The Hometown Hero Returns Read Online Free PDF Page A

could she have ever thought it was a good idea to return to Harbor Town? How could she have misled herself into believing Dr. Rothschild when her former therapist had said she had unfinished business in the little town and a bone-deep desire to heal?
    She burst out the front door of Jake’s Place, gulped the warm, fresh air she’d been oxygen-deprived. It didn’t occur to her until she reached the parking lot just what—or who—it was she was escaping. A pair of hands settled on her shoulders and spun her around.
    â€œMarc,” she said in a strangled voice. She hadn’t realized until that moment she’d been dreading his touch and anticipating it, as well.
    â€œDon’t run from me, Mari. Don’t run from this.”
    She swayed closer, to him, inhaling his scent. Nobody smelled like Marc. She wanted to believe that this was something they could solve. Her body wanted to believe him…wanted to trust in Marc, longed to be swept away by a dream.
    A girl’s dream.
    She met his blazing eyes.
    â€œMarc, we can’t. Not again,” she whispered. She started to move out of their embrace, her fear returning, but he stopped her.
    â€œWhat is it, Mari? What’s your problem with me?” he asked quietly. She saw wariness shadow his face, felt it rising in his tense muscles. “Is it that you think I’m a killer by association? I’m not my father, damn it. I barely finish a beer if I drink at all. I’d throw myself off the top of the Sears Tower before I got behind the wheel of a car drunk. I didn’t kill your parents.”
    She blinked in shock at the sudden appearance of his anger. They’d tacitly agreed to stay away from the minefield of this topic in Chicago.
    â€œI never said you did.”
    â€œI lost my father in that crash, as well,” he said.
    Her throat tightened. “I know that. Surely you know that.”
    â€œI don’t know what I’m supposed to think except that you believe I’m guilty by association. I don’t know, because you’ve never really told me, have you? You walked away five weeks ago. You left when we were together and refused to speak to me for fifteen years. One night, we were on the verge of becoming lovers, and the next, we were separated by the news of the crash. Within days, you were gone and thousands of miles separated us, as well.”
    â€œMarc, we were kids. I’d lost almost my entire world,” she moaned.
    â€œYou came back to Harbor Town. You must have had a reason.”
    â€œI did have a reason,” Mari said. Her gaze deflected off his face. What would he think about The Family Center? Her fantasies about opening it never included having to tell Marc about her plans. What if he thought the project was odd…or worse, self-righteous on Mari’spart? He’d probably never understand how much she’d thought of him while making her plans…of the young man she’d loved and lost so many years ago.
    She closed her eyes, trying to banish her chaotic thoughts. All she wanted at that moment was to escape this volatile situation with Marc.
    â€œI didn’t come back to Harbor Town for you. And I don’t want to talk about the past with you, either, Marc.”
    â€œWho do you want to talk about it with? Reyes? Is it okay to talk about things with him? Because you’re both victims, while I’m the son of the monster who robbed you of your parents?”
    â€œMarc, don’t. Please.”
    It pained her more than she could bear to see the raw hurt on his handsome face. A need arose in her to soothe his sadness, to somehow ease his anguish. The knowledge that she was powerless to do so caused the swelling, tight sensation to mount in her chest. She was stunned at how easily that old wound had opened when she saw his expression of disillusionment.
    His expression suddenly shifted. He caressed her upper arms in a soothing motion. “Jesus.