COVET: Deceptive Desires Read Online Free PDF

jeopardizing it.”
    As Whitley made her exit, Liam pulled out his iPhone to try Raven once more…

 
     
     
    CHAPTER 7
     
     
    “I doubt that’s something you’re allowed to tell a twelve-year-old, Ray-ven ,” Joshua argued, arms folded. For a rude little shit, he was rather smart. His foster mom had warned Raven, saying that besides being borderline genius, he had Asperger’s coupled with a cute little mouth which lacked a filter.
    “Probably so.” Raven smiled apologetically for the first time since she’d grabbed his arm a tad too hard. Perhaps her own tongue had gotten away from her as well. She’d dragged him out of the sanctuary. Like hell, there’d be no cussing in front of the other children choir members. As director, this was her show. She pointed a finger at him. “But you’re a smart aleck, so I’ve the feeling you can take it.”
    He rolled his eyes.
    Her index finger stopped right before his hard gray eyes. The vertically challenged bastard didn’t even flinch. “I have the mind to pop out one of those ever rolling eyes of yours, Joshua. Keep fu…keep trying me.”
    He gave her an incredulous look. Yes, she was still on holy ground, but praying about Joshua’s attitude was the furthest thing from her mind. She turned away from him, hands raised in the air, and grumbled.
    For a winter’s day, the warmth of the sun soothed her soul. Raven stalked back and forth, high-heeled boots crunching over the grass. She was dressed in an olive green midriff sweater and jeans. She had to look like a nut to Joshua, bangles clanking on her wrists, arms swaying like the willow tree he currently leaned against. This was how she coped.
    Two minutes later, Joshua was still planted in his same spot, the same loathing façade. He ran his hand through his blond hair as if the tables had turned and he had decided to teach her a lesson.
    Raven stopped before him. “Josh, your foster mom loves you so damn much, kid. So much! You gotta stop with the attitude.” Gertrude won’t leave unless you give her a fucking heart attack!
    “ Misses Ray-ven, have you ever observed me displaying any affection for her? ” The kid asked in a brainy, irate tone. “I’m trying to determine why you’ve come to the conclusion that I care about her. She suffocates me—”
    Before he had the chance to rattle off everything his foster mom did, everything which provided him a safe and structured home, Raven cut in. He’d already given his sob story a hundred times over. “Stop it. I’ve known Ms. Gertrude since I was standing where you just were, on that stage as a kid.”
    His balls had yet to drop, but his comeback was hard. “Again, feel free to inquire as to if I care. I can’t live with her.”
    “Boy, you don’t even know the meaning of live. You can’t live until you’ve been loved. And then you can only love as much as you yourself have been loved.” Raven spoke words wiser than her years. But this knowledge came from experience.
    “Says the lady who doesn’t have parents.”
    A deep breath of sweet grass drew into her nostrils. She nodded slowly. Throat constricted, Raven worked to get the words out. “All right, Josh. For now, you win, okay?”
    With that, he rushed back into the sanctuary, stomping all the way. Raven’s tear ducts burned. What the heck is wrong with me? It wasn’t the first time someone brought up her hopeless life story. Besides, it had been years since she slapped the dog shit out of someone for their mouth. As director of the children’s choir, God had allowed her to reap what she sowed. All those fights to protect a mother who hadn’t wanted her had been for nothing. Only a teenager and she acted like a life coach—better yet, a therapist on occasion.
    Raven’s cell phone buzzed on the way into the sanctuary. In her irritation, she didn’t screen the call.
    “C an I take you to lunch this Saturday?” Liam asked.
    “Well, hello to you, too,” she mumbled, and then held up a