AJ's Salvation Read Online Free PDF Page B

You and I know he’s not my child, but at least now he has a part of my name in him.”
    Before Jam could comment on that, though, she had called the boys into the kitchen, making the serious talk instantly vanish. As it was, Jam couldn’t wait to just sit at a table and watch his son in action.

Breakfast had been draining, and Aly was glad when Tom’s mom, Shelley, had picked up her son and taken Lesso along. The boys weren’t ready to part yet, and it suited Aly just fine. The moment silence spread in her house, she was incredibly aware of the fact Jamison was there. The living room suddenly seemed too small, and with his intoxicating scent filling her house, she couldn’t think. There were things they needed to talk about, though, so she decided to change.
    “I’ll be right back, okay?” She didn’t think she needed to remind him to stay, so she just looked at him for a second before hurrying upstairs to put on some jeans and a different sweater. Passing the mirror, she suddenly stopped. She knew she was being ridiculous, but she decided to put on some mascara and lip gloss. It had been a while since she had gotten pretty for a guy, and she missed it. Besides, Jam wasn’t just any guy. Her heart didn’t once stop reminding her of that very fact. She felt as if she had been running a marathon because her heart rate hadn’t gone down ever since Jam appeared on her porch the night before.
    Her cheeks were flushed, and she realized she missed this kind of anticipation. None of the guys she dated had ever caused this in her. With Jam, though, all she needed was one look and she wanted to tear his clothes off. Not that she’d ever do that. Not that he’d ever allow it.
    She used her favorite perfume, the one too expensive for her taste but that she had treated herself to some years back. She missed getting it from Greg for Christmas. 
    Taking a breath, she went back down, seeing him stare at the pictures of his son and then, at the pictures of himself.
    “You weren’t lying,” Jam whispered in awe as she came to stand next to him. She knew every photo by heart and even had a few favorites. 
    “Take a walk with me,” she implored in a low voice, worrying he’d turn her down.
    “Happily. Your scent will drive me crazy if we stay in here. And don’t think I haven’t noticed that you make sure not to touch me anymore. I couldn’t guarantee I would stay away if we stayed in closed-off rooms.” She wanted to protest, but he had always been rather observant. She heard the hurt in his voice, though.
    “Don’t take it personally,” she pleaded. 
    “Explain it then,” he requested, but Aly couldn’t. Touching him again would ignite a fire in her that she had worked long and hard to quell. She still felt the stubble against her palm even though that had been almost twelve hours prior. The way he’d held her seemed to have molded her body, and she had no doubt she would fit just as perfectly in his arms again. No, she couldn’t do that, nor could she guarantee anything, either.
    “If someone has to explain something, it’s you, I think,” she told him, leading him out of the house and locking the door behind her. Small towns were safe, no doubt, but she still liked knowing all her possessions were out of easy reach.
    “You’re right,” Jam admitted, burying his hands in his pockets again. It was something he did a lot, she noticed.
    “Talk. I have all day now.” She didn’t mention she had planned to spend it with him. She wanted to sit on the sofa, stare at his pictures, and eat ice cream. Buckets of it.
    “Collene’s gone and no one knows why she vanished.” Alessia almost stumbled at those words.
    “And your first impulse was to come here? What if she was following you?” She knew she wasn’t as quiet as she thought, but she couldn’t help it. “Ten years and everything was fine. She never once guessed I had anything to do with it, and now that she’s gone, you get in a car and come