Chasing the Night - Iris Johansen [131]
“And he won’t talk to Catherine?”
“She won’t push him. She said that he could have a deep-seated resentment for all she knows. He’s begun to talk to her about things that are happening here and now. That’s enough for her.” She added, “I noticed that he appears only to live in the present. It may be a long time before he does anything else.”
“Living in the present isn’t all that bad,” Joe said quietly as he moved to stand behind her at the window.
He meant that she found it impossible not to live in a past that contained the taking of her Bonnie. He had always told her it might destroy her, and maybe he was right. What she feared most was that it would destroy him.
She turned and buried her face in his shoulder. “No, it could be pretty wonderful.”
His arms went around her. “You’re tense as a board,” he said roughly. “I should have kept my mouth shut. Sometimes things just come out.”
“Because they’re always with you.”
“It will end. It has to end.”
When she brought her Bonnie home. When she found Bonnie’s killer. Right now, that seemed a distant dream.
It would change when she got back on the hunt. Then there was hope. Then there was purpose.
And then there was the chance of losing Joe because of that eternal obsession.
She kissed him. “It will end, Joe.” Her arms tightened around him. “I love you,” she whispered.
“Do you want me to tell you I love you, too?” He kissed her back, hard, with a passion that took her breath away. “That’s never going to go away. Not until the day I die. And maybe afterward. That’s not the issue.” He let her go and turned to the door. “I think I’ll go down to the lake and tell Kelly Catherine is coming. Maybe well have a barbecue this evening.”
He was gone.
She stood watching as he ran down the porch steps to where Kelly was standing. So strong, so confident…Dammit, so good. He deserved more than she was giving, more than she asked of him. That bittersweet moment had come out of nowhere, and its thorns were still tearing at her.
She should be used to those moments now. They came less often now, but they were still there waiting to emerge from the shadows.
So many shadows…
But she didn’t want to think of shadows today. The sun was shining brightly, and even now Catherine was driving up the road toward the cottage.
Eve opened the door and went out onto the porch.
Catherine looked wonderful, she thought, as the woman got out of the car. Sleek and gorgeous, and that terrible tension was gone from her demeanor. She turned to Luke and smiled and said something. So much love, it glowed from her expression.
And Luke smiled back! Just a little smile, but it was definitely a smile.
Eve wanted to cheer.
“I told him that he had to put away his book, or you’d throw him in the lake, Joe,” Catherine said, as she came toward Kelly and Joe. “And he told me that was okay, he liked the water.”
“I was just in a good part.” But Luke stuffed the paperback into the back pocket of his jeans. “Hello, Kelly. Mr. Quinn.”
“Joe,” Joe said. “And if you really want a swim, there are some trunks that might fit you at the cottage. Though I agree skinny-dipping is more fun. You’re looking better than the last time I saw you.”
He did look better, Eve thought. He had put on weight, and his jeans and shirt fit smoothly over that thin, wiry frame. He still appeared alert and guarded, but perhaps that wariness had lessened a little?
Luke was ignoring that last comment. “I’d like to go swimming.”
“Go and see Eve first, Luke,” Kelly said. “Stop thinking about yourself. You’re her guest. Do it.”
Eve smothered a laugh. Kelly was starting with him as she had left off. Blunt, honest, no holds barred.
“Don’t tell me what to do.” He looked up at Eve, standing on the porch. “I wanted to see her.”
“I’m flattered.” She was still chuckling as she watched Kelly and Luke walk up the stairs. “Since you didn’t bother to say good-bye.”
“I didn’t think I needed to do it. That didn’t change anything.” He was standing before her. “Sometimes I don’t know