Sixx (The Stone Society, #7) Read Online Free PDF Page B

him during the daytime, she would laugh at herself and wave it away. His being a monster wasn’t so far-fetched, not with the Unholy running the streets at night. She didn’t believe her child’s father was a creature of the night, but she still had no explanation for why she never aged once she had Desmond.
    The possibility that Michael was back in California was real. She had dreaded the day she would come face-to-face with him again for twenty-four years. Desirae wanted an explanation for why he never came back. Why he never called. He had never confessed his feelings for her. She knew what they had was purely physical. At least for him. She had been stupid enough to allow emotions to worm their way in, but she never kidded herself that Michael loved her. While she wanted to know why he never came back, she desperately did not want to see him. She didn’t trust herself not to fall for him all over again.
    If he was the one who sent the flowers, he knew where she lived. The next knock on her door could be a tall, middle-aged man who would no doubt be just as devastatingly handsome all these years later as he had been the last time she’d seen him. As much as she allowed herself to pretend she hated Michael, there was still something deep inside she was terrified to acknowledge. Some inexplicable tether tying her thoughts and dreams to a man who didn’t want her. Even after all this time, she had no control over the pull he had on her, rendering thoughts of other men futile.
    Rae stood from the sofa and went to the cabinet in the kitchen where Desi kept several bottles of liquor. Even though he was a famous rock singer, Desi rarely drank, so most of the bottles were full. She only drank wine on occasion, but her nerves were shot at the thought of seeing him all these years later. She pulled out the Patron and poured some into a shot glass. She didn’t have fresh limes, so she grabbed the bottle of lime juice out of the refrigerator. It had been a long time since she had “licked, slammed, and sucked” a tequila shot, but she was preparing to do just that. She grabbed the salt shaker, licked the skin between her thumb and forefinger, and tapped salt onto her wet skin. She took a deep breath and licked the salt. She tossed back the glass and quickly shot some lime juice into her mouth, chasing the fiery liquid down her throat. Desirae growled and shook her head. She hated the way tequila tasted, but she loved the way it took away her cares.
    Steeling her resolve, she took two more shots before putting the tequila away. She hadn’t eaten supper, so the alcohol was taking effect quickly. Desirae had to prepare herself mentally in case Michael did show up. She had rehearsed the words she would say to him a hundred times, but now that the possibility was real, she honestly had no idea what she would say or how she would feel. She sat back down on the sofa, staring at the beautiful flowers. While she tried to picture an older Michael in her mind, her phone dinged, letting her know she had a text message.
    Of course it was from Desi. No one else messaged her. Just rolled into New Oakland. Getting ready to grab supper.
    Did you send me flowers?
    No. Did you get flowers?
    Rae didn’t want him to worry, so she played it off. Yes. They must have the wrong address. She knew that wasn’t the truth, because the kind delivery man had said they were for her specifically.
    Are they at least nice flowers? She could count on Desi to keep it light.
    They’re ok. You have a good dinner. Love you.
    Love you too Pretty Momma. God, her son was the sweetest.
    Their texts were never lengthy, just long enough to let her know he was safe. Desmond had grown into a respectable young man, even if his music was hard core. Desirae happened to like his music, but then she had always listened to heavy metal, much to the dismay of her parents. She adopted the hard core music scene along with the laid back beach life, mixing the two to find her own