Free No Rules by Starr Ambrose Page B

forever.

Chapter Five
    Donovan flipped to a new page in his notebook, as if the topic of her therapy might require extensive note-taking. He could just forget it.
    Jess tensed, prepared to smack down his inappropriate, obtrusive questions, but he merely said, “Skip the details for now. Just summarize. Did he ask how you were doing now? What did he want to know?”
    That was it? When he didn’t blink at her suspicious look, she took a few deep breaths to steady herself. “He apologized for his part in it, that’s all.”
    And thank God for that. If her father had asked if therapy had helped her problem, she’d have died on the spot.
    “Okay,” Donovan said. He made a note on the tablet.
    She sat up a little straighter, straining to read his writing upside down. He’d written one word: Therapy?
    She didn’t like that question mark. If he didn’t get the information they needed, she knew he’d come back to that, wanting details, and she had no intention of discussing it with him. Not with anyone , but especially not with the man whose arrogant manner and barely civilized appearance stirred something primitive inside her. Primitive and loaded with alarm bells. Exactly the kind of man who should never know the reason for her therapy.
    “Then?”
    It took her a moment to realize he was asking what Wally had talked about next. She shrugged. “His story idea again, and my early ones that he’d contributed to. He acted like he’d be absolutely tickled to see his idea made into a book.”
    “ Tickled ?” Donovan winced at the word.
    “Yes. He laughed.”
    It was such a simple thing. But for a moment it had twisted her heart, taking her back to the days they’d spent at the small kitchen table, her father inventing a character and Jess drawing it, bringing it to life. Both of them giggling with delight. It was a memory as warm as sunshine, overflowing with affection and happiness.
    The next moment the bubble had burst, revealing the man she’d spent fifteen years hating, the one who had broken his promise to always be there for her. The man who returned as the stranger who sat across the table spinning stupid stories about a rabbit and a wolf. A man whose once razor-sharp mind was now excited about a simple story idea.
    “Could the story itself mean something?” Donovan mused aloud. “He kept going back to it.”
    Avery gave a derisive huff. “A story about a rabbit and a wolf going to a housewarming party? Even our code phrases don’t involve animals or fairy tales. For something this important, you’d think he’d use a code we know. Or just say it in plain English, for God’s sake.”
    Jess had to agree with her there. The story seemed to have no significance except what Donovan had first suggested, as a ruse to get her there. Mitch and Kyle added their nods.
    Evan seemed to give it serious consideration, finally looking disappointed. “I’m afraid Wally was simply reminiscing. He loved Jessie, and he knew he was seeing her for the last time.” His gaze touched hers, apologetic and sad. “I remember him talking about those stories you wrote just before your mom left and took you with her. They were good memories for him.”
    Great, she’d been ridiculing their friend’s fondest memories. Jess sank back in her chair, saying nothing and wishing this would just be over.
    “Can we please move on?” Avery complained. Jess would have seconded it, except that Avery’s annoyed glare was aimed directly at her. “This Mossy Log crap is about to put me to sleep.”
    Jess bristled. She’d admit to having more fears and insecurities than the average person, but she was on firm ground when it came to her knowledge of children’s literature; no one got to make fun of her books. “Sorry to be so dull,” she said, smothering it in sarcasm.
    Avery’s flat stare was cool. “I’m sure you can’t help it.”
    Bitch. The word banged against her skull, wanting out. She heard a muttered curse from Donovan, but