Read Online Chemical Attraction by Christina Thompson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christina Thompson
Ads: Link
to do?”
“No, I’m sorry.” David gripped the wheel. “It’s just … I don’t know.”
“You need to figure out your attitude, because you’re taking it out on the wrong person.”
“I gotta go, Dad. I don’t want to be late.”
Matt stepped back from the car. “Think about what I said, and apologize.”
Back in the house, he found his wife in the bedroom looking for her shoes. She loved David as her own, but she tried too hard to be his friend. Matt thought she gave in to their son too much.
Matt opened his arms to her. “He’s not mad at you. He’s an emotional teenager.”
She nodded. Her ear pressed against him to hear his heartbeat. She remembered growing up in a household where her mom didn’t give a damn. Her mom’s boyfriends gave her more attention. Finding a safe haven with Joe, she thought of Taylor’s parents as hers. They were much older and understood their needs. She wanted to be there for David as Taylor’s parents had been for her. They always made it seem easy, but she now realized how she had tested their patience.
“Will you drop me off at work?” she asked.
“You bet. Will you have time for lunch later?”
“With you, of course.”
In Matt’s patrol car, she pulled out a pair of nylons from between the seats. “These better be mine.”
He tossed them into a corner of the garage. “I don’t want to explain to the guys why I have nylons in my squad car. Did you leave anything else in here?”
“I will later,” she said with a wink.
“Our garbage can and screen door couldn’t take it again.” He stopped in the hospital’s circular drive.
She leaned over and kissed him. “Please, be careful.”
“I love you, too.”
Frustrated with his lack of sleep, Joe threw back the sheet. Running his hands through his hair, he sighed. In his grey boxer briefs, he reached for his shaving kit. After peeking out first, he strolled down the hall. Sylvia came out of the kitchen. To his embarrassment, she looked him up and down.
“What did I tell you about walking around like that?”
“It’s a quarter to seven. I didn’t think you’d be up yet,” he replied, trying to hide behind his kit.
“Did Madeline leave already?”
“I walked her home last night. Can we discuss this after I shower and dress?”
She chuckled. “I’ll make some coffee.”
Twenty minutes later, he walked into the kitchen wearing a faded pair of Levis and a tight pale yellow t-shirt. Sylvia started to get up from the table, but he motioned for her to stay seated. After refilling her cup, he then filled one for himself.
“For the record, we only kissed,” he said as he sat across from her.
“I believe you. Do you think you need my permission?” she asked, adding cream to her cup.
“No, but I get the feeling she doesn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Madeline’s her own woman. She had to learn that the hard way, I’m afraid.”
“What do you mean?”
“In college, her boyfriend severely beat her,” Sylvia said, wrapping her hands around her mug.
“What happened?”
She shook her head. “I really don’t know, but her father said she deserved it.”
“Jeez, why would he say that?”
“Because he’s a bastard just like that man she dated. Well, she vowed never to rely on anyone again and graduated early with her doctorate. Afterward, she disappeared for three months. When she arrived in Allenton, she was a new woman with a new job and purpose.”
“How had she changed?”
“Well, she’s more confident and in charge of her life.”
“Where’d she go?”
“I asked a few times, but she wouldn’t say.”
He held his coffee mug close to his mouth. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Because as wild and outgoing as Madeline thinks she is, I still see that fragile young woman.” Sylvia pushed back her chair. “Now, how about some bacon and eggs for breakfast?”
Madeline walked through the front entrance of Bennett Technology’s Research and
“No, I’m sorry.” David gripped the wheel. “It’s just … I don’t know.”
“You need to figure out your attitude, because you’re taking it out on the wrong person.”
“I gotta go, Dad. I don’t want to be late.”
Matt stepped back from the car. “Think about what I said, and apologize.”
Back in the house, he found his wife in the bedroom looking for her shoes. She loved David as her own, but she tried too hard to be his friend. Matt thought she gave in to their son too much.
Matt opened his arms to her. “He’s not mad at you. He’s an emotional teenager.”
She nodded. Her ear pressed against him to hear his heartbeat. She remembered growing up in a household where her mom didn’t give a damn. Her mom’s boyfriends gave her more attention. Finding a safe haven with Joe, she thought of Taylor’s parents as hers. They were much older and understood their needs. She wanted to be there for David as Taylor’s parents had been for her. They always made it seem easy, but she now realized how she had tested their patience.
“Will you drop me off at work?” she asked.
“You bet. Will you have time for lunch later?”
“With you, of course.”
In Matt’s patrol car, she pulled out a pair of nylons from between the seats. “These better be mine.”
He tossed them into a corner of the garage. “I don’t want to explain to the guys why I have nylons in my squad car. Did you leave anything else in here?”
“I will later,” she said with a wink.
“Our garbage can and screen door couldn’t take it again.” He stopped in the hospital’s circular drive.
She leaned over and kissed him. “Please, be careful.”
“I love you, too.”
Frustrated with his lack of sleep, Joe threw back the sheet. Running his hands through his hair, he sighed. In his grey boxer briefs, he reached for his shaving kit. After peeking out first, he strolled down the hall. Sylvia came out of the kitchen. To his embarrassment, she looked him up and down.
“What did I tell you about walking around like that?”
“It’s a quarter to seven. I didn’t think you’d be up yet,” he replied, trying to hide behind his kit.
“Did Madeline leave already?”
“I walked her home last night. Can we discuss this after I shower and dress?”
She chuckled. “I’ll make some coffee.”
Twenty minutes later, he walked into the kitchen wearing a faded pair of Levis and a tight pale yellow t-shirt. Sylvia started to get up from the table, but he motioned for her to stay seated. After refilling her cup, he then filled one for himself.
“For the record, we only kissed,” he said as he sat across from her.
“I believe you. Do you think you need my permission?” she asked, adding cream to her cup.
“No, but I get the feeling she doesn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Madeline’s her own woman. She had to learn that the hard way, I’m afraid.”
“What do you mean?”
“In college, her boyfriend severely beat her,” Sylvia said, wrapping her hands around her mug.
“What happened?”
She shook her head. “I really don’t know, but her father said she deserved it.”
“Jeez, why would he say that?”
“Because he’s a bastard just like that man she dated. Well, she vowed never to rely on anyone again and graduated early with her doctorate. Afterward, she disappeared for three months. When she arrived in Allenton, she was a new woman with a new job and purpose.”
“How had she changed?”
“Well, she’s more confident and in charge of her life.”
“Where’d she go?”
“I asked a few times, but she wouldn’t say.”
He held his coffee mug close to his mouth. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Because as wild and outgoing as Madeline thinks she is, I still see that fragile young woman.” Sylvia pushed back her chair. “Now, how about some bacon and eggs for breakfast?”
Madeline walked through the front entrance of Bennett Technology’s Research and
Similar Books
