Read Online False Pretenses by Tressie Lockwood - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tressie Lockwood
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broken hearts.”
“Ah.”
The sweet, creamy dessert eased down her throat, an old friend always willing to be there. Except when I hate her because she made me gain weight. Then she can kiss my ass. “Yup, women really do this. It’s not just for the movies. You have to have seen Piper eat—” Maybe he hadn’t. Not that his sister couldn’t get a broken heart, but she guessed Piper kept even that a secret because of her preference.
“No, I haven’t,” he confirmed.
“Lucky you. The tears and snot accompany it, and that’s so not pretty.”
He cringed and put his spoon down.
“Damn, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill your appetite.”
“You didn’t. I was just thinking how great you are. This is just a gig, I guess you can call it, and you’re all in. You helped me, and even Piper when she needed it. I just wanted to say thank you.” He reached across the table and touched her fingers. She wanted to draw back, to protect herself, but the haunted light had returned to his eyes.
“You all love him very much. I can tell.”
“You have no idea.”
Nathan ran his hands through his hair and stood. He paced a few steps away from the table and leaned on the island in the middle of the kitchen. The stove was situated there, one with five burners and a rack overhead, pots and pans hanging from it. Alyssa had always wanted something like that. Her apartment stove looked like someone had squished it between the sink and the refrigerator. The burners were so tight, she had trouble getting food prepared in a big soup pot to cook evenly.
“When I was younger, he was stronger and tougher. He didn’t allow failure in his subordinates or his family. That doesn’t mean he was a tyrant. His kindness reached every corner of the world, and no matter how busy running a corporation made him, he found time to spend with Piper and me.”
Alyssa had never heard anyone who wasn’t a child idolize their parent so much. She admired it in Nathan.
“I strove to be like him in every way.”
“I bet you did.”
He turned to look at her and offered a tight smile. “Not even close. Like any son, I thought he would be here forever. Losing him will be unbearable.”
Alyssa’s spoon clanked in her bowl when she let it fall, and she rushed over to Nathan. He engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug. She held on, willing her strength to him, but when she peered up, his eyes were dry. He lowered his head toward hers, and his lashes brushed her cheeks. He pulled in a deep breath, his big chest pushing against hers.
“It’s late,” he murmured.
She kissed his cheek and drew from his arms. After they’d washed and dried the dishes they had used, they walked up to the bedroom they shared. Alyssa showered and slipped into a nightgown she’d purchased shopping. Then she climbed into bed. Nathan took longer in the bathroom, but when he returned, he appeared no more unwound than before he went in. She considered offering to find Talia for a sleeping pill, but had another thought.
Nathan climbed into bed and switched off the lamp. The bed sank toward his side, bringing her in closer to him. He lay on his back, and she rested a hand on his bare chest.
“Nathan.”
“Hm.”
“I…um…” Rather than ask him or offer, she ran her hand over his chest, skimmed his nipples, and then explored lower, across his belly. Just before she reached the point of no return, he caught her wrist. She eyed him in the dim lighting. Was he rejecting her?
“I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“You’re not.”
“If you weren’t feeling sorry for me, you wouldn’t offer this.”
She sucked her teeth. “We both know that’s not true. We felt it from day one. I’m a big girl.”
“Alyssa.” He rolled to face her, continuing to hold her wrist in the spot where he’d stopped it. “I’m not in a position to think clearly. I want to forget my head altogether. That might not be the best choice for you.”
She stretched up and
“Ah.”
The sweet, creamy dessert eased down her throat, an old friend always willing to be there. Except when I hate her because she made me gain weight. Then she can kiss my ass. “Yup, women really do this. It’s not just for the movies. You have to have seen Piper eat—” Maybe he hadn’t. Not that his sister couldn’t get a broken heart, but she guessed Piper kept even that a secret because of her preference.
“No, I haven’t,” he confirmed.
“Lucky you. The tears and snot accompany it, and that’s so not pretty.”
He cringed and put his spoon down.
“Damn, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill your appetite.”
“You didn’t. I was just thinking how great you are. This is just a gig, I guess you can call it, and you’re all in. You helped me, and even Piper when she needed it. I just wanted to say thank you.” He reached across the table and touched her fingers. She wanted to draw back, to protect herself, but the haunted light had returned to his eyes.
“You all love him very much. I can tell.”
“You have no idea.”
Nathan ran his hands through his hair and stood. He paced a few steps away from the table and leaned on the island in the middle of the kitchen. The stove was situated there, one with five burners and a rack overhead, pots and pans hanging from it. Alyssa had always wanted something like that. Her apartment stove looked like someone had squished it between the sink and the refrigerator. The burners were so tight, she had trouble getting food prepared in a big soup pot to cook evenly.
“When I was younger, he was stronger and tougher. He didn’t allow failure in his subordinates or his family. That doesn’t mean he was a tyrant. His kindness reached every corner of the world, and no matter how busy running a corporation made him, he found time to spend with Piper and me.”
Alyssa had never heard anyone who wasn’t a child idolize their parent so much. She admired it in Nathan.
“I strove to be like him in every way.”
“I bet you did.”
He turned to look at her and offered a tight smile. “Not even close. Like any son, I thought he would be here forever. Losing him will be unbearable.”
Alyssa’s spoon clanked in her bowl when she let it fall, and she rushed over to Nathan. He engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug. She held on, willing her strength to him, but when she peered up, his eyes were dry. He lowered his head toward hers, and his lashes brushed her cheeks. He pulled in a deep breath, his big chest pushing against hers.
“It’s late,” he murmured.
She kissed his cheek and drew from his arms. After they’d washed and dried the dishes they had used, they walked up to the bedroom they shared. Alyssa showered and slipped into a nightgown she’d purchased shopping. Then she climbed into bed. Nathan took longer in the bathroom, but when he returned, he appeared no more unwound than before he went in. She considered offering to find Talia for a sleeping pill, but had another thought.
Nathan climbed into bed and switched off the lamp. The bed sank toward his side, bringing her in closer to him. He lay on his back, and she rested a hand on his bare chest.
“Nathan.”
“Hm.”
“I…um…” Rather than ask him or offer, she ran her hand over his chest, skimmed his nipples, and then explored lower, across his belly. Just before she reached the point of no return, he caught her wrist. She eyed him in the dim lighting. Was he rejecting her?
“I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“You’re not.”
“If you weren’t feeling sorry for me, you wouldn’t offer this.”
She sucked her teeth. “We both know that’s not true. We felt it from day one. I’m a big girl.”
“Alyssa.” He rolled to face her, continuing to hold her wrist in the spot where he’d stopped it. “I’m not in a position to think clearly. I want to forget my head altogether. That might not be the best choice for you.”
She stretched up and
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