Read Deception (Southern Comfort) for Free Online

same.  But unfortunately, you’re just about the last person on earth I wanted to see tonight.  I…” She stopped to gather her thoughts.  What could she possibly say?  “I really can’t believe this is happening.  What are you doing in Charleston?”
    “I grew up just west of here,” he reminded her as he moved closer, into the thin band of light.  There was just enough illumination to see that his eyes were as blue as ever.  His dark hair was cut shorter, more urban professional than when she’d known him, but as always there was nary a hair out of place.  And his finely chiseled features were still utterly flawless in their boyish fashion.  He was the kind of man who was only going to grow increasingly more attractive as he aged.  “I’m a cop,” he continued, halting an arm’s length in front of her.  “Forensic artist.  With the Charleston PD.”
    “Of course.”  She’d forgotten he’d been headed for law enforcement.  Something about a deal with his old man.  The Sheriff.  But it looked like he’d found a way to use the art background, after all.  “That’s great, Josh.”  God, he was close enough to smell.  Close enough to touch.  He’d always smelled so damn good – like really nice soap.  And man.
    Except he wasn’t a man she could have.  Ever.
    And she didn’t want him to see her this way.
    Running a hand through her hair, Sam laughed without humor.  This was turning into a pisser of a night.  “I’m sorry, Josh.  I know this is rude as hell and you deserve to be treated so much better, but I really can’t do this right now.  I just… yeah.  I have to go.”  She turned, desperate to flee, desperate to run as far away from her mistakes as she could possibly get, away from all the reminders of what she shouldn’t want and couldn’t possibly have anyway, and pushed as quickly as her trembling legs would carry her out the door.
    Josh followed, of course.  She’d damn well known he was going to.  But she ignored him until he caught her by the arm.
    “Sam, wait.  Don’t run away.  Not again, dammit.”
    Which was totally unfair, because she hadn’t run away, darn him.  Except that… well, actually yes she had.  She’d run, run, run like her feet were on fire.  Just up and left Savannah, moved away, sayonara.
    You just shouldn’t fall in love with your best friend.
    “Sam, come on.  Talk to me.  What are you doing here?”
    The shaky little laugh made an appearance, which disgusted her even further.  “By here do you mean Charleston?  Or do you perhaps mean here, as in what are you doing here, at my friend’s bachelor party, taking off all of your clothes?  Again.”
    Josh shook his head in his oh no, you don’t fashion.  “Samantha, that’s not what I meant, and you know it.  I never thought that. You were the one who got up in front of the drawing class for all the wrong reasons.  And I thought…”  He blew out a breath that ruffled his perfectly styled hair.  “I thought you’d realized that.  Um…”  He cleared his throat, shifted from boot to boot.  With her own boots on they were almost exactly the same height.  He was dressed nicely, as usual, in trim black slacks and a royal blue shirt.  He’d always had more fashion sense than she had.  “I just hope that whatever reason you are here tonight – and I’m not judging you, whatever it might be – I hope the reason is, you know, practical or even… personal.  As long as it’s not some kind of self-punishment.  Because God, Samantha.  What happened to you was not your fault.”
    Sam’s heart nearly fell out of her chest.  She’d been drunk, all those years ago, when she’d told Josh little pieces of her story.  Not the whole thing – never the whole thing – though she guessed he’d pieced stuff together.  And he’d remembered.  After what?  Almost ten years?  Suddenly her mortification notched up to just take me out and shoot me