Read Harvest Moon for Free Online Page B

looking at her. She was pretty, very fresh and lush. And nothing like Lana, which came as a relief. He wasn’t sure he could ever feel the slightest response to any woman after losing Lana. Lana had been small, dark-haired with dark eyes. Kelly was blonde, blue-eyed, had a round, full figure, and his first thought had been what it would feel like to get his hands on her, to hold her body up against his. That soft, rich, luxurious body. She didn’t have one of those Hollywood bodies—too thin with fake perky boobs. She had a real woman’s body—something to hold on to. And that mouth—full pink lips. The second he’d seen her lips, he had licked his.
    Then he’d recovered his sanity and had just listened to her for a while. Sounded as if she’d gotten screwed, literally and figuratively.
    The front light was on and there were two people standing on the porch waiting, no doubt in response to Jack’s call. That would be Colin and Jillian, the sister and her boyfriend. He got out of the truck, and Jillian was right there. Lief recognized her once he saw her. In fact, that’s when he realized he’d seen both the sisters at Jack’s last summer when he’d been checking on the progress of his house purchase.
    “What happened?” she asked him.
    “Well, I think this probably took your sister by complete surprise,” he said. “She mentioned she’d been to the doctor for something or other, and when her speech started to slur before she finished her second drink, I asked her if she’d been given some prescription medication and she said she had. So—I don’t think she realized…”
    “Doctor?” Jillian asked. “Medication? She’s sick?”
    “I don’t think so, no,” Lief said. “Listen, I don’t want to say too much right now. For all I know it was the drink talking, I could’ve gotten the details all wrong or something. Let her tell you why she’s up here unannounced, okay?”
    “Colin?” Jillian said.
    But Colin was already opening the passenger door, unbuckling Kelly and lifting her out. Lief felt a momentary pang; he’d like to be the one holding her.
    “I’ll carry her up to the bedroom, Jilly,” Colin said. “You grab her purse and anything else that goes with her.”
    “There’s just the purse,” Lief said, reaching into the truck for it. “Her car is locked up at the bar.”
    “Should I call the doctor?” Jillian asked him.
    Lief shrugged. “She’s breathing fine. She was talking all the way out here. Maybe you could look through her purse, see if there are pills or anything that, mixed with a couple of martinis, might knock her for a loop. You could call a pharmacy and ask about the effects if you find anything. I didn’t think to do that…”
    “Martinis?” Jill asked. “Really? Martinis?”
    “Oh, yeah, she was very specific. A good, quality, chilled vodka married to four big green olives.”
    “Wow. She doesn’t do that often.”
    “She said you weren’t expecting her and she had a lot to explain.”
    “I’d really like to know.”
    “I’m sure you will know—first thing in the morning.”
    “Can I, ah, offer you a cup of coffee or anything?”
    “Thanks, that’s nice of you. I need to get home. I’ll come by sometime tomorrow…just to see if she’s doing all right. And if you’re doing all right. Her car is full of her stuff.” He grinned. “Kind of looked like she’s planning to stay awhile.”
    “That’s okay,” Jill said. “That’s good. But—”
    “I imagine her keys are in her purse.”
    “Thanks. Gee, I wish there was some way I could repay the favor…”
    “No big deal. Jack would’ve brought her home, I’m sure. But the bar was full of customers, so I offered.” He looked around from where he stood beside his truck. He whistled. “Looks like an interesting place.”
    She smiled at him. “It’s shaping into a real commercial organic farm. When we get things under control, I’ll have you out for a tour. You can grab the last of