Free Bad Karma by J. D. Faver Page A

lips.”
    He snapped to attention. “Uh, you’ve got a little...
    He wiped the sauce away with his thumb and then licked it off. Even tastier with a little Sky on it. He grinned as she turned a bright red.
    “ I’m such a mess. Thanks.” She wiped her mouth on a paper napkin.
    “ De nada .” He grinned at her. “You had a good day at the hospital?”
    “ Great!” She recounted her day, giving vivid descriptions of the patients.
    He liked the way her eyes lit up when she told him about her duties.
    She gestured with her chopsticks. “I felt like I was back in my world again, although this one is a lot smaller than I’m used to.”
    “ I hope this world grows on you. I’d really miss you if you decided to go back to the bright lights and big city again.”
    A smile played around her lips. “I plan to stay for a while. My sister is here and this is her dream job.”
    “ I’ll have to thank Cassie for choosing the Island.”
    Cassie brought her plate and dropped cross-legged onto the rug at their feet. “Talking about me?”
    Zach turned to her. “I’m glad you chose to come to the Island. I think you’ll enjoy teaching at the high school. My dad just retired from the school district.”
    Cassie grinned, her eyes alight. “What did he teach?”
    Zach cleared his throat. “He taught Biology and General Science.”
    Cassie let out a little shriek. “I can’t believe it! I’m taking over for your father.”
    Zach nodded, grinning. “He’s looking forward to meeting you on Sunday. I’m supposed to invite you both to go to church, but my mom thinks the whole world is Catholic.”
    Cassie laughed. “We aren’t anything in particular, but we have stepped inside a Methodist church from time to time.”
    Zach feigned horror, then grinned. “I’ve gone to the same church all my life. It’s a weekly combination religious and social event.”
    Sky glanced at Cassie first, and then turned to Zach. “We’ll be happy to join the Bailey clan for Sunday church and dinner. Thank you for inviting us.”
    Zach grinned at them. “ De nada .”
    ~*~
 
    The next morning, Cassie dropped Sky at the hospital and returned to their rented house. She didn’t have to be at The Net until ten-thirty, but she didn’t want to waste the morning loafing.
    Room-by-room, she surveyed the house and liked what she saw. Sky’s furniture looked great in the new place. The plainness of the rental was transformed by Sky’s particular stamp of casual elegance.
    Cassie sighed. Maybe someday she’d have a style of her own. Until that time, she’d live with her sister’s furniture and the hand-me-downs from their family.
    Cassie tied on her cross-trainers and sprinted down the stairs. She set out jogging in the direction that Zach had taken Sky for their walk.
    Inhaling the fresh ocean air was exhilarating. She pulled the scrunchy out of her hair and let it cascade around her shoulders, the tendrils lifting in the offshore breeze. She figured she should be able to get in a couple of miles today and then work up to something more challenging.
    Her gait was easy, and her breathing unstrained. The soft white sand was resilient and packed closer to the water. Gulls circled around over the shrimp boats as they chugged back and forth across the bay. The sun felt warm on her shoulders, but too late, she remembered the sunscreen on the kitchen counter.
    No probs. I’ll just fry.
    It was early yet. Not even nine. The morning rays might just warm her and not sear her to a crisp.
    As she jogged, she saw a distant vehicle, a red truck with oversized tires pulled up to the dunes and a lone figure standing in the surf. Not standing, he was casting a giant rod out into the frothing waves.
    Cassie ran toward him, not intending to acknowledge him, but aware that this part of the beach was isolated and she hadn’t seen another human since she’d begun her run.
    Not to worry. Nobody’s stalking me.
    But then again, why borrow trouble? She would run