Forever Hers by Walters, Ednah (new ebook reader .TXT) 📗

He squirmed. “I see her once a week or every other week, usually on Friday nights, and we don’t call each other unless it’s to cancel our engagement.”

That didn’t sound much like a relationship. “What does she do?”

“She’s a partner at a law firm. Don’t ask me what she does because we usually have other things on our minds when we get together.” He gave her a slow grin.

Amy flushed. She knew she ought to stop the line of questioning, but like a dog with a bone, she kept pushing. “Is she from a large family? Does she have a favorite food or restaurant? What’s the color of her eyes?”

He crossed his arms again. She’d noticed he did that whenever he didn’t like her questions. “I don’t know anything about her family or favorite dish. Her eyes are brown. No, hazel. Does it matter?”

“Of course, it does. You say you’re in a relationship yet you know next to nothing about the woman. That’s not a relationship.”

“What do you call it?”

“Booty call. Friends with benefits. If you were in a relationship, you’d call her in the middle of the day just to hear her voice. Send her flowers because it’s Tuesday. Buy her chocolates because, uh, they remind you of her brown or hazel eyes.”

Silence settled around them. She slanted him a glance and caught him staring at her as though she had grown two heads.

“Are you kidding me? That’s what people do when they are in love. Love is smothering and messy.”

“You don’t believe in love?” she asked.

“No. Love leads to chaos. Men start acting like idiots while women become clingy or manipulative.”

Amy opened her mouth to make a retort and closed it. For some perverse reason, she’d wanted educate him about relationships but now all she felt was sad. She shook her head. “You have cousins who are married. Baron and Kara are blissfully happy.”

“They are newly married.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “So?”

“So, their love could still turn sour. The women will start to nag, the men turn to alcohol or try to recapture their youth by having affairs. Or they’ll be polite to each other and stay in the marriage for the sake of the children. I plan to avoid all that messiness by staying single.”

Talk about cynical. He was a lost cause, damaged, and she knew why. His mother. Amy would hate to end up like him, eaten up with resentment and preconceived notions about love.

“I’m calling my parents tomorrow. They need to know I’m fine.”

She didn’t realize she’d spoken her thoughts until Eddie said, “How often do you speak to them?”

“We haven’t since I left. I couldn’t tell them where I am.” She still wouldn’t. Her parents believed she’d made up stories about Nolan and that she needed psychiatric help, so she wasn’t really ready to let them back into her life.

Eddie put down his beer bottle and leaned forward. “What’s their story anyway? Where were they when Nolan was harassing and stalking you? Or do we need to play another game first before I get my five questions?”

The fun of playing chess had lost its appeal. She didn’t feel like discussing her parents or Nolan either. Instead, she studied Eddie, feeling sorry for him. He was emotionally crippled. Maybe while here, she might convince him to give his mother a call.

“Amy?”

She focused on his face. “Let’s just say I made terrible choices and gave them every reason to think the worst of me.”

“You are their daughter. You don’t turn your back on your family because of a few bad choices.”

“Yet you did on your mother,” she said softly.

Anger flashed in his eyes. “Let’s not talk about my mother anymore. She’s not important.” He leaned forward, his gaze probing. “Let’s talk about you. Is Raelynn’s ‘real father’ a cooked up figment of your imagination or was he an actual person?”

First hurt then anger rolled through her.

***

Eddie watched the play of emotions on Amy’s face, not too pleased with the way he’d worded his question even though it had served its purpose. He had effectively wiped off the pitying expression from her face. He didn’t understand why she should pity him just because she didn’t agree with his philosophy on love. She made him question the past and feel things he didn’t want to deal with. Having her despise him was the perfect barrier to any crazy ideas he might have about her or their association.

“You know what, Fitzgerald? You’re a jerk.”

He liked her fighting spirit. “Just because I don’t agree with your viewpoint on love and relationships—”

“Because you judge without knowing all the facts,” she snapped, glaring at him. “I would never lie to my child about something that important.”

His gut told him she spoke the truth. The urge to apologize coursed through him, but he bit back the words. He needed the wall between them.

“So? Is he real?” he pushed.

“Go to hell.” She scrambled off the couch and marched off to where she kept her laptop, picked it up and disappeared in the direction of her bedroom.

Eddie exhaled. Refusing to feel guilty, he removed the coffee mug she’d left behind, grabbed two more beers and headed to his bedroom. He rebooted the laptop and plugged in the thumb drive with the burglary files. Before he could read anything, his cell phone rang.

“I’m outside,” Sally said as soon as he placed the phone to his ear.

Eddie debated whether to get Amy and decided against it. Her presence would only distract him. Besides, it was his job to keep her safe. He turned on the outside light and went to join Sally.

The policewoman was under the tree putting on crime scene gloves, a flashlight under her arm. She handed him the flashlight, pulled out a plastic bag from her pocket and squatted to collect the cigarette filters.

“You think one of the lawn mowers was Nolan?”

“What lawn mowers?” Amy asked from behind him, causing him to whip