Read Unforgivable for Free Online

might want to have him checked over.”
    “He’s already on medication for it, and my vet taught me how to massage his paws when the pain reliever doesn’t seem to work.” Silas ran his fingers lightly over the dog’s head. “I wonder how much pain he’s in. I’m not sure I could put him down, though.”
    “It’s a hard thing to do, but sometimes it’s for the best.” She knelt down and looked into The Boss’s cloudy eyes. “What bothers me most is when people can’t bear to be with their pets during those last few minutes.” She held his snout in her hand and stroked his nose. “After all they do for us, the least we can do is be the last, loving face they see.”
    After a moment of silence, she realized how out of place she was for being so emotional about that. “Not that I’m condemning those people. I just see it from the animal’s point of view.”
    He was still regarding her with those intent eyes. “You’re right, though. It’s a tough thing to do, but we owe them that much. I bet you have a lot of pets.”
    “Not really. Ben said after being with animals all day, he wants peace and quiet at home.”
    She scanned the dusty oak floors. “Why are you fixing this place up? Some corporation owns it now.”
    “This was my home once. I didn’t feel like staying at a hotel. Besides, I want to keep a low-profile.”
    When she turned back to him, he was standing just behind her. Having him this close was doing strange things to her insides. She could feel the heat coming off him, elevating the temperature inside the house.
    She kept her gaze on the gold cross that rested against the hollow of his collarbone. “Low profile, huh?”
    “You’ll recall I wasn’t exactly popular here.”
    Spooky Silas. “I wouldn’t know anything about being popular.” She took a step back, feeling awkward as she crossed, then uncrossed her arms. “I’m not in the town loop myself. Not that I want to be,” she added quickly, feeling like a failure at making friends. Feeling unlovable.
    “You live at old lady Babbage’s place.”
    She nodded, giving up asking him how he knew. “I was in the back yard when I heard your saw.”
    “Where’s Ben?”
    “Helping a farmer with a foaling mare.”
    “He good to you?”
    It took her a second to realize what he was asking. “Very. He helped me through some tough years.”
    His eyes darkened for a moment, as though he blamed himself for not being there for her. Which was ridiculous since he didn’t owe her anything, and he’d only been a teenager himself. “Good. As long as you’re happy.”
    “I am happy. Very happy.” The words shot out of her mouth. “I have what I wanted all my life: security. Though Mama gave me a lot of emotional security, we didn’t always have money for the bills. With the Emersons, I always knew I’d have food and a roof over my head, even if I did have to share that roof with six other kids and a room with two sisters who weren’t particularly happy about the addition to the family. I’m sure they thought I wasn’t going to pull my share of the load. I worked harder than any of them to prove myself.”
    He was standing too close, watching her too intently. She stepped back again. “Anyway, Ben was there through all of it. Marrying him was natural.” Expected.
    He merely nodded, keeping his opinion from his face, but the way he was looking at her… “As long as you’re happy. That’s all that’s important.” His soft voice belied that soul-searching look in his eyes.
    “I am.” She looked at the house again. “How long are you going to be staying here? Looks like for a while.”
    “I don’t stay anywhere for long.”
    She tried to tamp down the disappointment that he’d be leaving soon. No, it was good that he was leaving soon. She didn’t need this, this strange feeling of having him close. To add to her discomfort, he swept her with his gaze and said, “You grew up good, Katie.”
    She wrapped her arms around her