s why he was so upset about you disappearing yesterday. He was afraid that you had done something that you shouldn’t.”
    “But I don’t…”
    Alyssa quickly put her hand over his mouth. “I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me.” Slowly she dropped her hand. “It does matter to him though.”
    Test leaned back on the log and ran his hands through his hair, looking long into the canopy overhead. He closed his eyes and let the flashes of light color the back of his eyelids. He then felt the soft touch of Alyssa’s hand on his back, gently stroking back and forth with her fingertips.
    “Don’t let it upset you, Chance.”
    Test opened his eyes and noticed that she had moved close enough to him that there was little room separating them. The two of them sat with their faces only inches apart. He was entranced by her disheveled hair and dirty face.
    “I’m scared of this,” replied Test bashfully.
    Alyssa lifted her hand once more, only this time she gently brushed Test’s cheek with the backside of her fingers. “Don’t be scared. Just let nature take its course,” she said with an innocent little smile.
    Test closed his eyes again and breathed deeply. Her touch felt so good. He hadn’t felt comforted like this in a long time. Suddenly, Rob’s voice came crashing through the woods, shattering the tranquility of the moment.
    “Chance!”
    Test snapped to his feet and looked down to a still smiling Alyssa.
    “I have to get back to work,” he