Read Online Sweet Revenge by Katherine Allred - Free Book Online

table, sitting where he couldn’t see her. A waiter took his empty glass and replaced it with a full one.
    It would be a lot easier to handle his emotions if he didn’t feel like he was getting mixed signals from her. A fter ten years in law enforcement he had learned to pay attention to body language. Jessie might be telling him she needed time to think, but her body was sending him an entirely different message. Or was he just seeing what he wanted to see? He wasn’t sure he could trust his own instincts where she was concerned. He lifted his hand and massaged the bridge of his nose.
    “Headache?”
    Chase dropped his hand and smiled at the blonde taking the seat next to him. “Hi, Donna. A permanent one, I think. A re you here alone?
    I haven’t seen Frank tonight.”
    “They had a crisis at one of the stores in Houston. He promised he’d try to be back, but I don’t really expect him to make it. You know how the traffic is.” She hesitated. “I think they tried to send Becky an invitation for tonight, but no one knew her address.” Donna had been Becky’s best friend in high school, although he’d never understood why. Donna wasn’t the party girl type.
    “I doubt she would have bothered anyway. A nd if she had, it would only be to cause problems.” Donna sighed. “You’re probably right.” She was looking at a table behind him. “Jessie turned out to be a real surprise, didn’t she? She’s nothing like I remember from school.”
    Chase stared fixedly at the drink he’d barely touched. “Isn’t she? I don’t think any of us bothered to get to know her well enough to judge.”
    “You may have a point. Don’t you wish sometimes you could go back and do it again, knowing what you know now? Maybe we wouldn’t have been so stupid.”
    “Yeah. Maybe we wouldn’t have been.” He took a sip of his drink.
    “Karen Richards came into the shop a few days ago. She was looking at evening dresses.” She studied Chase. “I think she was hoping you’d ask her to the dance tonight.”
    “Now why would she think that?”
    “She cleans house for you two days a week, Chase. A blind man could see she’d like to do more.”
    “She cleans for a lot of people. I’ve never given her a reason to think I was interested in anything else. I barely even speak to her, since I’m usually on my way out when she gets there.”
    “Sometimes people don’t need any encouragement. There aren’t that many available males in Rocky Flats. Especially ones that look like you. It’s natural that Karen would be attracted. It’s been four years, Chase. Don’t you think it’s time to start a new life?” Jessie’s image popped into his mind. “Maybe. But if it is, I’ll do my own picking. A nd I’ve got A my to think about too.” She nodded. “Well, I have to get busy. Try not to look so depressed. This is supposed to be a party.” She patted his arm then stood and headed for a long table where their class mementos were spread out.
    Leaving his glass on the table, Chase rose and slipped through the French doors. He needed to get outside for a while. A few couples were scattered around, talking, and he moved to the darkened end of the balcony. He was in no mood to engage in friendly chatter.
    The lake was visible from here, moonlight glinting off the water. He leaned his arms on the concrete rail and propped one foot on the bottom edge, watching the lightening bugs dip and sway. It would have been better if he’d stayed home with A my tonight. A t least he wouldn’t have to suffer the torture of watching Jessie with her boyfriend. He’d give it another thirty minutes then leave.
    Half that time had passed when suddenly the hair on the back of his neck prickled. He hadn’t heard the doors open again, but he knew without doubt that Jessie was near. He turned his head slightly. She was leaning against the railing, her hands braced on the balcony rim behind her while she stared back into the ballroom.
    Silently,