Free Where There's Smoke by Karen Kelley Page B

homemade ice pack.
    “Put it between your legs. It will help with the swelling.” Her laughter tinkled through the room. “We’ve all gotten a little carried away at one time or another.” She turned back around and continued making the coffee, then got down cups when it began to drip into the glass carafe.
    What the hell, Destiny would try anything. She placed the cold towel between her legs. At first it felt a little awkward and uncomfortable, but then the pain began to ease. The cold compress actually began to feel pretty good.
    “Better?” LeAnn asked.
    She shrugged. LeAnn just sat there, watching Destiny as if she expected her to ramble on about LeAnn’s fantastic nursing skills. It was too damn early for Destiny to deal with her. “Yes, I do feel better.” There, that should satisfy her.
    LeAnn’s smile spread across her face, making her look like Pollyanna.
    Give me a break!
    Something just didn’t fit, though. “How do you know so much? You look too—”
    LeAnn rolled her eyes. “Please don’t say innocent. Like Britney sings, ‘I’m Not That Innocent.’” She belted out part of a song.
    Catchy tune. LeAnn had a great voice, too. Strong for someone so petite. She could have a hit with that one, except apparently this Britney chick had beat her to it.
    “You do look innocent,” Destiny told her.
    LeAnn went back to the coffeepot, but not before Destiny saw a flash of pain.
    “I’ve been on my own since I was seventeen,” LeAnn finally admitted as she poured the coffee and then carried it to the table. She went back for the sugar and powdered cream.
    “That’s kind of young to be facing the world,” Destiny casually pointed out.
    “And maybe not so young.” LeAnn wouldn’t meet Destiny’s eyes as she pulled out a chair and took a seat.
    “I bounced around from foster home to foster home myself,” Destiny told her, feeling a kindred spirit in the other woman. “I know what it’s like to hit the streets at an early age.
    “I’m sorry,” LeAnn told her, pity filling her eyes.
    When would Destiny learn to keep her mouth shut? This was not a bonding moment, but before Destiny could think of something to say that would end the conversation, LeAnn began to speak again.
    “I didn’t have it quite so bad. I mean, with foster parents and all.” LeAnn’s expression softened. “I had the best parents and an older brother I adored.” Her laughter was light, musical. “I used to tag after him wherever he went. Sometimes he acted mad, but I knew he wasn’t. I think he enjoyed my hero worship.” She sniffed.
    Something squeezed Destiny’s heart, and before she could stop herself she asked, “What happened?”
    “Car wreck.” LeAnn added cream to her coffee so that it turned almost white when she stirred. “A drunk turned in front of my dad. Everyone said I was lucky to survive when everyone else… didn’t.” She brought the cup to her lips, blew, then took a drink.
    “But you didn’t feel lucky,” Destiny guessed.
    LeAnn lowered the cup to the table and shook her head. “Not even a little bit. What twelve-year-old would? Not after everything I loved was destroyed.”
    “What happened after that?”
    “They sent me to live with my aunt and uncle. I’d never even met them. My parents hadn’t spoken to them in years. Then I was dumped on their doorstep. They resented my intrusion into their perfect lives. They didn’t have kids and they didn’t want kids. I had a dog, too, but they made me give her away. Just a mutt, but I really loved that dog.” Her bottom lip trembled. “I called her Rebel. She was always doing stuff she shouldn’t.”
    Destiny never had a pet. It was always better not to get close to anyone or anything. If only she’d kept her vow, her life might have turned out differently.
    LeAnn opened the lid on the box of doughnuts. “I really need chocolate.” Her hand shook just a little as she brought out a chocolate-iced doughnut and took a big bite,