King 02 - Breathless Read Online Free PDF Page A

strong and manly.”
    It was Michael’s turn to laugh. “Oh, sure, I believe you. I’ll admit I was feeling pretty pathetic until I talked to you. I kept thinking…” He lowered his voice. “I kept thinking about the other night, and wondering if I was crazy to stop us.”
    Alone on the path among the trees, I blushed, remembering. “No, you were right. It would be even harder now, if we had—if you hadn’t. I’m sorry I put us in that situation.”
    “Believe me, Tas, I don’t blame you—I don’t even think—ahh.” Even across the miles I could hear his frustration. “Here come my parents. Listen, I’m going to go for now, but I’ll call you back later, probably tonight. You’re still staying out with Lela?”
    “Yes, I’ll stay until your parents get home. She’s been so sweet to me, and very patient. Give Marly and Luke my love.”
    “I will. Remember how much I love you. Stay strong.”
     

If I thought that one telephone call would make me feel better about Michael’s absence, I was wrong. Granted, for the first couple of hours, as I returned to the shop and did my job, a sort of peace settled over me. I replayed our conversation in my head over and over, using it to block Lela’s thoughts and those of our customers as much as possible. I got a perverse assurance that Michael was suffering as much as I was, or at least nearly as much. I knew he missed me, and being missed is nice.
    But even that glow couldn’t sustain me for too long. By the time I’d settled into Michael’s bed that night, the phone in my hand, my heart was aching and I felt nearly as alone as I had the day before. I called my mother to check in, and I could tell she was worried about me.
    “Are you sure you want to stay out there again tonight? Isn’t it harder to be there—I mean, without Michael?”
    I stifled a sigh. “I promised I’d stay with Lela until her parents get home, Mom. And no, it’s not harder. I can’t think of anything that would make this harder than it is. It’s actually kind of comforting to be out here. And it’s closer for work, too.”
    My mother was silent for a beat. “Okay. If you say so. I just worry that you’re wallowing out there, with all that time on your hands.”
    “As if I’d be so busy if I were home? At least here I have Lela.”
    “And if you were at home, you’d have Amber and Cara and Anne—they’d be keeping your mind off everything.”
    “Anne was out here last night. And Mom, no amount of distraction is going to make me feel better. This—this whole thing sucks. It just does. I’m miserable with Michael away. I don’t know if you can understand that. This next year is going to be incredibly difficult for me. Keeping busy isn’t going to change that.”
    I knew that my mom was biting her tongue. I couldn’t hear her thoughts or read her moods from this distance, but I’d known her long enough to guess that much. I imagined that she was making up her mind to change the subject and take this up again later.
    “Well, I guess we’ll see you after work on Thursday. Call me if you need anything—or if you want to talk. I’m always here for you.”
    I softened my tone as I told her goodbye. She meant well, but it wasn’t a bad thing that we had a little distance right now.
    I really didn’t expect Michael to call, and I had even begun to doze when the phone buzzed in my hand. Groggily I answered.
    “Tasmyn?” Michael’s voice was low and vaguely amused. “Did I wake you up?”
    “Mmmmm…” I struggled through the layers of sleepiness. “No… well, kind of.”
    “I’m sorry. I just wanted to tell you good night, and I love you.”
    Warmth seeped through my drowsiness. “Well, then, I’m glad you woke me up. I never want to miss hearing that.”
    His laugh was quiet and intimate. “I’ll never stop saying it. Did you have a good day?”
    I tried to remember. “I think I did. The nursery was pretty busy, and then Lela and I made dinner here. We