Free Heart of Light by T. K. Leigh Page A

want to see you get hurt again.”
    They both stood silently, watching the last of the daylight disappear behind the tall building.
    “You really know how to pick ‘em,” she joked, punching Cam playfully in the shoulder before heading to the kitchen with her empty wine glass, grabbing her purse and keys off the kitchen island.
    “Wait. Where are you going?” Cam asked.
    “I’m taking your new love interest out for a night on the town. Get to know her a little bit more. Someone’s got to make sure she’s good enough for you, and it should probably be me.”
    He took several deliberate steps toward Elsie. “She said she just wanted to be alone.”
    She laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Yeah. That was girl-code for ‘get the fuck out of my house’. She just didn’t want to be around you , which is understandable based on how Benny said you acted toward her this morning. I’m going over there and I’m dragging her out. If you’re really serious about this girl, you better turn on the charm, Casanova. You made a horrible first impression, and you’re going to have to pay for that.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
TOUCH

    J OLENE WAS RELAXING IN the beach house, enjoying the gentle ocean breeze as it blew through her temporary home, when she heard a soft knock on the front door. Her heart thumped in her chest and her adrenaline momentarily spiked before she reminded herself that if he had found out where she was living, he most certainly would not knock.
    She got off the couch and padded to the door, smiling when she saw Elsie standing on her front deck.
    “Hey, Tomorrow. Heard you told Cam your real name,” she said, walking past her and making herself at home on the couch in the living room.
    Jolene couldn’t believe how forward Elsie was, but it didn’t bother her. She actually liked the thought of her being there. “Yeah. It was a moment of weakness,” she admitted, sitting down on the reading chair opposite her. “Or temporary insanity. You pick.”
    Elsie laughed in response, a friendly smile crossing her face. “Don’t worry. He didn’t tell me, but I didn’t ask, either. Figured you’d tell me if you really wanted me to know.”
    Jolene sighed, looking into Elsie’s brown eyes. “It’s not that. I want to tell you, but I can’t.”
    Elsie held up her hand. “Listen, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I get it. But if you ever want to talk, I’m your girl.” She winked. “Now, go get changed. We’re going out drinking. You drink, right?”
    “I’m not a huge drinker, but I guess it’s never too late to start.”
    “You got that right. I’ll wait here. I’m taking you out for a night on the town. Girls’ night.”
    “But it’s Monday.”
    “Yes. It’s Monday, but it’s also summer. Downtown is going to be hopping with people on the island for vacation. We’ll go find us some hotties to wink at and drool over us. And, hopefully, help you forget about whatever it is you’re running from, even if for just a few hours.”
    Jolene opened her mouth to protest before shutting it quickly, knowing that Elsie was right. She needed this. She needed a normal night out. She had never been to a bar with a girlfriend where she could just relax and gossip. Hell, she had never even been to a bar before, aside from the one in the poker room of the hotel.
    For the first time she could remember, her life was becoming somewhat normal. It was what she wanted for so long. So, instead of turning Elsie away and making up some excuse for not going, Jolene dragged herself upstairs and found a pair of jeans and a halter tank top to change into.  
    She tamed her wavy brown hair with a touch of gel, attempting to settle it down despite the Florida humidity. Putting a hint of blush on her cheeks and a bit of liner around her vibrant eyes, she double-checked her reflection in the mirror. She could barely recognize the person staring back at her. She had become so accustomed to the