Read Online Touching the Past by Ilene Kaye - Free Book Online Page B

stronger its echo is. But violence lingers. It hangs in the air afterwards.”
    “Mallory.” Zac’s hand touched her face.
    She opened her eyes to find Zac’s face inches from hers. She inhaled the scent of his aftershave and felt her head start to spin as she looked into the warm depths of his eyes.
    He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You should have told—” He broke off with a chagrined laugh. “You did tell me. I just didn’t listen. I’m sorry. Sorry that I’ve put you through this.
    “It’s all right.” The words were a whisper. She could barely get her voice to work.
    “It’s not all right. I forced you to do something you didn’t want to do. Something you had good reason not to. I want you to forget about it. Forget helping me and go back to your life.”
    It would be simple to let the feel of his thumb’s light pressure against her skin and his voice’s soft, persuasive tone hypnotize her. Agree with whatever he said. But as his words penetrated, Mallory pulled back. “No.”
    Zac’s hand dropped away. “But—”
    “No, Zac.” Mallory straightened. “No. Ever since Evie, I’ve been afraid someone would find out what I could do. Would ask me to do it again. I’ve tried to cut myself off from that part of me. When you came to me, I was…” She laughed. “Mad. Scared.”
    “And you were right—”
    She didn’t let him finish. “No, I wasn’t. I don’t like reliving pain and suffering. I’m not some kind of masochist. But if it can help someone.” Help you , she didn’t say. “I’ll do it. I have to.”
    She waited for him to say something. She hadn’t wanted to help him for the reasons she’d given. But she also had to help. Because she was her father’s daughter and service to others was ingrained in her. Because those missing people and their families needed her. Because it was the right thing to do. And because… Zac had asked. There was something between them. She didn’t know if it was a hangover from high school. Or something that had sprung into being when she saw him at her door again. But whatever it was, she couldn’t refuse him.
    Zac heaved a sigh. “Okay. I dragged you into this. You might as well finish.” His gaze sharpened. He pulled her hands into his and squeezed. “But I want you to promise. Promise that if it gets too hard for you—too painful—that you’ll stop and tell me. I don’t want to lo—” He broke off, looking down at the floor, then back up again. His eyes didn’t quite meet hers. “Promise.”
    What had he been going to say? I don’t want to— Lose? Was he afraid he might lose her?
    The thought warmed her. Made her dizzy.
    “Promise?” His grip on her hands was almost painful.
    “Promise,” she breathed. “I promise.”
    Something shifted between them, the air becoming heavy and charged. An electric thrill raced down Mallory’s spine. She was acutely aware of the feel of Zac’s hands against hers.
    She looked into his eyes. They were dark and hot. Her breath caught. She felt as if she was melting beneath his heated regard.
    He was going to kiss her again. She knew it. Mallory licked her lips in nervous anticipation. Zac’s gaze sharpened, following the movement of her tongue.
    She’d pulled back earlier, frightened by the intensity of the kiss, the way it made her feel. She hadn’t expected to feel so totally overwhelmed. So out of control. That was the way Zac’s kiss made her feel. It was exciting, tempting. Frightening.
    She still felt that way—felt afraid—but more than anything else at the moment, she wanted Zac to kiss her.
    Trembling slightly, she parted her lips.
    Zac drew an audible breath. His head moved toward her.
    Mallory’s lashes swept down, then up. She wanted to see him. See what he was feeling.
    Zac’s head stopped moving. An annoyed expression crossed his face.
    Mallory pulled back. What was wrong?
    “Sorry.” He pulled the pager off his belt. Incredulity filled his face. “I do not