Read Online Condemned by Barbara Huffert - Free Book Online Page B

open.”
    “Yeah. That always added to the confusion. No one could
figure out why there was such a difference between them. Frank and I never
minded. I guess we were used to them so it didn’t seem as strange to us as it
did to outsiders. There were times when she’d walk up to the three of us and
say something even weirder than the stuff he came up with. You should have seen
the way Wyatt would look at her then. It was as if he was extremely pleased
with her or something.”
    “I had lunch with her last week. She’s great.”
    “Sure is. She called me. She seems fond of you. I think it
goes beyond your willingness to tell her more than I do about how this is going
with us. Maybe I should introduce you to Wyatt again. I know you met him
briefly but he was keeping to himself more than usual that day.”
    “Do you think he’d speak to me?”
    “Who knows? You’re just about the nicest woman I’ve ever
met. Maybe he’d sense that enough to want to communicate with you. Of course,
I’m not entirely sure he remembers how to talk to a female. His comments in
school made it clear that he paid attention but I don’t think he’s ever spoken
to a girl voluntarily.”
    “I’d certainly never want to force him to talk to me. Maybe
we should skip that for now. Since you and I are friends and Holly and I are
getting to be too, perhaps I’ll bump into him sometime.”
    “It’s possible unless Brett keeps you all to himself. Maybe
I’ll swing by his house after I drop you off tonight. I’m sure he’s fine. He’s
probably just overindulging in Tish right now.” Jesse instantly wished he could
take back his last statement.
    “I’ve already guessed that so don’t you dare try to say
something to recant your comment. I’ve been paying attention to him for months,
Jesse. I know he’s not a monk. As long as he doesn’t play around if we ever get
together, it’s none of my business what he did before me. Or after me either.”
    “Andie, how many times do I have to tell you that you’re a
forever kind of girl? Once you and Brett get together, you won’t even have to
consider the possibility of after. The only after will be more of you.”
    “What would I do without you? Let’s change the subject and
forget about Brett for an hour. Tell me more about growing up. I’m an only
child and my mother thought most people were beneath us so I didn’t have any
really close friends. I spent most of my time entertaining myself and I love to
hear about other people.”
    * * * * *
    Brett answered the bell, wondering who would show up on his
doorstep these days. Probably just another religious nut. If it wouldn’t scare
off potential buyers and piss off his realtor, he’d hang up a sign telling them
what he thought about people who tried to shove their religion down your
throat. Why couldn’t they accept that others worshipped in their own ways?
    “Tish. Hi,” he greeted her, slightly confused. Their dinner
had gone fairly well but not well enough for him to expect her to just show up
at his house unannounced. “This is a surprise.”
    “I hope this is okay. I feel so much more comfortable with
you since our talk. I was thinking about you so I thought I’d be impulsive and
stop by.”
    “It’s fine. You’re always welcome here.”
    “Thank you,” she said, brushing his chest with her
fingertips as she went by.
    “Can I offer you anything?”
    Without answering she stepped closer and smiled seductively.
Placing her hands on his chest, she kissed him. Gently at first, then more
deeply.
    “Mm, this is nice,” Brett murmured. His mind flashed back to
the first real kisses he had ever had. So much of Tish’s behavior reminded him
of his girlfriend at that time. She’d been beautiful in so many ways, almost
perfect. He couldn’t even remember why they’d broken up but there were moments,
like this one, when he wished they hadn’t.
    “Brett.” Tish sighed, slipping her hands under his shirt.
    Her fingers were