Read Online Deception by Sharon Cullen - Free Book Online Page A

City and the vacation they’d taken one hot summer. He hadn’t much liked the hustle and bustle and the wall-to-wall people of the Big Apple, but Tess had loved it.
    Each ornament reminded him of happier times. Of times when they’d been sure their love could conquer anything. By the time dusk fell, the tree looked like their Christmas trees of years past. He lit a fire, turned on the twinkling lights and sat down to wait for Tess.
     
    ***
     
    Tess trudged up the driveway. It’d taken longer than she’d expected to make her deliveries and, as the day progressed, her body had rebelled. Her feet refused to move fast enough and her back hurt every time she picked up a box.
    One more day.
    How many times had she told herself that?
    She opened the front door and pulled her coat off, dropping it on the floor. Her boots came next, along with her scarf. She blinked, trying to focus on the hazy glow of Christmas tree lights.
    Alex limped in from the kitchen, the familiar tap, shuffle of his feet and cane making her turn toward him. He pulled up short. “Jesus, Tess. You look like hell.”
    She passed a hand over her sweaty brow and pushed her hair away. “Yeah, you said something like that earlier.” She shivered and rubbed her arms with her hands. The fire called to her, but her kitchen called louder.
    Alex pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. “You’re burning up.” Worry lines creased the area between his eyebrows. “Get in bed.”
    She shook her head. The room tilted and the lights on the tree and in the windows blurred into one big golden ball. “Can’t. Got things to do.”
    “Not tonight, sweetheart. The only thing you have to do is sleep.” He gently took her arm and guided her down the hall.
    She wanted to pull away, but was afraid she’d fall. “One more day, Alex. Got more deliveries tomorrow.”
    He shook his head. It took some effort on her part to follow the movement. “Sorry, Tessie.”
    Panic had her yanking her arm free, but she stumbled and her shoulder hit the wall.
    Alex dropped his cane to catch her before she slid to the floor. “Tess, this is ridiculous. You need sleep and you need to see a doctor.”
    She coughed. Her throat rattled and her ribs felt as if they’d cracked in two. She held on to her ribcage with one hand and covered her mouth with the other.
    “You’re pissing me off, Tess. You either get in bed or I’ll carry you.”
    “You can’t carry me, you idiot.” She pushed away from the wall and stumbled in the direction of the kitchen.
    “All the more reason for you to walk on your own, then.” He took her arm again and with surprising strength pulled her down the hall, turning when he came to his room. Tess dug her heels into the soft carpet. “I can’t go in there! That’s your room.”
    He tugged on her hand. “You said yourself this room has the best mattress. Do you need help undressing?”
    She shook her head.
    “Good. I’ll call the doctor.” He pointed to the bed. “If you’re not in there, under the covers, by the time I get back, I’m tossing you in myself.”
     
    ***
     
    “Tess. Tess, honey, wake up.”
    Tess moaned and shrugged off the hand shaking her shoulder.
    “Tess. You have a doctor’s appointment. Shannon’s on the way to take you. You need to get ready.”
    She sat up and coughed. Damn, it hurt to move. She tried to lie back down, but a strong arm held her up. She whimpered.
    “I know, baby.”
    She opened blurry eyes and tried to focus on the clock. “Time is it?”
    “Five o’clock. The doctor’s staying over to see you, so you have to hurry.”
    She burrowed into the strength of Alex’s arms and the warmth of his body. He was like a furnace and she was so cold.
    He tugged on her arm. The loss of his body heat caused her to start shivering again.
    “Tess, get up. You can sleep when you get back, I promise. Damn, I wish I could take you myself, but I still can’t drive.” His husky voice floated around her and she