Familiar Stranger Read Online Free PDF Page A

rhythm as she reminded herself there was no need to be nervous. The man was the father of her child. But when he took her by the hand and pulled her close to the light, she felt naked all over again beneath his gaze.
    "I frighten you, don't I?" he asked.
    Cara blushed then sighed. Finally, she nodded. "A little."
    "My life has been ugly, I'll admit, but I would die before I'd hurt you."
    The tenderness in his words was shattering. Before she knew it, her hands were on his chest, her face tilted toward the light—and him.
    "I didn't mean it like that," she said quickly. "I wasn't thinking physical harm. It's just that I've been alone for almost three years now and just starting to learn to live without the sound of someone else's voice. It's hard to become accustomed to loneliness when you've shared your life with another."
    "I wouldn't know."
    Again, his answer pulled at her emotions.
    "What I'm trying to say is … you were my first love, David. I gave the truest and best part of myself to you."
    He groaned and started to take her in his arms when she stopped him.
    "No … wait … let me finish." She took a deep breath. "The only thing that kept me going after you left was knowing that I carried your child. My husband was a good man. He loved Bethany as if she was his own and never made a difference between his affections for her and our other two children." She ducked her head and then made herself look at him. "But I'm ashamed to say that I never gave him what I should have because I'd already given it to you. Dead or alive, you had my heart. Now he's dead and you're back and I'm afraid. I'm afraid to get to know the man you've become. I'm afraid I'll love him as much as I loved the boy." Her voice trailed off into a whisper. "And I'm afraid that if I do, I won't get over losing you again. So … what I guess I'm asking is, why did you really come? Was it just to assuage what you perceived as guilt, or were you looking for something more?"
    He wanted to assure her, but he couldn't lie. As long as Frank was loose, his life wasn't worth a damn.
    "I'd be lying if I said I'd only come to say hello. But there are a lot of loose ends to my past that have to be tied, and until that happens, I don't have the luxury of making plans."
    Cara felt the blood draining from her face. That wasn't what she expected to hear.
    "That sounds fatal," she said, trying to fake a laugh.
    He didn't answer, and the laugh became a sob.
    "My God … tell me I'm wrong."
    "I can't make promises … but if I could, then I'd be giving you fair warning that I wanted back in your life."
    Her voice trembled. "How far?"
    "As far as you'd let me go."
    "Ah … David … you always were a hard sell," she said, and then wrapped her arms around his neck.
    The weight of her body against his chest was a gift.
    "So, are you saying it's enough?"
    She shook her head. "No, I'm not saying that, but I am saying that I'll take what you're willing to give. I asked for too much the first time and lost you. I'm not willing to make that mistake again."
    He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
    "God … woman, you don't know how many years I've dreamed of this."
    She pulled back to look at him. "Oh, but yes, I do. And while I would like the luxury of being wooed and courted, I'm not willing to waste our time on the ritual."
    "What are you saying?"
    "I want to fall asleep in your arms and wake up the same way. I want to laugh with you and cook for you and play with you. I don't want to think about loose ends. Whatever time you have to give me will have to be enough."
    He tunneled his fingers through her hair, taking her kiss without asking, ripping her emotions to shreds with the anguish on his face.
    "I don't deserve this," he said.
    "No, you don't," she said. "But I do."
    He laughed softly, then swept her off her feet and into his arms.
    "Are you going to make love to me?" she asked.
    "Hell, yes," he muttered.
    She sighed. "It's about time."
    "If you don't mind,"