Read Gone for Free Online Page B

bought it.”
    To relieve the mood, he theatrically groaned over the loss of his ’69 convertible mustang. Cherry condition, new paintjob, the works. It did pain him a little actually, but he’d been resigned to it. “That asshole. He always wanted that car, and the minute I’m dead he—”
    “You were gone for thirteen months,” she interrupted, her eyes suddenly luminous with tears. “And officially dead for eight. Eight months doesn’t sound like forever, but it can be, trust me.”
    “I don’t have to take your word for it.” He ached to take her in his arms but stayed put by sheer force of will. “I lived it too. Wondering about you, not able to as much as call, and not having loads of fun where I was, either. Maybe I should have become a stockbroker or something.”
    “That’s not you.”
    True enough. He’d reached that conclusion himself a long time ago. “What is the definition of Jack Templeton?” He finally moved toward her, not predatory exactly, but with definite intent, going around the table. “I can give you a few hints. He’s damned glad to be back in this great country. He’s in love with a very beautiful woman, and he’s fully aware that his sudden reappearance has shaken her world.” He reached out and did nothing more than skim his fingertips across her smooth cheek.
    And she turned her face and kissed his palm.
    It happened to be the sexiest thing in the world.
    With a low groan he pulled her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her. Not like the night before when he’d done it with all the repressed passion of missing the hell out of her for so long, with every ounce of frustrated longing and desire he’d felt when he was away. But softly, tenderly, a gentle dance of tongue on tongue, his hand sliding down her throat, the backs of his fingers tracing that feminine curve.
    When he lifted his head, he said in a timbre that was lower than his usual tone, “I don’t want to turn your life upside down. I just… want you, Nikki.”
    Her laugh was more of a hiccup. “Trust you to make it sound simple. Eric and I…”
    When she trailed off he finished for her. “Are lovers. I get that, believe me. I got it the minute he let himself into this house and called your name and I saw your face. I guess if I’d paid more attention to your comment about birth control, I might have wondered, but I was a little distracted having you naked in my arms.”
    She nodded. “If I’d known—”
    “You didn’t.” Jack lightly touched her again and then moved away. Some distance was a good idea. He really wanted to pick her up in his arms and take her to the bedroom for a repeat performance of last night, but thinking with his dick was ill advised right now. This needed to be handled the right way. “I’m not even exactly jealous. Of the time he spent with you that I didn’t, yes.” He looked at her directly. “Like I said before, at least it’s Eric.”
     
    It was difficult to decide if she was relieved or should be upset that Jack was handling her defection—well, wrong word since she technically didn’t have him to defect from or so she thought at the time—into someone else’s bed with equanimity.
    Not that she wanted male outrage and the resulting fallout.
    But, truth be told, she’d expected it. She was glad they weren’t at each other’s throats when she thought about it, but all of this was a bit overwhelming. Plus, she needed to talk to Eric…
    Somewhere, a cell phone started ringing. Jack’s head lifted and he glanced over his shoulder toward the bedroom, but he didn’t move to answer it. “I recognize the ring. Press conference is set,” he said coolly, looking at her with inscrutable eyes. “I’ll get another call when it is over. I guess I can see my parents tonight. Or at least by tomorrow. Can I stay if they don’t get it on the news tonight?”
    The deep flutter in her stomach was undeniable. It didn’t help he looked so outrageously gorgeous with