Tags:
Psychological,
Romance,
Historical,
Literature & Fiction,
Contemporary,
Romantic Comedy,
Contemporary Fiction,
Contemporary Women,
Christian,
Women's Fiction,
multicultural,
Lgbt,
Bisexual Romance,
Multicultural & Interracial
him. One arm rested over his stomach while she pressed a kiss into his chest.
“I don’t mind that we did. Do you?”
“No.” Jason looked down at her. “Julie, please don’t think I do this all the time. I want to tell myself that it’s just this story, just an escape from it. But….”
“But?” Julie looked up at him hesitantly.
“But there’s….something….between us.” Good. He felt it too. Julie smiled. She lifted her head only to press a satisfied kiss onto his lips.
“I know that.” Jason smiled at her before kissing her back. His kiss was slow, sweet, before he pulled back.
“Why don’t we get some food?”
She agreed, getting up to dress. The more clothes she put on, the more the memories of the night before came back to her. She didn’t want to think about it. She wanted to stay locked in Jason’s embrace and their moment.
They headed downstairs, but the hotel restaurant was too full. Jason didn’t want anyone to hear their conversation. So they headed to a large restaurant down the street where they could get a table in the back.
“Don’t let this upset you too much.” Jason reached across the table to take her hand. “I know it’s rough, but it’ll be ok. We didn’t do anything that pushed Johns over his limit.”
“I know he would have done it regardless,” Julie stirred her coffee. “But this just sucks. I think I don’t have the stomach for this line of work.”
Jason smiled softly at her. He rubbed his fingers over hers.
“I get that. I know there are days we all want to throw in the towel. But with any job you’re going to have good days and bad days. Some journalism stories are just going to stick with you more.”
“I know.” Julie sighed heavily. “But just….how do you?”
“I know.” Jason reassured. “I know, I do. I’ve been thinking about it myself. Ever since Tim came out here last month, I’ve had a bad feeling about this story.”
Julie looked up, suddenly curious.
“Tim came out here without you?”
“Yep, last month. Right before they found that little boy dead.” Jason looked at her for a moment.
“Why do you ask?”
“Did he see his sister?”
“I….don’t really know.” Jason admitted. “I know that he came back fired up, that’s for sure. That was how we got this assignment. He pushed me to come out.”
“Weird.” Julie murmured, more to herself than to him. Jason tapped her hand.
“Julie, are you thinking something?”
“Just that…” Julie didn’t quite know how to say what she was thinking. She paused for a moment, and then continued. “Tim was just so aggressive when we went out there. I know he was passionate and everything, but….”
“What are you thinking?” Jason pressed. “Julie don’t be afraid to say it.” Julie hesitated.
“It was probably a bad idea to take him out there.”
“Yeah, it probably was,” Jason agreed. “But he wanted to see his sister. I know that’s important to him.”
“How important?” Julie heard the words come out of her mouth. She was thinking it, but she couldn’t say it. Not yet, at least. Jason blinked at her.
“Extremely. Why?”
“Did he get out to Johns compound by himself? Initially?”
“I…guess…?” Jason asked softly. “I don’t think he ever got in.”
“Of course not.” Julie murmured. “They wouldn’t let him in, not if he asked. So if he wanted to see his sister, he’d have to get in some other way. He’d have to bring light to everything that was going on in Christ’s Community.”
“Julie?” Jason was looking at her like she’d lost her mind. Julie finally looked back at him.
“Had you ever heard of Christ’s Community before that little boy was killed? “
“No,”