Every Move She Makes. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ bad.” He gave her door a thump. “Let’s go. Sharon’s probably wondering what’s taking me so long.”

      “Thanks again, Will.”

      Minutes later, Rachel rolled into her driveway and turned off the engine. The porch light illuminated the pale blue paint on her old Victorian home. She entered the house quietly, flipped off the outdoor light and left her shoes in the entry. Crossing the hardwood floor to the stairs, she stumbled when she tripped over a big, furry shape.

      “Geez, Daisy. You picked a fine spot to sleep.”

      The golden retriever stood and wagged her tail, wiggling with excitement at this unexpected activity in the middle of the night. She followed, toenails clicking, as her mistress went up the stairs.

      Before going to her room, Rachel looked in on each of her girls. Ivy was a small lump beneath her quilt, the top of her blond head shining in the glow of a nightlight. Across the hall, Jade lay sprawled on her bed, blankets in a tangle at her feet. Lark’s door was locked. Sighing, Rachel entered her bedroom as quietly as she could and shut the door behind her then turned on the lamp.

      Daisy thumped down on the rag rug next to the bed and let out a groan.

      Rachel smiled at the dog. “That’s exactly how I feel.” She stripped off her clothes and dropped them into the hamper. Shrugging on an oversized T-shirt, she walked into the adjoining bath and quickly brushed her teeth. After splashing a little water on her face, she headed back toward the bed to stretch out on cool sheets.

      She flipped from lying flat on her back to her side, but couldn’t sleep. Her mind conjured up disquieting memories of Kane Lafferty. Firm lips quirked in a smile, blue eyes piercing and direct as his gaze rested on her. Broad shoulders, strong arms...

      “I need to get a life.” Rachel punched her pillow, flopped to her back and closed her eyes.

      Still, it was a long time before those images faded…

      * * * *

      Kane lay in bed, bone-tired but unable to sleep. Sitting up, he punched his pillow then lay back down. Insomnia was just one of the lingering after-effects from the night. The night he’d lost his partner and good friend. The night he’d killed another human being.

      The night he’d started to ask himself some tough questions.

      Was he so caught up in saving the world he’d lost sight of the bigger picture? His kind of work was necessary. Vital. But it had cost him his marriage. Sometimes he wondered if it was costing him his soul.

      Gazing at the ceiling, he groaned. A cop who second-guessed himself was a liability, which was why his lieutenant insisted he take all his accumulated vacation time. Maybe after spending a few weeks in the mountains, he’d figure out what was important. If he was lucky, hanging out with Jed again would take him back to his roots and help him remember why he’d wanted to become a cop in the first place.

      To serve and protect.

      To watch his partner’s head explode.

      To kill a child.

      “Son of a bitch!”

      He stumbled out of bed and into the bathroom where he turned on the light. It wasn’t the wound in his chest that hurt. Surgery had removed the bullet, but not the memories. Staring into the mirror, a man with haunted eyes looked back. Somehow he had to get beyond what had happened and think about the future.

      When he lowered his head, an image of Rachel Carpenter drifted through his tortured mind. Unquestionably, she was beautiful. Just the memory of her smile and the touch of her hand on his arm sent an arrow of feeling straight to his groin. He’d sensed a sweetness in her that attracted him. When he got back from the mountains, maybe he’d give her a call. His jumping nerves calmed at the thought.

      The love of a good woman certainly hadn’t been his savior the first time around, but it might not hurt to try again. The type of women he’d been dating—women who knew the score and didn’t expect a commitment—satisfied a primal urge, but not much else. Could be it was time for a change.

      Kane splashed water on his face then squared up to the mirror again. His eyes looked clearer, more focused.

      This time when he went back to bed, sleep took over at last.

      * * * *

      Lying in bed, he could think of nothing but Jordan. Eyes cautious, her figure hidden by an ugly sweater. Her beautiful hair had been longer before, and those ripe curves were showcased in silk and satin. His breath came quicker as he reached down to stroke himself. He’d almost taken her tonight. He’d been so close to the culmination of all his dreams. Earlier, as the hours ticked by but she hadn’t come home, he’d grown worried and gone looking for her. His timing had been off, and he’d missed his chance on the deserted roadway.

      No matter. He’d have to be patient a little longer. He was good at being patient. After all, he’d waited fourteen long years. He’d wait an eternity if need be. But he didn’t think it’d be much longer. His reward was near. He could feel it. In his heart, Jordan already belonged to him.

      Someday soon, she’d know it, too.

      Chapter 3

      “Wake up, girls. Last day of school.” Rachel gave a perfunctory knock on Lark’s door before pushing it open to poke her head inside. “Rise and shine.”

      Standing with her back to the doorway, hair damp from a recent shower, her daughter wore nothing but a pair of panties and a bra. Soft light from the bedside lamp highlighted the small blue tattoo on the white skin of her left shoulder.

      Rachel gasped and closed her eyes. Surely she was seeing things. When she opened them, the tattoo was still there, a delicate bird perched on a leafy branch.

      “Oh, my God.” She started to speak again then stopped, struggling for words. “What have you done?”

      Lark spun, eyes defiant as she stared at her mother. “It’s just a tattoo. It’s no big deal.”

      Stomach churning, Rachel shook her head. “You’re wrong. It’s a very big deal.”

      Don’t yell. Stay calm.

      She took a breath. “Cutting and dyeing your hair was bad enough. Hair will grow out. That tattoo is permanent.”

      “Lark got a tattoo?” Jade peeked around the doorframe wearing a pair of pajamas with Girls Rule emblazoned across the front. Her red hair hung down her back in tangles. “Wow, do you have a death wish or something?”

      Ivy floated up in a long white nightgown. “I want to see. Can I see it?”

      “Get lost, both of you.” Lark’s voice quavered.

      Neither of her sisters moved an inch.

      “Turn around, Lark. Let me see what you’ve done to yourself.”

      Slowly her daughter turned, presenting her back for inspection. Rachel examined the tattoo. Thankfully the skin around it appeared to be healthy.

      “At СКАЧАТЬ