Read Online The Gift of Shayla by N.J. Walters - Free Book Online Page A

idea what was in store for him. The lights of the tree still twinkled, and the pretty packages were still there. The candles, which had looked so festive glowing in their glass holders, were now gutted. He could relate more to the candles than the tree.
    He could easily sneak out the front door. His keys were in his pants pocket. He didn’t need to get his coat. “Coward,” he muttered as he turned and headed toward the kitchen. He knew that’s where he’d find them.
    He quietly crept to the doorway and stood to one side, watching them. Christmas music drifted out from the radio, covering any noise he might have made. It was a song he remembered from his childhood. One he normally loved. Now it left him feeling more alone than ever.
    Rob was seated in the kitchen nook that overlooked the garden, a mug of coffee in his hand. He was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a black turtleneck. He looked totally relaxed and so handsome it made Adam’s heart ache.
    Through the large picture window behind him, Adam could see the snow glistening on the trees. It was a winter wonderland. The howling wind from the night before had given way to a gentle breeze that swayed the branches of the trees, but wasn’t hard enough to make them lose the snow frosting from their tips.
    Shayla was wearing her hair down this morning. It flowed like a soft, dark curtain over her shoulders as she stood in front of the stainless-steel stove cooking breakfast. A long silky robe covered her, making him wonder what she was wearing beneath it, if anything.
    Adam felt like an interloper. Something kept him from stepping forward, from showing himself. They were talking and he didn’t want to interrupt. At least that’s the lie he told himself. In truth, he was afraid.
    “How do you feel about last night?”
    Adam tensed, waiting for Shayla to answer Rob’s question.
    She flipped the bacon that was sizzling in the pan. “It was strange. I worried about making love to a man other than you. I wasn’t sure how I would feel. How you would feel.”
    Rob set his mug down and went to his wife. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on the top of her head. “Nothing will ever change the way I feel about you. You know that, don’t you?”
    Adam tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Rob loved Shayla. There was no doubt in Adam’s mind, never had been. And Shayla was utterly devoted to his best friend. He didn’t want to do anything that might damage that connection. He would take their gift for what it was—a one-time thing. There would be no awkward morning-after conversation. He couldn’t bear that. Not after last night.
    Decision made, he turned and quietly made his way to the front door. He let himself out of the house, closing the door silently behind him. The cold air jammed his lungs. The wind whipped ice pellets and snow at his exposed skin. He was too numb to feel either.
    He didn’t know what would happen to his friendship with Rob and Shayla but he couldn’t stick around to find out. Not now. He was too raw from last night, his emotions too exposed. He needed time alone. Time to regroup. Time to figure out what the hell he was going to do with the rest of his life.
    He put one foot in front of the other and headed toward his cold, empty house.
     
    Shayla settled into Rob’s arms, loving the sense of protection, of completeness she got whenever they stood like this. Because she was so secure in Rob’s love it was easy to turn his question back around. “How do you feel about last night? About Adam?”
    Rob stepped away and leaned against the counter. He dragged his hand over his scalp, letting it settle on the back of his neck. “Confused.”
    She turned off the burner and set the skillet aside. Breakfast could wait. This couldn’t. “In what way?” She wanted to go to her husband and wrap her arms around him but sensed he needed the space to think.
    “Shit, Shayla. I never expected it to feel so good. Fucking