Page 60 of Broken: Taylor

Chapter 26

Allison woke with a start. It had been almost a month, twenty-five days to be exact since Taylor left for Billings. From what she gleaned, he was hired on as a consultant for Felicia’s case. Even though Eric had tried valiantly to talk him out of it, Taylor had remained steadfast.

Eventually, Eric had admitted to Allison that any cop of honor would do exactly what Taylor did. Demand to be part of the investigation that killed his or her partner.

And although it made sense to her on one level, a part of her worried that she’d be competing with a dead woman if her relationship with Taylor continued.

So far he’d given no indication to worry her. Well other than being in Billings. He called her nightly and had come back to Laurel Creek at least once a week. She’d not offered to go to Billings, not after the way he’d reacted, but it didn’t mean she didn’t hope he’d ask her to.

Now they were to spend a couple of days together. He’d called the night before to ask if she could take time off so they could go away together. The offer had both baffled and excited her.

His hip had gotten progressively better and making love didn’t take so much creativity, per se. Admittedly, they’d kept it a bit on the wild side. Thanks to having to be careful, they’d found it fun and exciting to try new things. For the first time in her life, Allison was able to experiment and try new things with a lover.

Albeit, they’d ended up in fits of laughter when something they tried failed. The moment lost, they’d sat up in bed and talked. Sometimes had meandered to the kitchen in the middle of the night for an impromptu meal.

Their relationship was fresh and still new. She’d finally mentioned it to Jaden, who’d been very receptive to the idea of meeting Taylor.

Now as she pondered what would happen during their weekend away, she bit her bottom lip in anticipation.

The bell over the door jingled and Allison lifted her head to see the last person she expected to walk through the door.

David, her ex-boyfriend smiled wide, and opened his arms as if she’d be so relieved to see him that she’d throw herself against him.

“Hi,” she said and walked toward him. The hug was too tight for her liking, but she allowed it.

“God I’ve missed you,” he said pushing back his glasses while giving her a once over. “You look great.”

“Thanks.” Allison pushed a curl behind her ear. “What brings you to Laurel Creek?” Dumb question as he’d just proclaimed to miss her. But she hoped he’d not say her nonetheless.

“Don’t be silly. I had to see you.” He reached for her and she pretended not to notice while moving away.

He strolled around the shop, hands behind his back looking every bit the college professor type. “It’s nice. Quite quaint.”

The words grated her nerves. He’d always acted as if her business was some type of cute hobby.

When he touched a flower bouquet, she hurried over. “David, why don’t we sit down and share a cup of tea? Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

“Sounds perfect. I miss your teas. Nothing quite as good in Butte.” He slid a sly glance up her body conveying the double entendre. “No one as beautiful either.”

Okay, it was a bit much. While they’d been together, he’d rarely complimented her and even less did he look at her the way he did now. Something was definitely up.

“I can send some back with you.”

“You can come with me. I’d love to show you around.”

She wasn’t about to play whatever game he was trying to pull her into. “I can’t, sorry. My boyfriend and I are going away for the weekend.”

His eyebrows shot up until almost disappearing into the creases in his forehead. “What exactly do you mean boyfriend? We didn’t agree to date other people. I specifically asked that we take a break, to decide where we’d live.”

Whatever conversation he spoke of was not one she remembered. “Nope, that’s not how it went. You said you were moving to Butte because you wanted to be closer to your children. I told you I understood and that I was considering moving back here. We didn’t exactly speak about the future. It was an unsaid given, in my opinion, that we were parting ways permanently.”

He sat back and glowered at her. “Obviously, you didn’t waste time moving on.”

The nerve of the man. Allison glanced at the door hoping a customer came in so she could keep from yelling at David. “It’s been months. Not that I owe you any kind of explanation, but it wasn’t planned.”

“Seems convenient, you agreed so fast to our separation and moved here only to start dating within weeks. We were together for ten years Allison. How can you just walk away so easily?”

“Hold one damn minute,” she said losing her temper this time. “Its obvious by our lack of understanding how we parted that we’d stopped communicating. We rarely did things together. You spent long days at the University. And don’t try to tell me it was all work and no play. I know about your little “assistant” Erica.” She made air quotes and slammed her hand down on the table.