Slow Burning Lies Read Online Free PDF

piece. ‘Let’s change the subject. I don’t want to put you off your food. They say this is the best cheesecake in Chicago.’
    Joni gave her head an embarrassed shake and picked up her fork.
    They ate in silence. Patrick hardly took his eyes off Joni’s lips. The lips. Their deep purple gloss contrasted so strongly with the delicate cream of the cheesecake, as they combined to devour it, cracking and splintering its honey-brown base. Occasionally, when the temptation became too much, the lips parted and that pink probe of a tongue flicked out and gave the lips a fresh glisten of saliva, closing again as her mouth rhythmically beat the mixture inside and forced it deep down her throat. And then the tongue circled the lips once again, leaving them even more moist, even more shimmering and inviting.
    It was at that moment Patrick knew he wanted her. No, he knew he was going to have her.
    ‘You’re right,’ she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
    ‘Sorry?’ Patrick said with a frown. ‘About what?’
    She nodded to the empty plate. ‘The best.’
    Half an hour later, while Joni freshened up, Patrick paid the bill.
    ‘Thanks for that,’ he said to the waitress.
    ‘Glad you enjoyed it.’
    ‘No. I mean what you said – the line about me always being here on my own.’
    The waitress slowly smiled. ‘We want you to come again – not just for your first date.’
    Patrick drew his head back. ‘Is it that obvious?’
    ‘Not to most people. But if you work here long enough you get good at spotting these things.’
    ‘Well, I guess I’ll come again for my next first date.
    ‘You’re more than welcome to do that,’ the waitress said. ‘We aim to keep our customers happy.’
    ‘You do,’ Patrick said. ‘You do.’
    ‘You do what?’ Joni said from behind him.
    ‘They do… good cheesecake.’
    ‘Best in Chicago,’ the waitress said. ‘Hope you two have a nice evening.’
    Patrick and Joni left the coffee shop and meandered towards the lakeshore, hands in pockets, arms occasionally brushing together.
    She looked up to his face once or twice, but he kept his gaze ahead, ready for the first glimpse of the rolling water. As they turned a corner and the featureless expanse rode into view, Patrick said, ‘I can tell you if you want.’
    Joni hesitated. ‘You… you don’t have to.’
    ‘It’s no secret. It’s part of me – part of who I am.’
    ‘Okay, so… what happened?’
    ‘It was a house fire. I was young – ten, I think. My brother, Declan, was rescued along with me. Mum and Dad didn’t make it.’ He grimaced and shook his head slowly. ‘Declan and me were in care until we were old enough to get out, then we came over to America together and split. We don’t live in each other’s pockets but we’re still pretty close. That’s about it really.’
      ‘Oh, God,’ Joni said. ‘That’s so sad.’
    And Patrick saw the creases to the sides of her eyes thicken, and those sensuous crystal eyes close up tight and hard. She gave a few sharp shrill gasps and pulled a tissue from her handbag.
    Patrick put his arm behind her shoulders and eased her in towards him. They stood together on the lakeshore promenade and their bodies came together in a cautious, almost provisional, way.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ Patrick said. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’
    Jodie nodded and pulled herself away only slightly as she sniffed. ‘I’m… I’m okay.’
    Patrick helped wipe her tears away, then gave her a kiss on the forehead and slid the palm of his hand along her free-flowing hair.
    ‘You poor man,’ she said.
    ‘I don’t really remember much about it – even my days in care with Declan. Sometimes I think my mind has blanked the whole thing out so I can concentrate on the future. Do you know what I mean?’
    Joni paused then gave a slow nod. ‘Actually, yes, I think I really do.’
    They parted, and Patrick gazed out over the lake, where the city’s corporate towers cast long shadows like dark