Love of Her Lives Read Online Free PDF Page A

dropped back, his lips ascended her neck while his scent infused her and his touch aroused her ancient passion.
    Wait. What was she thinking? Warrior in her far–off fantasies, maybe. The last thing she needed was to fixate on a school professor. No, she wouldn’t indulge in a scenario with a man who defined sensuality. The cadence of his brogue, the intensity in those eyes, the luring energy that swirled about him had been palpable. She recognized the type. If you fell for a man like that, chased passion like it was your lifelong purpose, then the ordinary people in your life became mundane and forgotten. Unchecked passion was a monster she’d been groomed to avoid.
    The inexplicable sexual urge was cause for concern. Could sexual addiction be passed from mother to daughter like alcoholism? No. Not if Beth didn’t lose control. No man would ever make her a slave to desire.
    Focus on the task at hand. Her first stop that day would be Mrs. Miller’s home. A cold fist closed over her heart. Mrs. Miller’s granddaughter had been on Beth’s mind for a week.
    Beth had been shocked to learn that both she and Janine Miller were twenty–five years old. Janine had the demeanour of a doe catching a wildcat’s scent, much too young to be afraid of her husband and hiding at grandma’s house. Now there was a girl who deserved to find $40,000 buried in her backyard. Money like that could save lives.
    Beth dropped the shopping list in the sink. Money could indeed save that girl’s life.
    A drop of water shimmered at the tip of the faucet and fell with a ping.
    She had an opportunity to change a life.
    Her pulse quickened.
    Legally speaking, she should turn the backpack over to the police. Morally speaking, sometimes a girl had to take matters into her own hands. She’d always known she had the courage to take a stand even if it meant opposing unjust laws or unprincipled action. In this case, incidences where the police failed to protect a woman from an abusive husband came to mind.
    All she needed was one thing — a backpack that didn’t smell like compost. She climbed her stairs feeling like Robin Hood. Diverting this money from drug dealers to a woman in need was the right thing to do. She felt it in the sunshine that spread through her.
    Upstairs in her walk–in closet, she was deciding which of her tote bags to part with when “Let’s Dance” rang from her cell phone downstairs — Matthew — the ring tone was a tune of trepidation. But stalling would not eliminate the inevitable. She ran downstairs, rifled through her purse, and snatched up her phone.
    “Hey, Matthew, how’s it going?” Gone was the lovesick urge she’d felt six months ago. Now she realized how close she’d come to losing herself. How she’d been caught in the wave of everyone else’s enthusiasm that Matthew was the catch of the decade.
    “I’ve had a hectic day, love, and haven’t had a chance to call. I’m grabbing a flight to Belize as we speak.”
    She’d cringed when he’d called her love. Belize? What about their break–up dinner?
    Matthew continued. “I’ve been on the phone with the contractor all afternoon. They’ve installed the wrong flooring on the main level — it’s nowhere near the quality we paid for. Maria’s not getting anywhere with the manufacturer, and the kitchen cabinets have gone missing. Her mother is ill, so I offered to straighten this out.”
    She rolled her eyes at “offered.” Her stomach muscles tightened. What did this delay mean to the ultimate sale of the beach house?
    Beth’s mind raced to catch up. Breakup or no, she couldn’t jeopardize this investment. “We hired Maria to oversee the renovation because she’s bright and conscientious. We can trust her to send someone qualified to manage the floor people and track down the cabinets. You do remember I need to discuss something with you, something important, Matthew.”
    She heard him direct the cab to terminal three, and then his voice