Lights Out Read Online Free PDF Page B

Another obligation. It seems like you might be a while,” he said.
    “Yes…” she replied.
    “So another time?” he asked.
    “Okay,” she said, fully on board now, no use in pretending otherwise.
    “I’ll see you Monday,” he said, satisfied that he would get his opportunity in due time. He pushed back the impulse to lean over the counter and kiss her. He was patient when he wanted something.

Chapter 3
    Sunday night and finally Piper had made it to one of her favorite places—her bed—and earlier than she’d expected. It had been one long day today at the shop; throw in Zydeco night the night before and she was more tired than normal. No rest for the weary or the self-employed. She left Saturday night without doing the major cleanup. That she’d done this morning, followed by a full day of work and ending with poetry night.
    Her mind moved back to Joe. Joe had been on her mind constantly since their foray into the storage room. Joe’s skills had been masterful, and the encounter had replayed in her mind since then.
    She hadn’t had sex in two years and was close to forgetting what the whole sex experience felt like. But from what she could remember, it could be fun, really good with the right partner, a great reliever of stress and a super cardio workout. And she’d bet good money that sex with Joe would be one for the ages. He was totally in the not-to-be-missed category. Hell, he’d probably been born with that special sex gene, the one given to the gifted at birth to make a joyful noise unto the world.
    So he would be a walk back in a direction that hadn’t been all that good for her. She’d tried the hook-up route before, numerous times, in fact, and it hadn’t worked much for her. She wanted the husband, the kids, and the long haul and had stopped pretending otherwise long ago. She was holding out for a younger version of her grandfather. An old-school man, a partner, willing to put family first, who didn’t mind working with her to make their life better, to achieve their goals. Did they make that brand of man anymore?
    All that aside, her answer was yes. This one time, or two, or however many she could get with him. Yes, she was giving herself permission to indulge. He would be the exception to the self-imposed rule she’d implemented two years ago. She was all in, not if, but when, followed closely with, where?
    Her cell rang—her father’s ringtone—and she reached for it, wondering why he was up so late.
    “Pops,” she said by way of greeting.
    “Renee, I need to see you tomorrow, early. I’m out of town the rest of the week, maybe the next two,” he said.
    “Okay.” So much for hello, and since when did he start apprising her of his schedule?
    “What’s up?”
    “Don’t want to talk about it tonight. I’ll see you in the morning, and I’ll have your sisters with me.”
    “Is Christina coming, too?” Piper asked, perking up at the thought of seeing her little sisters. She also liked her dad’s third wife, Christina.
    “No, just me and the girls.”
    “Well, I’m usually at the shop by 6:30. Tomorrow I’ll be at the new location until noon. What time will you be there?”
    “Don’t know, just early. Look, I have to go,” he said and disconnected.
    “Sure,” she said into silence, wondering what was up with dear old dad. He usually was cool as a cucumber, but tonight he’d sounded harried and rushed. She’d find out tomorrow. She turned off the light next to her bed and went back to pretending Joe was here next to her, whispering in her ear, moving within her.
    * * *
     
    Third week in June
     
    Mac Knight pulled onto the freeway, and looked at the faces of his youngest girls in the rearview mirror. Taylor, the older of the two, baseball cap on her head, looking like a boy, and Kennedy, the opposite in dress from her sister.
    He pulled out his cell and hit the number for his wife, their mother, Christina. No answer. It rolled over to voice mail just as it had the