The Real Thing by Murray J.J

Author:Murray, J.J. [Murray, J.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2013-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

The filets, however, get cold by the time Dante comes inside alone, sips his orange juice, and has one little filet without even sitting at the table.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I will be fine.” He finishes his juice. “Her timing is . . . unfortunate.”

I nod, leaving my seat and moving closer to him. “You’ve hardly eaten anything. Are they too cold?”

“I am not hungry,” he says. “Maybe later.” He takes a few steps away from me and toward the kitchen. “I am going up the hill to work out.”

That was obvious. “Um, do you want some company? Someone to help you sweat?”

“I will only do a light workout today.”

In other words, no, he wants to be alone. “I’m up for a light workout,” I say. I want to be alone with him.

“You rest, Christiana.”

I want to hug him, kiss him, something. “You seem so far away.” Literally. For every step I take toward him, he takes a step away from me.

He looks at the bottom step of the stairs. “I will only be up the hill.”

I take two giant steps before he can move, putting my hand on his shoulder. “I meant that you seem distant, you know. Far away.”

He looks out the window in the kitchen door. “She has that effect on me.”

At least he’s aware of it. “Why? Why do you let her have that effect on you?”

He shakes his head and sighs. “I wish I knew.” He steps away from my hand and trudges up the stairs. A few moments later, he comes down wearing shorts, running shoes, and a tank top.

“I’ll, um, I’ll just . . . rest then,” I say.

“Bene,” he says, and without a kiss, hug, or smile, he leaves through the kitchen door and is out of sight.

What have I gotten myself into here? Should I stay?

Tenere provare. I can’t leave. I can’t give up.

I take several deep breaths.

Tenere provare.

While Evelyn naps or restores her evil powers in the guestroom, I make a few casts off the dock and catch nothing but sun. I look up the hill behind the cottage every so often hoping to see Dante coming back from his workout. They say a watched pot never boils. Well, a watched Canadian hillside never spits out Italian boxers.

I quit fishing and take a walk down a narrow path past Dante’s cottage, occasionally hearing the sounds of popping leather. It’s no light workout at all. He’s up there pounding the leather. I want to sneak up to watch. I want to run up there and wrestle him to the ground. I want him inside me again and again and again . . .

I can wait. I’m a big girl. This will all work out. I just have to stay busy.

I go inside Red and Lelani’s cottage and rescue Evelyn’s clothes from the dryer, folding them neatly and trying hard not to fall asleep. I hang up my clothes above the dryer, clipping my underwear and bra to a hanger as well.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.