Trouble in Paradise by Hatcher Robin Lee

Author:Hatcher, Robin Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RobinSong, Inc.
Published: 2020-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

“Thanks,” Nat whispered several hours later as they stood on her deck in the pale light of the last quarter moon. “I had a great time.”

“So did I,” she confessed, knowing she’d never spoken truer words to anyone.

“I enjoyed hearing more about your family. I’ll bet they’re fun to be around.”

“They’d like you, too.”

“I wish Leigh and Jim could meet you before they leave for Italy.” He leaned closer.

She smelled his aftershave, a musky scent that made her go all soft and fluttery inside. “Italy?”

“Didn’t I tell you?” His breath was warm on her forehead. “I thought I did. Jim’s job is taking him overseas for a year.”

“Oh.” She sighed as her eyes drifted closed, knowing he was about to kiss her.

And he did, tenderly plying her mouth with his. She’d never been kissed the way Nat kissed her now. As if she was precious, fragile, beautiful.

She wished the evening would never end.

It seemed a wonderful lifetime later that he raised his head, ending the sweet agony. She opened her eyes, gazed up at him. “Would you like to come in for a while? I could make some decaf.”

“Well…maybe for just one cup.” He kissed her again, a soft brush of his lips upon hers.

A few minutes later, Shayla lifted the lid off the can of decaffeinated coffee with shaking fingertips. She wondered if Nat had any idea what he did to her.

The telephone’s sharp peal jerked her from her pleasantly tortured reverie. It was almost midnight. Alarm darted through her as she reached to answer it. “Hello?”

“Shayla!”

“Anne? What’s wrong?”

“Shayla, I need to come stay with you. Oh, please don’t say no. Please.”

Her sister was crying, making it difficult to understand what she said. “Calm down, Anne.”

“I can’t bear to stay here. Not another minute.”

“What happened?”

Out of the comer of her eye, she saw Nat rise from the sofa and move toward her.

“I…I can’t talk about it right now. I need to get away from Portland. Please let me come to stay with you. I promise I won’t get in the way.”

It must have something to do with her latest boyfriend. Anne always overreacted when something went awry in her love life.

“Anne, there isn’t a lot of room in the cabin. My computer is in the living room and I—”

“I don’t know what I’ll do if you don’t let me come. I don’t have anywhere else to go, and I can’t bear to stay here. Not another minute. Shayla, I’m desperate. Please. Please let me come.”

It would be useless to try to explain her need for privacy, for some time to herself. She knew that as well as she knew her own name.

Nat’s hand alighted on her arm. She glanced over at him, saw the concern in his gaze, gave her head a slight shake, then closed her eyes. Fear nearly strangled her. What about Nat? They were just beginning to—

“Shayla, are you listening to me? I’m desperate. Please. You’ve got to let me come.”

“All right, Anne,” she answered at last.

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