Free A Shadow's Light BK 2 by J.M.Pierce Page A

washed with concern.
    Without so much as a twitch, Test replied. “Let’s go.”
    His gaze moved to Eric who stood now with his hands shoved into his pockets. The expression on his face was that of a child who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
    With a belittling salute, Test spoke sternly to Eric. “See ya.”
    “Yeah, yeah,” Eric quipped. His line of sight alternating erratically between the ground and Alyssa, he spoke with a quiet yet menacing tone. “I’ll talk to you later Alyssa, huh?”
    Without reply, Alyssa walked quickly to Test’s side. His body was rigid as he glared angrily at Eric.
    “Let’s go, Chance. We’re running out of daylight.”
    Test turned to see Alyssa now several feet from him, holding out her hand for him to take. He took it, and as the two of them walked away, he shot a threatening look to Eric. A rush of anger overtook him as Eric’s only response was to smile back devilishly.
    “What the hell was that all about?” asked Test.
    “It’s nothing. He just wanted me to go out with him tonight, but didn’t want to take no for an answer.”
    “Do I need to teach him what no means?” asked Test protectively.
    Alyssa stopped and turned to him. “Why, Chance, do I detect some jealousy?” she asked in a flirty tone.
    Knowing that she was right, but not wanting to admit it, Test replied. “Maybe a touch.”
    Alyssa leaned into him, laid her hand on his chest, rested her cheek on his and whispered playfully in his ear. “Thank you for saving me.”
    Test closed his eyes and leaned his head back, her touch and breath on his skin almost putting him into a trance. Slowly, he opened his eyes and lowered his head to see her walking away.

Chapter 10
     
    The truck bounced roughly as they pulled away from the job site. Test had many reasons to be happy with the day. While he wanted nothing more than to give in to Alyssa’s flirting, the dream from the previous nights sleep, and the cut on the back of his head served as reminders to the fact that anything more than friends would become exponentially more complicated.
    He was haunted by the dream, more specifically the image of the man standing at the truck window. Though the dream had left him fearful and uneasy, the inability to connect the dots and understand why the young man seemed so familiar forced his mind to continually search for the answer.
    James, Enrique, and Alyssa had taken the main truck to a location that was to be the next build sight, leaving Test to ride with Jordan in the second truck back into town. Encompassed by his thoughts, he had failed to recognize that Eric was staring at him from the cab of the truck. Rob was driving hastily through the trees, and Eric sat poised in the passenger seat, his left arm draped on the back of the bench with his torso turned towards Test.
    Test quickly looked away to avoid eye contact, and after waiting a couple of moments, he glanced back to the cab. Eric remained in the exact position with the same blank expression on his face. This time, instead of looking away, Test matched his stare and felt the ferocity mold itself onto his face. Eric responded with a slight grin, his gaze unwavering. Test watched Eric’s mouth move as he spoke to Rob, but even as he spoke, his eyes remained locked on him. Instantly the truck began to slow.
    Turning to Jordan, Test asked, “What’s going on?”
    Jordan shrugged his shoulders as he replied. “Who knows with those two idiots?”
    The truck seemed to coast for a short while, and then came to an abrupt stop, leaving Jordan and Test to grab tightly to the sides of the bed. Both doors to the truck erupted as Rob and Eric stepped from the cab. Immediately Test jumped to his feet and stood in the middle of the bed, his eyes moving back and forth between the two of them.
    Rob was the first to speak as the wad of tobacco in his lip spilled over.
    “You got a problem there, Mr. Johnston?”
    Test looked at Jordan who was eyes forward