Soul Deep Read Online Free PDF

and
horses. He’d seen it often enough to believe it was real. He’d
always thought women were more in tune with their bodies and with
nature than most men. Maybe there was an earthiness in women that
connected with the wildness in horses. Hell, how should he
know?
    “My Nate was sitting in a saddle when he was
still in diapers.” Jack set his fork aside, his plate clean. “I’ll
show you the stables tomorrow—unless you’re dead set on getting out
of here.”
    She smiled, a warm flush in her cheeks from
the wine. “I think I can stay that long. I would love to see your
horses.”
    “So how did a farm girl from upstate New York
end up becoming an FBI agent?” He poured the last of the wine into
their glasses.
    Her smile faded, and the sparkle left her
eyes. “My parents were murdered.”
    Her words hit Jack square in the face.
“Murdered?”
    She nodded, drank the last of her wine. “They
put a classified ad in the paper to sell their old car. A man
called and said he wanted to come by and see it. When my dad went
outside to show him the vehicle, the bastard shot him in the chest.
My mother was making supper. She heard the shot and ran outside to
help my dad. The SOB shot her, too, then backed over her while she
was still alive and drove off with the car. I was five. Melodie, my
sister, was three. I’m not sure what we were doing—playing in our
bedroom or something. A neighbor saw the whole thing and called the
police. It was the FBI who tracked him down and brought him
in.”
    “Was he convicted?”
    She shook her head. “They found him dead in
his cell. Apparently, he picked a fight with the wrong people and
got shanked.”
    The bastard had damned well deserved it.
    “I’m sorry.” Jack reached over, took her
hand, held it. “I can’t imagine how hard it was for you and your
sister.”
    He couldn’t imagine how difficult it had been
for her grandparents, either—losing their daughter and son-in-law
and then having to explain death to two tiny children who suddenly
depended on them for everything.
    “Thanks.” Janet gave him a tight smile that
didn’t reach her eyes, drew her hand away. “The FBI agents who came
to speak with my grandparents seemed like heroes to me. I knew that
I wanted to do what they did when I grew up.”
    “Catch bad guys?”
    She nodded. “Catch bad guys—and keep good
people from being hurt.”
    “I hope it brings you some peace to know
you’ve managed to do exactly that.” He raised his glass. “Here’s to
you.”
    “Thanks.” She smiled again, but he could see
the sadness in her eyes. “That’s kind of you to say.”
    “Nonsense.” Jack didn’t have a kind bone in
his body. “It’s the truth.”
    As he finished his wine, he found himself
wishing he’d been a little more cooperative and a little less
brusque the first time she’d been here.
    # # #
    After dinner, they moved into the living
room, where Jack lit a roaring fire in the fireplace and opened a
second bottle of wine.
    “Oh, I couldn’t.” Janet shook her head. Then
again, why shouldn’t she? The Percocet she’d taken after lunch had
worn off, and it had only been a single pill. Besides, it wasn’t
often that she got to taste wine of this quality. “Okay, but just
one more glass.”
    Jack filled their glasses, then carried his
to the other end of the sofa and sat. “You warm enough?”
    “Yes. Thank you.” She took another sip,
savoring the vibrant, earthy fruit taste of the Beaujolais. “You
know a lot more about me than I know about you.”
    He shrugged. “There’s not a lot to know.”
    She couldn’t help but smile. “I thought you
didn’t believe in false humility.”
    “Okay, but don’t blame me when your eyes
glaze over. I grew up on the ranch, an only child. I married my
high school sweetheart after graduation, then joined the army and
served six years with the Army Rangers—long-range reconnaissance
patrol, Company H, 75th Infantry.” His eyes took on a far-away
look.