Read Online Love Lies Dying by Steve Gerlach - Free Book Online Page A

but it was the most charming thing he had ever seen. She sat on the end of the bed like a little pixie or angel. He’d never woken up to anything so delightful in his life.
    “Good morning, sleepy head,” she said. “I’ve brought you some breakfast.” She pointed down at the tray resting beside her.
    “Thanks,” he replied as he cast a glance over the steaming hot coffee, toast and cereal. “But you didn’t have to do all this.”
    “Hey, it’s the least I can do. You’re letting me stay here after all, so I should be able to make you a meal or two.”
    John ran a hand through his messed hair and smiled back at her. “I am hungry,” he said. “What time is it?”
    “It’s a little after eleven.”
    “Wow, I slept in, huh?”
    “Well, we did have a late night last night,” Zoe replied.
    “Yeah, we did.” John pulled himself up into a sitting position.
    Zoe’s eyes fell to his chest as he did so. He realised then that this was the first time she had seen him without a shirt. He was glad he’d kept his boxers on last night. She might be able to walk around naked in front of strangers, but John sure as hell couldn’t.
    “So, did you sleep okay?” he asked.
    Her eyes darted back to his and she smiled. “Okay, yeah, I guess. I woke up a few times, you know, because of the dreams I have. They’re nightmares really. Sometimes pretty strange and violent ones, but I think I slept better last night than I have in ages.”
    “Good.”
    Zoe picked up the tray holding the food and leaned closer towards him. He reached out and took the tray from her and placed it in his lap.
    “Thanks.”
    “As I said, no problem at all,” she sat back at the end of the bed. “I hope you enjoy it.”
    “I’m sure I will!” John said as he took a sip of coffee. “Ahh, nice! I’m not used to this kind of service.”
    Zoe giggled, “It’s no trouble, really.”
    They sat in silence for a moment while John took a spoonful of cereal and began to eat. Zoe checked her braids to make sure they were still in order and then let her eyes slip back down his chest.
    “Have you been up long?” he asked, more to put an end to the silence than anything else.
    “An hour or so,” she replied. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took a shower and this was all I could find to wear.” She pointed at his blue bathrobe.
    I don’t mind at all, he thought. You look great in it.
    John shook his head while chewing another mouthful of cereal, “That’s fine. Use whatever you want.”
    “It’s just that I woke up feeling dirty and horrible, probably because of my dreams, and I just knew if I could have a long hot shower, I’d feel much better.”
    John thought about Zoe in a long hot shower, the steam all around her, her hair wet and plastered to her head. The hot water coursing down her body, flowing onto her, around her, down her breasts and stomach and over her pierced belly button. Lower…lower…
    He was glad the tray was resting across his lap.
    “Johnny?” Zoe said.
    “Hmm? Sorry, I was a million miles away. What did you say?”
    “I asked whether the coffee is okay for you. I don’t know how you have it.”
    “No, no, it’s fine.” He smiled. “I love it. Thanks.”
    “Good.”
    He continued to eat, and she sat on the end of the bed and watched him in silence. Slowly, her smile disappeared and he could tell by the different emotions flowing across her face that she was troubled once again.
    When the second piece of toast was almost finished, she said, “I cleaned up around the house for you too.”
    “You what?”
    Oh my God, John thought. The gun! I forgot to move the gun. No wonder she’s depressed again!
    “There was no need to do anything like that,” he said.
    Zoe shook he head. “No, it was good for me. It kept my mind off things. It’s always good to keep busy, you know?”
    John nodded.
    “And I found your newspaper on the front doorstep.”
    Zoe went quiet and looked down at her hands.
    “And…”