Chaos by Jennifer Locklear

Author:Jennifer Locklear [Locklear, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Locklear Books / Enchanted Publications
Published: 2018-05-16T18:30:00+00:00

NOT LONG after Kathleen disappeared from the holiday party, I sought out Robert. He was holding court with a small crowd, so I waited my turn. I rehearsed my greeting in my head and when the time came, I stuck to the script word for word. I thanked him for his hospitality and wished him a happy holiday. We engaged in small talk for a few moments, and it took everything I had not to ask for the whereabouts of his daughter.

Kathleen’s abrupt departure had rattled me, and my unease compounded when it became clear that her father was undisturbed. He was in a festive mood with no cares in the world. When Robert clapped me on the shoulder and broke away to speak with another colleague, I made my quiet exit from the Brighton mansion. As I waited for my car, I searched the visible grounds of the property in vain. It was foolish to think she would be standing anywhere outside the house, but I looked for her just the same.

When I pulled into my driveway, it wasn’t even ten o’clock on a Friday. I had the night to myself, and it was the first time I’d been alone in the house since moving to Bend. Although I hadn’t made any elaborate plans beyond attending the company party, it was disappointing to be back home so early on my night off from parenting. I shook my head and grinned as I emptied the contents of my pockets onto the coffee table, wondering what had happened to the days when I’d stay out until dawn. Even so, I was glad to have some time to myself.

Kitty Hawk greeted me with a happy chirp and followed me to the bedroom when I called her name. She ran past me, leaping up to take her usual spot on the corner of the bed. Now that winter was here, she always chose the spot of the bed closest to the wall heater. She was getting older and slept better with an extra bit of nearby warmth. She stretched out all four legs on the mattress and settled in for what was probably her tenth nap of the day. I gave her a quick scratch underneath her chin before undressing for bed.

With Allison’s persistence over the years, I’d grown accustomed to sleeping in my boxer briefs. Now, as the only parent Heide could rely on in the middle of the night, I accepted the responsibility of doing so without a grudge. But this evening, the gesture wasn’t a necessity. Seeking to claim some wildness in my resurrected life as a single man, I stripped away my underwear, turned down the lights and slid underneath the covers.

My body temperature was running warm, and the cool sheets felt good against my skin. I settled on my back and pulled one leg out from underneath the blankets. My eyes closed as I allowed my mind to wander. Within seconds, all thoughts returned to Kathleen. As I pictured her lovely face, every part of my body tingled with anticipation.

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