Holiday Havoc by Terri Reed Page A

hand, he touched her cheek. “I’m glad.”
    â€œI just wish you’d take your own advice and let God heal you.”
    His expression closed and he stepped back. “I’d better go.”
    A shaft of frustration arced through her. She grabbed his hand. He paused, his gaze questioning.
    Emotions welled in her chest. This man had taught her about living life, about seizing back what was lost. He’d taught her to face her fear and to trust God’s plan for her life, for her heart. Clarity sharpened her focus to one single thought. She loved him. That both terrified and delighted her.
    Tugging him closer, she murmured impulsively, “Kiss me.”
    His eyes widened, the color deepening to a blue that matched the churning surf.
    â€œGladly,” he said and captured her lips.
    The soft pressure ignited a firestorm of yearningthrough Lauren just as it had before. Only then she’d been so emotionally distraught and so in need. Now, she could truly appreciate the sheer happiness she felt in his arms, for as long as it lasted. She longed to deepen the contact, to linger in the sensations. She could easily romanticize their kisses, make them mean something more. Something real and permanent. Could almost convince herself that he loved her back.
    But she didn’t. She knew better. There was no future there. Nothing good would come of wishing she could be more than a friend or an obligation to Sean.
    She broke the kiss. And felt like she’d just broken a piece of her heart.
    Keeping her gaze downcast so he wouldn’t see how affected she was by the simple caress, she said, “See you at the truck.”
    She rushed inside the cottage.
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    The last of the sun’s rays winked out as Adrian slowed the white utility van to a stop at the street corner to watch Lauren climb out of the jogger’s truck and hobble toward the front door. Pulling the brim of his navy cap lower, he sliced a glance toward the two cops sitting in the unmarked car on the opposite side of the street. Better play the part, he thought.
    He picked up the clipboard from the passenger seat and pretended to write as if he were nothing more than what he seemed, a common Joe doing his job. His gaze slid back to Lauren.
    His blood boiled. She allowed that man to kiss her.
    She’d pay for that.
    The quick rap of knuckles on the driver’s side window jerked his breath out of his lungs. Slowly, so as not toreveal how frantically his heart was beating, he turned his head just enough so he could see who was there. One of the plainclothes officers stood beside the van, his badge visible. He was older, with graying hair and a trim physique.
    Adrian rolled the window down. “Problem, Officer?”
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Sharp gray eyes assessed him.
    Keeping the scarred side of his face turned away from the window, Adrian said, “Had a report there was a downed telephone line on this street, but I don’t see it. Do you?”
    â€œNo downed lines. Move along.”
    The jogger left Lauren to enter her home, drove his truck to the intersection and turned. She was alone. The timing couldn’t have been better.
    â€œYes, sir.” Adrian started the van.
    The officer stepped back as Adrian pressed on the gas and eased the van away from the curb. He slowly drove down the street, keeping a good distance from the black truck as he followed it around the block to make sure the jogger was really leaving. When the truck doubled back and turned down the street that ran parallel to the back of Lauren’s house, Adrian rolled past. The truck stopped in front of the house whose backyard adjoined Lauren’s backyard.
    Adrian barked out a laugh as he pressed on the gas and drove away.
    They thought they were so smart. Ha! He’d show them. He’d show them all just how clever he was.
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    Lauren entered the dimly lit cottage and tried to catch her breath. What had she been thinking,