Read Online I'll Never Let You Go (Morgans of Nashville) by Mary Burton - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Burton
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with the fast group?”
“I can hang back.” Deidre’s sharp gaze saw far too much.
It took extra effort to fool her. “Go. I’m good. I won’t be far behind.”
Deidre hesitated. “I’ll wait for you at the cars.”
Even as she wished she would stay, Leah said, “See you soon.”
Deidre tossed her a thumbs-up and kicked her run into a higher gear. Leah would like to have been able to keep pace, but she couldn’t. Another memento of Philip. He’d stabbed her chest and punctured her lung, which had collapsed. It was back functioning, but she didn’t have the aerobic capacity she’d once had.
Her pace slow but steady, Leah kept running, and for the next half hour pushed straining muscles and burning lungs. Though she couldn’t keep pace with the main group, she would continue to progress if she remained patient.
When she arrived back at the car, Deidre and David were talking. He was laughing and she smiling. Breathless, Leah paused, pushed her hand into a side stitch, and then slowly walked toward the couple.
David smiled at Leah. “Looks like you’re running faster.”
“That’s the plan. Though I’m not holding out hope that I’ll get any sports scholarships or make any Olympic teams.”
Deidre smiled. “Use it or lose it. You’re doing fine.”
David chuckled. “Amen.”
Leah dug the key from her pocket. “Well, it would be nice not to be dead last in my age group when I race this spring. Maybe second to last.”
David grinned, and she saw his eyes warm with an appreciation that hinted of sexual desire. She should have been flattered. He was a nice guy, and liked to flirt, but old alarm bells rang.
“You two have a nice day,” Leah said. “I’ve got patients to see today.”
“We’re going to run a few more miles,” Deidre said, “and then call it a day.”
“Great.”
“Want to get coffee this week?” Deidre asked.
“Call me. I’ve got evenings and days this week, but I’m flexible.”
“Great.”
“See you.”
She tossed a glance at David that she hoped looked relaxed and not a deer caught in the headlights and hurried to her car. She glanced in the backseat and, sure it was empty, slid behind the wheel. Locking the doors, she turned the ignition and waited as the heater warmed and began to blow out hot air. As she put the car into reverse, she looked behind her, spotting again a flash of red. The man she’d seen earlier. He wasn’t looking at her, but, instead, leaned against a tree and stared back down the jogging path. Her heart kicked into high gear and her hands tightened on the steering wheel. It’s just a guy, Leah. Let it go.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into her town house driveway. Hesitating, she scanned the bushes around the front door. They were taller than she liked. Tall enough to hide a man standing in wait.
Leah shut off the engine and, key in hand, hurried to unlock the door. She quickly opened and closed it behind her, flipping the dead bolt immediately. She twisted the lock open and then closed it again. She tugged on the door handle to confirm it was really locked.
Leaning against the front door, her heart raced as had did four years before. She turned, flipped the dead bolt open. Flipped it closed again. She did it three times before she was satisfied it was locked.
She drew in a breath and hurried to her purse, where she kept her journal. Filled with fresh pages, it would hold so many notes. How long would it take her to fill this one? A month? Six months? She turned to the third page in the book and wrote down the date and time she’d noticed her keys missing, as well as the time she’d spotted the man in the park.
She stared at her precise handwriting and then slowly began to thumb through the older entries. Ten days ago: the nightmare. Eight days ago: saw man at the mall and remembered Philip. Seven days ago: heard a sound outside her window. Neighbor introduced herself as Julia, but she kept her distance.
Absently, she
“I can hang back.” Deidre’s sharp gaze saw far too much.
It took extra effort to fool her. “Go. I’m good. I won’t be far behind.”
Deidre hesitated. “I’ll wait for you at the cars.”
Even as she wished she would stay, Leah said, “See you soon.”
Deidre tossed her a thumbs-up and kicked her run into a higher gear. Leah would like to have been able to keep pace, but she couldn’t. Another memento of Philip. He’d stabbed her chest and punctured her lung, which had collapsed. It was back functioning, but she didn’t have the aerobic capacity she’d once had.
Her pace slow but steady, Leah kept running, and for the next half hour pushed straining muscles and burning lungs. Though she couldn’t keep pace with the main group, she would continue to progress if she remained patient.
When she arrived back at the car, Deidre and David were talking. He was laughing and she smiling. Breathless, Leah paused, pushed her hand into a side stitch, and then slowly walked toward the couple.
David smiled at Leah. “Looks like you’re running faster.”
“That’s the plan. Though I’m not holding out hope that I’ll get any sports scholarships or make any Olympic teams.”
Deidre smiled. “Use it or lose it. You’re doing fine.”
David chuckled. “Amen.”
Leah dug the key from her pocket. “Well, it would be nice not to be dead last in my age group when I race this spring. Maybe second to last.”
David grinned, and she saw his eyes warm with an appreciation that hinted of sexual desire. She should have been flattered. He was a nice guy, and liked to flirt, but old alarm bells rang.
“You two have a nice day,” Leah said. “I’ve got patients to see today.”
“We’re going to run a few more miles,” Deidre said, “and then call it a day.”
“Great.”
“Want to get coffee this week?” Deidre asked.
“Call me. I’ve got evenings and days this week, but I’m flexible.”
“Great.”
“See you.”
She tossed a glance at David that she hoped looked relaxed and not a deer caught in the headlights and hurried to her car. She glanced in the backseat and, sure it was empty, slid behind the wheel. Locking the doors, she turned the ignition and waited as the heater warmed and began to blow out hot air. As she put the car into reverse, she looked behind her, spotting again a flash of red. The man she’d seen earlier. He wasn’t looking at her, but, instead, leaned against a tree and stared back down the jogging path. Her heart kicked into high gear and her hands tightened on the steering wheel. It’s just a guy, Leah. Let it go.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into her town house driveway. Hesitating, she scanned the bushes around the front door. They were taller than she liked. Tall enough to hide a man standing in wait.
Leah shut off the engine and, key in hand, hurried to unlock the door. She quickly opened and closed it behind her, flipping the dead bolt immediately. She twisted the lock open and then closed it again. She tugged on the door handle to confirm it was really locked.
Leaning against the front door, her heart raced as had did four years before. She turned, flipped the dead bolt open. Flipped it closed again. She did it three times before she was satisfied it was locked.
She drew in a breath and hurried to her purse, where she kept her journal. Filled with fresh pages, it would hold so many notes. How long would it take her to fill this one? A month? Six months? She turned to the third page in the book and wrote down the date and time she’d noticed her keys missing, as well as the time she’d spotted the man in the park.
She stared at her precise handwriting and then slowly began to thumb through the older entries. Ten days ago: the nightmare. Eight days ago: saw man at the mall and remembered Philip. Seven days ago: heard a sound outside her window. Neighbor introduced herself as Julia, but she kept her distance.
Absently, she
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