Rush Read Online Free PDF Page A

this neighborhood.
    He opened the door and started to walk out.
    “Hey, are you hungry? I could make something.”
    He turned back to look at her over his shoulder. “That would be great. Thanks. I’ll just be a minute.”
    She let out a long breath when the door closed. Wondering what she was going to make for dinner, Mi went to the kitchen and scanned the contents of the fridge. She hadn’t been shopping in a while, mostly because she hadn’t had time. Mom had had one of her episodes day before yesterday, this one worse than the others. Not as bad as the ones she’d had thirteen years ago, but close. Mi wished her brother, Jason, were here. He wasn’t good for much, but he had a way with their mom that Mi didn’t.
    She found some hamburger patties, buns, and potatoes. That would have to be good enough. She popped the cap off a bottle of Lone Star beer and took a long pull. Lucas came back in just as she added the lard to the cast iron skillet. He stood in the doorway with a black leather gym bag in one hand, watching her.
    “You want a beer?”
    “No, thanks. I don’t drink while I’m working.” He lifted the hand with the bag. “Is there somewhere I can put this?”
    “Oh, that’s right.” She swiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “Twenty-four seven. Down the hall first door on your right. There’s clean sheets on the bed. I’ll get you some towels.”
    She made a move to get them, but he stopped her. “I don’t want to put you out. Just tell me where they are and I can get them.”
    “End of the hall there’s a cabinet, center shelf.” She wished she’d bought those new towels last week when they were on sale.
    “Thanks. The police should be here soon.” He disappeared down the hall.
    She watched him go. It was the first time she’d seen the back of him, and she bent back a little to keep it in view. Working, he’d said. She was a job, nothing more. She would be wise to remember that.
    *****
    Lucas dropped his bag on the foot of the swayed bed. A double. He was going to get no sleep. Reaching back, he made sure the bedroom door stayed open. It wasn’t hard. He could probably span his arms and touch a fingertip to each wall. The house might be small, but it had Mi’s imprint all over it. Fuck. It even smelled like her. He was going to be semi hard every day until this job was over. He’d lived through worse, he supposed, but that beer was sounding better and better by the minute.
    Looking around, he noticed a baby bed in the corner with one of those dangly things hanging over it. He edged around the bed and peered in. Empty. He didn’t know what he expected. She wouldn’t leave an infant alone all day. At least he hoped she wouldn’t. But what did he really know about her?
    He hoped the second phone call he’d made while getting his bag from his car would answer some of his questions about Ms. Miyuki Price-Jones. And wasn’t she a puzzle to solve.
    For a moment back there he’d been tempted. They’d been alone in the dark and he’d felt her. Her interest. Her arousal. It was almost a tangible thing. He could sense it, taste it, smell it. He wanted to drag her down then. Touch her in the ways she silently cried out to be touched. Her need was as confusing as it was inciting. He caught fire when she was near.
    But there was a side of her that was untouchable. Where she hid things. He’d had enough of secrets and lies. Of lying by omission. Those, he’d learned, were the worst lies of all. Vanessa had taught him that on a summer’s day as late as this one. Finding out she was pregnant was a shock. But he’d stepped up, asked her to marry him. She’d accepted. He wouldn’t have said he loved Vanessa, but he would have taken care of her and their child. A child he’d wanted very badly.
    And then Cal, good ole Cal, his pal from childhood had done him the great favor of informing him that Vanessa had been fucking her personal trainer on the side. Vanessa had cried. It was