Read Haynes, K. R. - The Light in Her Eyes [In Her Eyes] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online

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    For some dumb reason, Chloe had hoped to run into Officer Randall tonight. She had heard that this pub was a favourite watering hole for the local cops here in town. That’s why she had chosen this one to come to tonight, in the hopes of seeing him in the flesh. No such luck though.
    “There you go, sweetie,” the pretty redhead said as she plonked the glass of white wine down in front of her.
    “Thank you.” Taking a sip from her glass, Chloe continued her perusal of the pub and its patrons.
    “I haven’t seen you in here before. Are you new in town, sweetie?” the pretty redhead said as Chloe paid for her drink.
    Turning her attention back to the woman behind the bar, Chloe answered the question aimed at her. “Yes, I’m new to the area.”
    The barmaid stuck out her hand then. “Mary J’s the name. It’s a pretty friendly pub we have here. The locals are fairly well behaved, but should you run into any trouble just holler.”
    Chloe shook the redhead’s hand with her own and replied politely, “Chloe Watson, and thank you, Mary J. I appreciated it.”
    “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Chloe. Sing out when you want another drink.”
    “Will do.” Taking another sip of wine, Chloe turned slightly on her stool to peruse the folks gathered around the tables scattered around the bar. A twinge of sadness stabbed at her chest when her eyes fell on all the loving couples swaying their bodies close to each other on the dance floor. Chloe knew that each of those couples dancing out there on the floor tonight wouldn’t notice anyone else around them. Nothing else existed around you when you were in the arms of the one you loved with your whole heart and soul, a feeling Chloe had longed to experience once again.
    One day, she thought. One day she, too, would be one of those couples dancing in the embrace of her lover, just not tonight. Chloe was much too single and too alone to be on the dance floor tonight. Even if everything inside her screamed to be one of those couples just for one night, one night only. Chloe knew herself too well to know that one night would never be enough. Not for her. She wanted more than one night wrapped in the arms of her lover. She wanted many nights. What she wanted was forever.
    Throwing back the rest of her wine in one gulp, ordering another, and then picking up her glass, she strolled over to the empty booth in the far right corner of the pub. At least here she could hide and not feel like the lone loser she felt like to everyone else here.
    Sliding into the booth and raising her glass, Chloe gave herself a short toast. “Here’s to you, precious. Happy birthday.” Then she took a sip of wine.
    In the back of her mind she could hear his voice again. Every year on her birthday for as long as she could remember, she would hear him…His husky, masculine voice would whisper his heartfelt message to her. “My precious one, my only one.” She ached to hear more from him, but there were never any more words. Tears stung her eyes upon hearing those same words again tonight.
    Closing her eyes, Chloe tried in vain to hold on to his voice, treasuring it like the gift it was to her. She wished she could remember who called her “his precious one, his only one.” She ached with such intensity to be his “only one” once again. A dream, a foolish dream she knew may never come true. Opening her eyes, swiping at the moisture gathering there, Chloe turned her attention back to the lovers dancing and swaying to the rhythm of the music. She shouldn’t be jealous of what those couples had, even if they represented everything she had ever yearned for.
    It’s been too long, the voice of reason whispered in her head. It’s time to get on with life and move past the disappointment from past relationships.
    For whatever reason her past relationships had never truly satisfied her enough. Something had been lacking in them. Something amiss even. What it was, she had no clue. It was