Read Online Callahan's Fate by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy - Free Book Online

time there was   more than one kind of hunger burning
in his gut.   The first, he could fill
here, but the second loomed large between them, an unspoken presence that would
have to be dealt with very soon.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Watching sunlight and shadows play
across the beach, Raine knew one thing.   She had fallen hard for this cop, and if she
didn’t love him yet, she was halfway there.   Callahan moved her in ways no other guy ever had.   His kisses brought her from zero to eighty in
seconds, her body revving like a race car engine with a wild desire and a need
for speed.   His dark, good looks appealed
to her, but what touched her most was his combination bravado and anguish.   She adored his New York accent, exotic to her
Midwest-raised ears, and the way he carried himself, with a cocky swagger and a
cop’s touch exterior.   He spoke with both
intelligence and authority.   Toward her,
he displayed nothing but definite interest, gentle caring, and open
appreciation.   Who couldn’t resist such a
combination, even if he wasn’t to-die-for gorgeous?
    But he’s
troubled, too.   Whatever burdens he carried, they were heavy,
and he bore them hard.   Raine ached to take the sadness from his eyes and to
relieve his obvious pain.   She suspected
grief and guilt were two of the demons haunting him, but until he opened up,
there wasn’t much she could do to ease him.
    So far, their shared Sunday had been
fantastic, although some of the joy faded when he spoke of secrets he didn’t
want to share.   Raine had feared the day might go sour, but when she kissed him, he seemed to let go of the darkness.   When the rain showers ceased and the sun came
out, it apparently moved him as much as it had her, maybe more.   As they strolled away from the ocean toward
the well-known hot dog stand, he had regained most of his composure.   His grins were back, along with a generous helping
of his good-natured wit.
    At Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, her
appetite roused as she inhaled the delicious aromas.   Callahan leaned over. “You do like hot dogs,
right?”
    “Yes, of course I do.”
    “If you don’t, they’ve got clam chowder
and burgers and chicken…”
    Raine interrupted
him. “Hot dogs are fine.   I think I’d
like a chili cheese dog.”
    “Good choice. They’re great. I’m having
two, I think.   You want some fries or
onion rings?”
    “Fries, please, and a soda will be
fine.”
    “Okay. Do you mind if I get a beer?”
    “No, don’t be silly.”
    “If you wanna grab a table, I’ll get the food,” Cal said.   Raine glanced around.   Despite the rain, the place was crowded.  
    She pointed to a vacant table for two,
and he nodded. “Go get it.   Pick up some
napkins and straws on the way, will you?”
    Raine took a chair so
she could watch Callahan at the counter.   She enjoyed ogling him, but when he headed for the table with their
order tucked into a cardboard box, she schooled her face to be bland.   As he had before, he spoke the simple
blessing she knew, and she joined him.   Hard to believe I just met him yesterday
morning.   I feel like I’ve known him for
a long time.   Whatever this is, wherever
it leads, there’s some kind of bond between us.
    When she tasted her first bite of the
chili cheese dog, Raine knew she’d reached a new
level of delight.   “Wow, it’s fantastic,”
she said.
    Callahan grinned. “Yeah, Nathan’s are
the best, but you gotta eat ‘em here.   The ones from the supermarket, they’re good,
but not like this.”
    Throughout most of the meal, he sat in a
relaxed pose, and after he’d finished, he drained the rest of his beer in a
single swallow.   “Perfect!”
    They talked about Coney Island, and he
shared a few memories from childhood.   Raine noticed that when he spoke of his brothers, Aidan and
Anthony, his eyes darkened and his smile faded, so she wondered if they were
part of his burden.   The stories he told,
though, were amusing and