Read Online No Longer Mine by Shiloh Walker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shiloh Walker
Ads: Link
stifled a groan as she saved her work.
Who in the hell could that be? Whoever it was, they weren’t welcome. Her dad and brothers all worked, so it wasn’t likely to be any of them. Besides, they would have called.
From the large floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, she watched. From time to time, she caught a glimpse of shiny black paint and silver chrome. It rounded the bend as Nikki tried to remember if she knew anybody who drove a truck like that.
Glancing down at herself, she sighed. The white tank top and black yoga pants weren’t really
“company” clothes, but as she hadn’t really invited anybody to come for a visit, did it matter?
42
www.samhainpublishing.com
No Longer Mine
She did pause by the bathroom to splash some water on her face and pull her hair up into a ponytail, but that was all the effort she wanted to expend.
By the time she was done a knock sounded on the door. Through the beveled cut of the glass, Nikki could make out a dark shadow. The polite smile she had fixed on her face wobbled, then collapsed, when she opened the door.
Wade.
He was staring out over the verandah, hands tucked into his back pockets. He turned as she went still, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe, much as she was gazing at him. Finally, their eyes met, but she still didn’t have a single word to say. Her heart was pounding fast and hard.
You still look the same ,she thought helplessly as her eyes searched for changes. His face looked a little more solemn and he looked like he had filled out a little more in his chest, but other than that and the shorter hair, he hadn’t changed much at all.
Maybe if I close my eyes and wish hard enough, the past few years will just fade away ,she thought, leaning against the doorjamb, swallowing. Just a bad dream…
And then she kicked herself. No. She wouldn’t undo them, even if she could. Not for anything would she give up the brief time she had with Jason.
Wade looked so exactly the way he always had.
But she had changed. Nothing in her life was the same now. Nothing at all. And as empty as her life was, she didn’t think there was room in it for the likes of Wade Lightfoot.
Thank God, he was alone. She couldn’t take it if he had brought his daughter with him.
“Nikki.”
“Wade.”
He looked away, a sigh escaping his lips. He looked…flustered. Under her steady gaze his hands left his pockets, thumbs hooking in his belt loops as he rocked back on his heels. She could still remember the pleasure those hands had been able to evoke.
“I was surprised to see you here,” he said, his voice sounding tight and rusty.
“Were you?” Nikki asked calmly, trying very hard to pretend she hadn’t taken off running from him.
She didn’t quite succeed. That dark red flush, the very bane of a redhead’s existence, spread up from her neck, heating her flesh, staining her cheeks, but she determinedly ignored it.
Wade blew a sigh out, his eyes narrowing. With irritation written all over his face, he said, “I was even more surprised when you took off running like a jackrabbit, Nikki. I’ve never known you to run before.”
“I’m hardly the same person you knew, Wade. There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”
“I wouldn’t think turning yellow would be something to be proud of.”
www.samhainpublishing.com
43
Shiloh Walker
Nikki narrowed her eyes. “It’s not a matter of turning yellow. I didn’t want to see you or talk to you.
So why hang around?” That was mostly the truth, right?
“Fair enough,” he said with a slow nod. “How long have you lived here?”
“A while. We moved here after we left Louisville.”
“You and your brothers.”
“And my dad.” She leaned against the door jamb, crossing her arms over her chest. She supposed she could be nice and invite him inside. But she didn’t want him in this house, in her safe haven. It might be empty, but it was some place that was free from memories of him and she’d
Who in the hell could that be? Whoever it was, they weren’t welcome. Her dad and brothers all worked, so it wasn’t likely to be any of them. Besides, they would have called.
From the large floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, she watched. From time to time, she caught a glimpse of shiny black paint and silver chrome. It rounded the bend as Nikki tried to remember if she knew anybody who drove a truck like that.
Glancing down at herself, she sighed. The white tank top and black yoga pants weren’t really
“company” clothes, but as she hadn’t really invited anybody to come for a visit, did it matter?
42
www.samhainpublishing.com
No Longer Mine
She did pause by the bathroom to splash some water on her face and pull her hair up into a ponytail, but that was all the effort she wanted to expend.
By the time she was done a knock sounded on the door. Through the beveled cut of the glass, Nikki could make out a dark shadow. The polite smile she had fixed on her face wobbled, then collapsed, when she opened the door.
Wade.
He was staring out over the verandah, hands tucked into his back pockets. He turned as she went still, his eyes sweeping over her from head to toe, much as she was gazing at him. Finally, their eyes met, but she still didn’t have a single word to say. Her heart was pounding fast and hard.
You still look the same ,she thought helplessly as her eyes searched for changes. His face looked a little more solemn and he looked like he had filled out a little more in his chest, but other than that and the shorter hair, he hadn’t changed much at all.
Maybe if I close my eyes and wish hard enough, the past few years will just fade away ,she thought, leaning against the doorjamb, swallowing. Just a bad dream…
And then she kicked herself. No. She wouldn’t undo them, even if she could. Not for anything would she give up the brief time she had with Jason.
Wade looked so exactly the way he always had.
But she had changed. Nothing in her life was the same now. Nothing at all. And as empty as her life was, she didn’t think there was room in it for the likes of Wade Lightfoot.
Thank God, he was alone. She couldn’t take it if he had brought his daughter with him.
“Nikki.”
“Wade.”
He looked away, a sigh escaping his lips. He looked…flustered. Under her steady gaze his hands left his pockets, thumbs hooking in his belt loops as he rocked back on his heels. She could still remember the pleasure those hands had been able to evoke.
“I was surprised to see you here,” he said, his voice sounding tight and rusty.
“Were you?” Nikki asked calmly, trying very hard to pretend she hadn’t taken off running from him.
She didn’t quite succeed. That dark red flush, the very bane of a redhead’s existence, spread up from her neck, heating her flesh, staining her cheeks, but she determinedly ignored it.
Wade blew a sigh out, his eyes narrowing. With irritation written all over his face, he said, “I was even more surprised when you took off running like a jackrabbit, Nikki. I’ve never known you to run before.”
“I’m hardly the same person you knew, Wade. There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”
“I wouldn’t think turning yellow would be something to be proud of.”
www.samhainpublishing.com
43
Shiloh Walker
Nikki narrowed her eyes. “It’s not a matter of turning yellow. I didn’t want to see you or talk to you.
So why hang around?” That was mostly the truth, right?
“Fair enough,” he said with a slow nod. “How long have you lived here?”
“A while. We moved here after we left Louisville.”
“You and your brothers.”
“And my dad.” She leaned against the door jamb, crossing her arms over her chest. She supposed she could be nice and invite him inside. But she didn’t want him in this house, in her safe haven. It might be empty, but it was some place that was free from memories of him and she’d
Similar Books
