Bound to the Past (Starville Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

white cat that had immediately curled up on her lap.
    Both women shot accusatory looks at Brent, who put up his palms in a helpless gesture. “Hey, donʼt take it out on me! Yes, obviously I knew Jack and J.T. back then, but nobodyʼs talked about them for years. Itʼs not a subject that comes up in casual conversations, you know?”
    Sara sighed. “Iʼm not mad at you, Brent. Itʼs just that this whole situation is so surreal. I moved to Starville because I fell in love with its honest, friendly atmosphere…and now itʼs like I suddenly donʼt know anything or anybody anymore. I feel so estranged.”
    “Donʼt let this get to you, hon.” He shook his head and plopped onto the couch beside Nicky. “Starville is Starville. What happened ten years ago turned everybodyʼs lives upside down, and we all tried to move on as best we could. I was young, but I remember very clearly how the atmosphere in town changed after what happened to J.T.; nothing has been the same since that night.”
    “Just stay away from Turner,” Nicky interjected. “Iʼve heard enough about him in the past few hours, and I donʼt like any of it.”
    Sara huffed. “You guys are being ridiculous. All I did was call an ambulance after the guy had an accident and wait at the hospital until he regained his consciousness.”
    “I just want you to be safe.”
    “I know, Brent, and I do appreciate it.” When he didnʼt reply, she decided to change the subject. “Would you like something to drink?”
    A sigh of relief escaped from her as Nicky stood up. “An ice-cold Coke sounds heavenly, thanks―but Iʼll get it myself. Cyanide, Hayden?”
    He shrugged. “Cyanide wouldnʼt even affect me; Iʼm too used to the venom your mouth spits all the time.”
    “Hemlock it is, then. Letʼs go, Lance.”
    Sara shook her head with a smile as her friend left the room followed by the dog. Since the very first time sheʼd met Brent Hayden and Nicky Sinclair, the two of them had been constantly bickering and picking on each other. Sometimes she wondered how they managed to work side by side for the Starville Police Department―especially considering that she was pretty sure Nicky had a huge crush on her partner. Not that Sara could blame her.
    Her gaze instinctively moved to Brent. With his blond hair and athletic build, he was a very attractive man. Not as intense-looking as Jack Turner, of course, but…
    “Either I just grew two noses and three eyes, or damned if I know whatʼs going on in that pretty little head of yours for staring at me like that.”
    Brentʼs amused words jolted her back to reality. “Sorry, I was still brooding about Jack,” Sara half lied, squirming uncomfortably against the pillow.
    “What about him?”
    “Well, Doc said he hasnʼt set foot in Starville since he was released from jail.”
    “Yeah. So?”
    “So why do you think he returned now, after all these years?”
    Brent shrugged. “Have no idea, but Iʼm sure weʼll find out soon enough. And no, Sara, absolutely not.”
    She gave him a confused look. “No, what?”
    “No, by we , I donʼt mean you ,” he said firmly, raising a hand to stop her protest. “I know how much you love mysteries, but this is not one of your novels, and Jack Turner is not one of your characters. So get any crazy ideas out of your head right now. Yes, you saved his life and all, and thatʼs awesome. But your involvement with him stops here.”
    “Brent is right, hon.” Nicky walked back into the room and handed a bottle of soda to everyone. “For once.”
    Sara snorted. “I really wish you guys would stop worrying about me. Iʼm just curious about Jack, thatʼs all. He was so enigmatic when he helped me with my car, and―”
    Her friendsʼ mouths shot open simultaneously. “He what ?”
    Ooops . “Uh… Jack and I met briefly before his accident. I was going to Mrs. Primsʼs when one of my tires burst on Carriage Road, and he was nice enough to stop and change it for me.”
    Brentʼs jaw