Read Online Sunset Hearts by Macy Largo - Free Book Online Page A

get in. I already talked to her last night.”
    He watched Daphne’s eyes haze over in fear. “Who did you tell her I was?”
    “My cousin from out of town.” He smiled and gently chucked her under the chin. “I have a freaking huge family. Eight aunts and uncles, with literally dozens of cousins. Trust me, no one will ask questions or suspect anything unusual.” He watched as she marginally relaxed, but he could almost taste her fear. “I’ve got a morning charter. I’ll be back by one at the latest. Can I bring you anything?”
    She shook her head. “No, thank you.”
    He sat on the coffee table and gentled his voice. “Will you please talk to Jerald this afternoon? For me? I promise he won’t bite.” He smiled. “Unless, of course, you like being bitten. But if that’s the case, sweetie, I would be more than happy to help you out there.” He winked.
    She laughed. Finally, he’d pulled a non-fearful emotion out of her. “Okay. If you think I should talk to him.”
    “I think you should.” He couldn’t help it. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. She looked so lost, so terrified. “I’ll see you later. I’ll lock the door, but you can unlock it from the inside. Do not leave this house, and stay off those feet.”
    She nodded. When he left, he locked the door behind him. A moment later his truck started and she heard him pull out.
    He was so sweet. So cute. A little flirty, but probably just trying to make her feel better, hello, gay with a boyfriend . It’d worked, though. He’d totally put her at ease.
    Paulie’s goons would…
    She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and willed away that memory. She couldn’t live with herself if Alan got hurt because he helped her. He’d taken her under his wing without pushing her for the truth.
    Then again, if she did tell him the truth he might make her leave. She certainly wouldn’t blame him for that, either.
    As far as she was concerned, the truth could stay at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico with that poor bastard Paulie killed.
     
    * * * *
     
    When Alan returned from his charter at noon, Jerald stood waiting for him on the dock at Alan’s slip. Alan tossed him the mooring lines. Jerald caught them and wound them around the dock cleats.
    “Have a good morning?” Jerald asked.
    One of the tourists, a fat middle-aged man with a loud Boston accent, launched into an excited recollection of the morning. Alan caught Jerald’s eye and winked.
    Jerald winked back.
    He gave their catch a cursory glance and waited until Alan had finished helping them unload their gear. Once they left, Alan grabbed a hose from the dock and started washing down the deck. “Oh. My. Gawd,” he said, imitating the man’s Boston accent. “They tawked my freakin’ ears awf,” Alan said.
    Jerald smirked, amused. “That’ll make you appreciate me even more.”
    “Dude, you have nooo clue. Your stonewall act is a relief compared to that. I had no idea how lucky I am.”
    Alan finished cleaning up, secured his boat, and followed Jerald up the dock. He pulled into his driveway first, Jerald following in his official truck. They found Daphne lying on the couch, dozing, the TV turned to a cable news channel. Alan walked over and sat on the coffee table. When he reached out and touched her shoulder, she jumped, screaming, before she recognized Alan.
    “Oh, god, I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess I dozed off again.”
    “That’s okay. Daphne, this is Jerald Carter.”
    Alan watched as the fear from her startling wake-up never fully left her face. Jerald put on a smile warm enough to melt an iceberg as he knelt down next to the couch so he didn’t tower over her.
    “Nice to meet you, Daphne,” he said.
    She nodded. “Same here.” Alan didn’t miss the way she pressed back into the couch, trying to put as much distance between herself and Jerald as possible.
    Laurie all over again.
    “Would you mind if I talked with you for a few minutes?” Jerald asked her. “Alan told