Unreasonable Doubt Read Online Free PDF

extremely well-preserved sixties, with gray-blond hair pulled back into a high bouncy ponytail. She wore a pair of tight black shorts and a red shirt made of a stretchy material with Kelowna Pepper printed across the front, and her feet were wrapped in sturdy sandals that looked like they’d been fashioned from old tires. Her skin was bronzed from the sun and her teeth almost shone. She held a bottle of wine in her hand. “Welcome. We’ve had a great day and are in the mood to celebrate. We’re going to have a drink or two in the common room before heading out for dinner.”
    â€œI…” he found himself at a total loss for words. He’d thought Louise beautiful, with her expensive suits, her perfume, her high heels, and sleek black briefcase. But this…this tall creature, with the tanned face, swinging hair, muscular arms and legs—long bare legs—firm breasts under the tight shirt, that smile, was beyond beautiful. “I’m Walt.”
    â€œPleased to meet you, Walt. We tend to get a mite loud sometimes, so you’re welcome to join us if you’d like. No pressure.” She waved the bottle in the air. “And the drinks are on us.”
    Further down the hall a door opened. Another beautiful woman, much the same age, dressed in identical black shorts and red shirt as Darlene, stuck her head out. “Oh, goodie. Just what we’ve been missing. A man.” She barked out a laugh. “I’ll be down soon as I’ve hit the shower.”
    â€œThat degenerate is Nancy,” Darlene said. “You need to watch out for her, Walt.”
    Nancy slammed her door with another peal of laughter.
    â€œCome on down when you’re ready,” Darlene said. “If you want to.”
    She took the stairs at a gallop.
    Walt stood in the doorway to his room, stunned.
    ***
    Carolanne sank onto her bed with a grateful sigh. She ached. Her whole body ached. Easier to catalogue what didn’t ache rather than what did. She was definitely getting too old for this. All she wanted to do right now was to sleep. Take a nice long nap, then order in a pizza—an extra large would be nice—and stay in bed with the pizza, a bag of chips, and a stack of mindless gossip magazines.
    But, as was becoming usual these days, what got her to her feet, running the bath and laying out clothes to wear to dinner, was the thought that the other women were older than her. Stronger, fitter, better-looking. But still older .
    She climbed into the bath with a grateful sigh. The water was piping hot, the towels big and fluffy, the soap and bath products lightly scented. She was pleased she’d thought to get a smaller, single room. She didn’t mind paying a bit extra, as long as she could have some desperately needed moments of peace and privacy. These women were tireless. A morning jog, a day on the water, drinks and snacks in the common room, and then out to dinner. At least they didn’t want to go clubbing after. Carolanne sank further into the water.
    What had she gotten herself into?
    Carla had dragged her to the dragon boat club, telling Carolanne what she knew well enough but couldn’t convince herself to do anything about: she needed an interest in life. She needed a reason to get up in the morning and get out of the house, to go somewhere other than just her excruciatingly boring job as a bank teller. She needed to meet new and fascinating people. She needed, Carla said, to meet men. Carolanne had put her foot down at that. She was not, she insisted to her sister, interested in dating or in doing anything that would make anyone think she, a recent widow, was looking for a new husband.
    Carla had smiled and said, “Have I got the perfect thing for you.”
    Carolanne had never been one for exercise. She’d gone to the gym when she was younger, more because everyone she knew was a member of a gym than because she enjoyed it. Frank played hockey in the