FrenchQuarter.htm by Alexander Lacey (good fiction books to read TXT) 📗

“I wondered when you’d come back,” he said, sounding smug and cold.

“Well, as you can see, I’m leaving again already. I just came to get some things. I’ll arrange for movers to get my furniture and other belongings soon.”

Todd simply shook his head, as if she were a child who just wouldn’t behave. “Dear, sweet Elizabeth. I can’t believe you’re persisting in this charade about leaving. We both know you’re not going anywhere.” He took a step toward her. “We both know you’re going to forgive me and we’re going to move on like this never happened.”

The strange tone of his voice warned her she should probably be feeling a little frightened of him, but anger was the emotion that filled her at the moment. “I don’t know why you persist in thinking I would stay with you. The truth is, Todd, this isn’t just about the strippers and the lying. The truth is…I don’t love you anymore.” She shook her head in reflection, then spoke quietly. “I don’t know if I ever really loved you. And I’m pretty sure you don’t love me, either, or there wouldn’t be any strippers or lying.”

His back went rigid and his eyes filled with rage. “Don’t say that!” he barked. “Don’t say you never loved me! Who’s lying now, Elizabeth? We both know you love me, we both know that. And I won’t tolerate this sort of insubordinance.” He’d started moving toward her as he spoke, grabbing her arm. “Tell me you love me. Say it. Now.”

My God, he really was a madman. How had she not known? He hovered over her as she tried to calculate the smartest way out of this.

“Look, Todd, I don’t mean to hurt you,” she began, speaking gently, “but—”

“If you value your right hand,” a commanding voice suddenly said, “you’ll remove it from her arm right now.”

She looked past Todd to see Jack a few feet from the doorway, wearing an expression that said he was deadly serious.

Todd looked up, and blessedly, released her from his grasp. “Who the hell are you?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m her new boyfriend.” He looked past Todd to Liz. “I thought you might need some help gettin’ your stuff. I saw your friend, Lynda, out in her yard and she said I should come over.”

Clearly neither Jack nor Lynda thought she could take care of herself with Todd—and maybe they were right. She couldn’t have been more relieved to see Jack. “Um, thanks. Yeah, I guess I could.”

Jack took a menacing step closer to Todd, who appeared nervous but was trying not to let it show.

“Listen, you shithead. You and Liz are over. Finished. History. And if I find out you do anything to bother her, you’ll answer to me. And I promise you won’t like it.”

Todd swallowed visibly, but didn’t answer.

Jack looked to Liz, then her duffel bag. “Is this it?”

“For now,” she said.

He picked it up and used his other hand to grab hers. “C’mon. Allons.”

She followed him down the stairs and out the front door.

Only when they’d passed the row of hedges that separated Todd’s driveway from Lynda’s yard did he stop walking and look at her. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, feeling much calmer now that he was here.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m fine. But…thank you. What made you come?”

He cast a disparaging glance toward the house she’d shared with Todd until the last few days. “Call it a P.I.’s instinct. Like I told you before, I had a bad feelin’ about that guy. My gut just told me maybe I should come over and make sure he wasn’t givin’ you any trouble. And it looked like I showed up right on time.”

Liz let out a sigh and admitted the truth. “I suppose you’re right.” Still, she struggled to look strong—because she wanted to be strong. “But now that I’m out of the house, things will be fine.”

Jack continued looking skeptical. “The more I think about it, I don’t know that I like you livin’ right next door to him. The guy seems a little unhinged to me.”

Liz simply shook her head. “He doesn’t even know I’m staying with Lynda. Now that you showed up, in fact, he probably thinks I’m staying with you. So even though I’m right next door, that shouldn’t be an issue. Todd and I tend to come and go at different hours, and Lynda even has an extra space in her garage where I can park my car, so he won’t see it.”

Jack didn’t look the least bit won over, his expression still stern. “Are you listenin’ to yourself, chere? Havin’ to worry about hidin’ your car and makin’ sure he doesn’t see you comin’ or goin’? Maybe you should come stay with me.”

Chapter 6

Liz was both touched and stunned at the suggestion. Yet even as wonderful as the invitation sounded, it didn’t seem feasible. Despite how intimate they’d gotten so quickly, they’d only known each other a few short days. To move in with him seemed like…trapping him. She didn’t want to put him in the awkward position of having to continue their relationship when the time came that he’d rather cool things off.

And it seemed dangerous for her, too—for her heart. With each passing hour, she was forced to realize she was developing real feelings for Jack. She’d originally thought—perhaps even hoped—that her new sexual awakening had been only about sex, had allowed her not to get emotionally involved, but it wasn’t true—she cared for him, a lot. She still had no idea how long he’d want their affair to continue, but when the time came for it to end, it would be a hell of a lot easier if she wasn’t living with him. Having to pack up her things and leave would be much more painful than just saying goodbye—or as Jack would phrase it, au revoir.

“Jack, that’s very generous of you, but don’t worry, I’ll be fine at Lynda’s.” And