AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Glad you like it.”
Gunner wolfed down half his plate, then slowed. He watched Lori eating, but resisted staring. Her lips were so kissable, making him think of other things besides food. After a second helping, Gunner washed the meal down with a glass of water.
After dinner, Gunner helped with cleanup—then Lori walked him to the door. She looked into his eyes and hesitated, then touched his cheek. “I apologize that I’m not good company tonight. I’m just…still in shock, I think.”
Gunner put his hand over Lori’s, pressing her palm against his skin. He looked into her lovely brown eyes, then leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were soft and warm, and her touch ignited his desire.
When Lori pulled back, the kiss lingered on Gunner’s lips. But she didn’t move away. Instead, Lori leaned against him, and he wrapped her in a warm embrace. It was good to hold Lori close; her body felt luscious against his. He could have stood there for the rest of the night.
Gunner put his arms around Lori’s waist. “You can trust me. I’ll protect you. You’re not alone.”
“Thank you,” Lori said in a whisper, then rose on her toes to kiss him again.
*****
All night, Lori tossed and turned. She was exhausted yet unable to sleep. The possibility that her father had been murdered weighed heavily on her mind. And despite any trepidation, she had to take steps to determine whether a crime had been committed.
Besides that, Lori couldn’t stop thinking of Gunner. He had been kind to listen to her and offer support. But he wasn’t just a friend; he was a sexy hunk, and his presence had stirred erotic sensations that she’d forgotten she was capable of feeling. All evening, she had craved intimacy, but the circumstances hadn’t been right.
The memory of kissing Gunner excited her, and she could still feel his strong arms around her. Lori wanted him badly—but she had blown it. If only she had asked him to stay the night, she was sure that he would have. Maybe he would assume that she wasn’t interested. Yet that kiss had been so passionate. Surely, he was aware of her desire.
It was all very frustrating. If Lori had met Gunner at a different time, it would be so much easier. But she was kidding herself. There would be issues, since she couldn’t envision Gunner as the guy for her. Without a doubt he was desirable, but he wasn’t the type for a one-night stand. And Lori wasn’t ready for anything more.
After a sleepless night, Lori showered and dressed. She needed to talk to Jess; she would understand and help Lori to get through this. It was a weekday, so the kids would be in school and Allen would be at work. Lori texted to see if Jess could meet for lunch, but she had the late shift that day. Since Jess was at home, they could talk there.
Her friend lived in a two-story home in Pasadena, a good place for raising a family. The neighborhood was quiet, but it would come to life later when school was out. Before that, Lori would have a chance to talk over her situation and decide how to proceed.
Jess was in sweats from her early morning jog. She had her hair in a headband and wore no makeup. “I haven’t showered yet, but this sounded important.”
Lori followed her to the dining room and sat at the table.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“Sure, that would be great,” Lori said. “I could use one.”
The coffee was already made, so Jess poured two cups and came back to sit across from Lori. “So, what gives?”
Lori took a sip of the black coffee. “Remember when we talked before, and you mentioned toxicity?”
“Of course. What did you find out?”
Lori shared the facts she had so far, and confessed what she suspected.
“That is heavy,” Jess said. “Who would want to kill your father?”
“I can hardly believe that it’s a possibility,” Lori said. “But if it’s true, I’ll have to prove it.”
“How do you plan to do that?” When Lori didn’t reply, Jess widened her eyes. “Are you considering what I think you are?”
Lori scrubbed her hands over her face. “I don’t see any other option. I’ll have to request the exhumation of my father’s body, so an autopsy can be performed.”
“Will that be allowed?”
“I think so,” Lori said. “When I couldn’t sleep last night, I spent some time on the computer. I learned that it is possible, but there is stringent legal procedure.”
“You can’t just pop into the cemetery and request your father’s body.”
“It will require a court order,” Lori said. “The key to approval for my application is that credible information has to be presented, so the need for an autopsy will be clear.”
