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

me the basics.”
    “Okay.” Her voice dropped nearly to a whisper.
    Jerald went through the events that led her to jumping overboard, basically the same story she’d told Alan. When Jerald suggested she file charges against Scorsini, she flat-out refused.
    It still didn’t make sense to Alan. She said she worried Scorsini would beat her up, referenced a fight earlier that day, but still nothing he could put his finger on that would cause the reaction he’d witnessed.
    She nervously twisted her hands in her lap, constantly glancing at him as she talked with Jerald.
    Finally, he couldn’t stand it anymore. Jerald’s questions had become repetitive as his tone hardened in frustration. Alan reached out and patted her hands, squeezed them to calm her. “That’s okay, you did good. You want lunch?”
    “Yes, please.”
    He stood and pulled Jerald to his feet and led him to the kitchen, behind the divider where she couldn’t see them.
    “Enough, Jer,” he whispered. “She’s done.”
    He frowned. “I’m not even getting started. Her story doesn’t add up.”
    “She’s said all she’s going to say. Don’t harass her. You said she doesn’t have a record.”
    “I said her license came back clean in whatever name she used to obtain it. I need prints to be sure.”
    “You are not running her fucking prints! She hasn’t done anything except fight to save her life.”
    Jerald leaned against the counter, arms crossed, his expression dark. Alan knew that look. Jerald felt far from happy. “This doesn’t add up.”
    “Has she broken any laws?”
    “Not that I know of, but—”
    “Then you leave her the hell alone.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Jerald stared at Alan, studying him. He’d never seen this reaction in Alan, the blatant challenge in his expression, daring Jerald to argue with him.
    “What’s going on with you?” he asked, struggling to keep his voice calm. “Why are you adopting her like this?”
    Alan turned to the fridge. “She needs help. We can help her.”
    “What’s this ‘we’ stuff? You volunteered to help her.” He sensed that was the absolute wrong damn thing to say from the sudden, tense set of Alan’s body.
    “Fine. I’ll help her then. Happy? Sorry I fucking bothered you.”
    Jerald put a hand out to still Alan’s agitated movements. “No, I’m not happy. You fish her out of the Gulf and she tells you her boyfriend is a fucking mobster who beat the crap out of her, and you’re just going to move her in with you?” Without even asking me first.
    Alan shrugged his hand off his arm. “I’m not moving her in. I’m giving her a place to stay. She doesn’t have anyone she can turn to.” He dropped his voice again as he realized their volume had crept up the scale. “You staying for lunch or not?”
    “No.”
    “Fine. Are you coming back for dinner?”
    Jerald knew that could lead to nothing but a fight under the present circumstances. “I don’t know.” He headed for the door.
    “What about tomorrow?”
    “What about it?”
    “We’re still moving your stuff, aren’t we?”
    Holy crap. He’d forgotten. He turned. “That should probably wait for now, don’t you think?” He hated the hurt look that flashed in Alan’s eyes, but he couldn’t bring himself to cross the room and go back to him, to wrap his arms around him and hold him, not with Alan now standing in the opening to the kitchen where she could see them if he did.
    Alan’s jaw tightened. Jerald hated the way the other man’s voice now sounded hurt and quiet. “Okay. Fine. See you around the marina, then,” Alan said. He turned to get something else out of the fridge.
    Jerald walked out, forcing himself not to slam the door behind him. All the way back to the marina he ripped himself a new one.
    Could have handled that a lot fucking better.
    He wasn’t good at this kind of stuff. Especially not with Alan. Normally, their relationship cruised along without him having to deal with hurt feelings or