Read Online Poison by Leanne Davis - Free Book Online

Cassie’s smile faded and she tapped her fingers on the table top. “Can I ask you what happened? What changed you so much?”
    Luke crossed his arms over his chest. Smile gone. “Did you know I was married?”
    Cassie nodded. “I picked up on that.”
    “Her name was Shelly. We met in college. We dated for a few years and were married for four. She changed everything for me.”
    He paused. Tears formed in his eyes. She swallowed over the sudden lump in her throat. Obviously something had happened to his wife. “If you don’t want to tell me you don’t have to.”
    He put his hand over hers and squeezed. He shook his head. “No, it’s been almost two years, I can talk about it. Sometimes, some days it hits me harder than others. She was killed in a car accident. A lady crossed the median in the wrong spot and hit her head on. There was no reason for it, and no one to blame. Shelly was five months pregnant.” Luke’s voice thickened.
    “I had no idea, none at all. I’m so sorry.”
    “I think the only way to describe it is I lost my heart, and I won’t be getting it back. But having you and Tim here makes the house feel alive again, and I like that. I don’t want you to be in trouble, but it makes me feel almost human again to be able to help you. And that’s why I’m sorry about how last night ended.”
    “It wasn’t anything. And what you just said now more than makes up for it.” She squeezed his hand. Then she asked, “You ended up in Seaclusion because of your wife?”
    “Yes she was from here.”
    “How did John end up here then?”
    “He and my parents came to stay with me after Shelly died. They saved my life. My parents eventually bought a house in town. John stayed here, I’m pretty sure he was afraid to leave me alone in this house. Maybe he was right. I should have made him leave long ago. My life is holding him back.”
    “I wouldn’t agree with that. He’s not one to do what he doesn’t want too. You know that.”
    Luke shrugged. “It’s John. Who knows what he really thinks.”
    “Maybe he stays because of Sarah.”
    “Maybe. She’s his first real relationship.”
    No. Sarah wasn’t. But Cassie didn’t say that. Instead she asked, “Do you think he’s happy with her?”
    “Yeah. I do. She’s good for him. Loosens him up.” Luke let out a breath. “Anyway now you know why you don’t have to feel grateful to me for letting you stay here, you and Tim help me get through the day.”
    Cassie smiled softly. “Thanks for telling me about Shelly.”
    Luke got up and pulled her into a big brotherly bear hug. They had reached a new level of understanding between them and she could literally feel Luke’s protectiveness for her and her son. Sometimes it was like she was drowning from the stress in her life. To think she had someone to share it with was like someone had finally noticed she was drowning and bothered to throw her a life ring.
    John walked in at that moment. He stopped dead in the doorway. Luke didn’t let her go. Cassie noticed John’s face. She pulled her arms off Luke. John passed by them and went to the sink. His face was cut from stone. He refused to make eye contact with her.
    “Where have you been?” Luke asked. An arm hanging loosely off Cassie, he was oblivious to any displeasure from John.
    “I went for a jog.”
    “First thing on a Sunday morning? Christ now I do feel old. Who’s that motivated?”
    John shrugged, his gaze landed on Cassie under Luke’s muscled arm. “I had some things on my mind.”
    Cassie was about to speak when Sarah came into the kitchen. Cassie frowned. She’d had no idea Sarah had stayed the night. Sarah had on a shirt of John’s that hit her mid-thigh. Cassie glared at the offending garment which stopped indecently high on Sarah’s long, skinny thighs. Sarah yawned lazily as she walked over to put a kettle of water on the stove. She smiled at Cassie.
    Cassie was going to have to make a quick peace with Sarah’s