Read Online Happily Never After by Bess George - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bess George
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she left the building. Her feet seemed to be drifting along on a cloud.
She’d worked the whole day and looked forward to another one tomorrow. People wandered along the sidewalks, unlike the hustle and bustle of the downtown streets of Dallas. The sun sinking below the rooftops put a chill in the air.
She made the short drive and hurried to her room. Dressed in workout clothes, she went down to the hotel’s small gym. The room was good-sized and held several treadmills, elliptical, and an assortment of hand weights. Since her attack, the first thing she did upon entering a room was check her surroundings. A sigh of relief escaped when she hopped on one of the machines and set a comfortable pace.
A tall, muscular man came into the room and lumbered toward a treadmill. On guard, she watched him from the corner of her eye. He started his workout, and she relaxed again.
After ten minutes, she upped the setting and sweat began to run down her face in tiny rivulets. The guy finished running and started using some of the free weights.
Her head jerked at the sound of his voice. “What? Sorry, I didn’t catch that.” She reduced the speed on her machine and studied the stranger.
He was younger than she’d first concluded. His short hair was gray around the temple, but he was in tip-top shape. “The crowds will start flooding into the city now.”
She followed his gaze toward the television. “What’s going on?”
“Big Bike Weekend coming up. People are here for the events. They have everything from bands playing all over town to different motorcycle competitions for the public and law enforcement. The weather’s supposed to be beautiful.”
“Wow, sounds like fun. You from around here?” She reached down and pushed the stop button before stepping off.
He put the weights back into the rack and held out a large hand. “No, I’m from LA. It’s been years since I’ve been here during the festivities. My name’s Joe.”
“Kelsey.” She shook his hand, then bent down for her bag. “Thanks for the information. Maybe I’ll check things out. Have fun this weekend.”
He smiled. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
She shifted to leave and saw him bend back down to finish his workout. Returning to her room, she reflected on the day’s accomplishments. The familiar surge of panic didn’t seem quite as sharp when she entered her room. Racing across the small space, she threw herself backward on the bed and giggled up at the ceiling.
She could do this.
Chapter 8
Bode stormed into the office on Wednesday morning and sat down at his desk. Today had been one dead end after another, and he wanted somewhere to vent his frustration. Several of his cases had stalled, and his shoulders were knotted tighter than a kindergartner’s shoe lace.
He hadn’t seen Kelsey since Monday, but the memory of that meeting still managed to tick him off. His plan to steer clear of her had flown out the window when he saw Michael Miller flirting with her.
Cursing himself for this obsession, he opened his drawer and yanked out a file. He slammed it shut as Steve placed one hip on the corner of his desk.
“My man. What’s got you so stirred up?” The smile on his friend’s face pissed him off too.
“What do you mean?” He narrowed his eyes at his partner. After having one another’s back for the last few years, Steve understood him inside and out. He also enjoyed pushing buttons to get a reaction.
“No offense, but you’re looking a little stressed. As a matter of fact, I think we should meet at the Watering Hole after work and find us a couple of lovely ladies to entertain. Help you to loosen up.”
He didn’t want to go to the singles bar tonight, but he dreaded spending another night at home. With thoughts swimming around in his brain that he had no business thinking. His spirits lifted at a sudden realization. He was twisted up inside because of being celibate for too many months.
“Sure,” he grunted,
She’d worked the whole day and looked forward to another one tomorrow. People wandered along the sidewalks, unlike the hustle and bustle of the downtown streets of Dallas. The sun sinking below the rooftops put a chill in the air.
She made the short drive and hurried to her room. Dressed in workout clothes, she went down to the hotel’s small gym. The room was good-sized and held several treadmills, elliptical, and an assortment of hand weights. Since her attack, the first thing she did upon entering a room was check her surroundings. A sigh of relief escaped when she hopped on one of the machines and set a comfortable pace.
A tall, muscular man came into the room and lumbered toward a treadmill. On guard, she watched him from the corner of her eye. He started his workout, and she relaxed again.
After ten minutes, she upped the setting and sweat began to run down her face in tiny rivulets. The guy finished running and started using some of the free weights.
Her head jerked at the sound of his voice. “What? Sorry, I didn’t catch that.” She reduced the speed on her machine and studied the stranger.
He was younger than she’d first concluded. His short hair was gray around the temple, but he was in tip-top shape. “The crowds will start flooding into the city now.”
She followed his gaze toward the television. “What’s going on?”
“Big Bike Weekend coming up. People are here for the events. They have everything from bands playing all over town to different motorcycle competitions for the public and law enforcement. The weather’s supposed to be beautiful.”
“Wow, sounds like fun. You from around here?” She reached down and pushed the stop button before stepping off.
He put the weights back into the rack and held out a large hand. “No, I’m from LA. It’s been years since I’ve been here during the festivities. My name’s Joe.”
“Kelsey.” She shook his hand, then bent down for her bag. “Thanks for the information. Maybe I’ll check things out. Have fun this weekend.”
He smiled. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
She shifted to leave and saw him bend back down to finish his workout. Returning to her room, she reflected on the day’s accomplishments. The familiar surge of panic didn’t seem quite as sharp when she entered her room. Racing across the small space, she threw herself backward on the bed and giggled up at the ceiling.
She could do this.
Chapter 8
Bode stormed into the office on Wednesday morning and sat down at his desk. Today had been one dead end after another, and he wanted somewhere to vent his frustration. Several of his cases had stalled, and his shoulders were knotted tighter than a kindergartner’s shoe lace.
He hadn’t seen Kelsey since Monday, but the memory of that meeting still managed to tick him off. His plan to steer clear of her had flown out the window when he saw Michael Miller flirting with her.
Cursing himself for this obsession, he opened his drawer and yanked out a file. He slammed it shut as Steve placed one hip on the corner of his desk.
“My man. What’s got you so stirred up?” The smile on his friend’s face pissed him off too.
“What do you mean?” He narrowed his eyes at his partner. After having one another’s back for the last few years, Steve understood him inside and out. He also enjoyed pushing buttons to get a reaction.
“No offense, but you’re looking a little stressed. As a matter of fact, I think we should meet at the Watering Hole after work and find us a couple of lovely ladies to entertain. Help you to loosen up.”
He didn’t want to go to the singles bar tonight, but he dreaded spending another night at home. With thoughts swimming around in his brain that he had no business thinking. His spirits lifted at a sudden realization. He was twisted up inside because of being celibate for too many months.
“Sure,” he grunted,
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