Free Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery

anything else.
    â€œWait,” he said.
    â€œNo.”
    Something hot flared in his eyes. “You felt it, too.”
    â€œI didn’t feel anything. It’s late. I need to go.”
    â€œIt’s barely eight and you need to be here.”
    She hated the fear. It reminded her of being young and terrified of what her father would do next. It made her feel powerless and that was the worst thing of all.
    Her emotions must have shown on her face or Garthwas a hell of a guesser because he dropped her arm and moved away from the door.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said. “You’re right. It’s late.”
    He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. It was as if he branded her. She knew in her gut she would carry the feel of his lips on her skin with her forever. When he released her, she curled her fingers closed.
    She hesitated for a second, then turned to leave.
    This time he didn’t stop her. She walked out into the hallway and the door closed behind her. She stood there, alone, aching with desire for the one man she could never have. Life, as always, had a killer sense of humor.
    Â 
    T HE NEXT MORNING D ANA followed Garth to work, but didn’t try to speak with him. She hadn’t slept much the night before and wasn’t up to one of their cryptic exchanges. Once she knew he was at the office, she returned to Titanville, thinking she would either try for a nap, or a really jumbo coffee to go.
    But on her way to Starbucks, she passed the Titanville Pet Palace and saw Kathy Duncan entering the store.
    Fifteen minutes later, Dana parked in front of the Pet Palace with her own coffee and a latte for Kathy, then went inside. She nodded to the young woman at the cash register and made her way to the rear where Kathy was talking softly to a large white bird.
    â€œGood morning,” Dana said, handing over the coffee.
    Kathy, a pretty woman in her late fifties, smiled broadly. “Dana. You came to see me. Thank you for the coffee.”
    There was delight in her voice, along with a studied slowness. As if every word had to be considered before it was spoken and the act of speech itself was vaguely unfamiliar.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Dana passed over the paper cup. “Extra foam. Just the way you like it.”
    â€œI do like it.” Kathy tilted her head, her soft brown hair falling over her shoulder. “You need a pet. Not today. You’re not ready. But soon. Maybe a puppy, but you need a yard first. Don’t worry. You’ll get one.”
    Dana did her best not to run screaming into the morning. Kathy was known to have an extraordinary sense about people and pets, putting unlikely pairs together. She’d insisted Lexi take home a kitten. Lexi had agreed with the idea, thinking she would give the animal away. But somehow that hadn’t happened and C.C. was as much a member of her family as Izzy or Skye.
    â€œI’m not really a dog person,” Dana said. “I’m not home very much.”
    â€œYou will be,” Kathy said calmly. “When you have children.”
    Dana resisted the need to make the sign of the cross and instead took a step back.
    â€œOkay, then,” Dana muttered. “Ah, how are things?”
    â€œGood. We have new birds. Not that you want one.” Kathy smiled. “But they’re very pretty.”
    Dana smiled back, searching Kathy’s face for a hint of the woman who had existed before the tumor that had stolen her intellect. She looked for whispers of Garth. What had he inherited from his mother? If those echoes had left her, were they still in her son?
    How could this all have been different? If Jed had agreed to pay for the surgery back before the need was so desperate, would Kathy still be herself? And if she was, how would Garth be a different man? Dana knew the need for revenge had changed him. Once he had won, would he change back? Or was he forever trapped by the need to exact compensation