Free One Love by Lynn Emery Page A

doing this?”He
turned sharply to confront her.
    “ Avoiding the cold, ugly
truth won’t help either of us.” Lanessa studied him for several
seconds.” Let’s go. Now I’m sure this was a bad idea.”
    “ Wait.” Alex blocked her
path.” When I saw you in New Orleans my first thought was how
lovely you looked. Then within a few minutes I felt the same
seething anger from five or six years ago. You were with some man
and I wanted to punch his face in.”
    “ Alex. . .”
    “ Let me finish. I remembered
how we would argue then quit speaking. I even suspected you were
drinking again.”
    ” No reason you shouldn’t. I
broke dozens of promises to quit,” Lanessa put in. She seemed to
encourage him.
    Alex looked at her.” But what hurt
most was seeing what you did to yourself. And that made me angry,
too. I didn’t want to be with you. When I told you goodbye, I meant
it.”
    He did not like this truth, but she’d
asked for it.
    “ I know you did,” she
murmured.
    “ Right now, logic tells me
to turn away and not look back.” Alex walked up to within a foot of
where she stood. “But I don’t want to.”
    “ Maybe I should.”
    “ Another hard
truth?”
    Alex felt like a blow had struck his
mid-section when she stared at the ground. He’d made a fool of
himself. Of course she had gotten over him. They were to be
friends. Only friends. His own words mocked him.
    “ One of us has got to look
past emotion and do what makes sense,” Lanessa said in a strained
voice.” No matter how tough it is.” She pressed her lips
together.
    He heard the note of sorrow in her
voice.” Lanessa, come here.”
    Lanessa shook her head backed away.”
It’s time to go.”
    Alex took two long strides and caught
her arm. “Not yet.”
    “ I can’t give you a
guarantee. Even after almost three years, I take each day as it
comes.” Lanessa pulled free. “You’ve been through enough because of
me.”
    “ We don’t have to just tell
the truth, we have to live it.” Alex said. “I wanted to be with you
so many times.”
    Alex wrapped both arms around her.
Lanessa held back but only for a second. She relaxed against his
body with a long slow gasp. They stood together in the shadow of a
swamp oak. The only sound came from birds, the wind in grass and
their breathing.
    “ People will say you’re
crazy for getting mixed-up with me again.” The fabric of his shirt
muffled her voice. Lanessa hid her face like a child
afraid.
    Alex stroked her hair.” I don’t
care.”
    Lanessa looked up at him.” And what
about your family? Don’t tell me you don’t care what they
think?”
    “ I do,” he admitted.” If
they love me, they’ll learn to accept us.”
    ” Yes, but--”
    “ We can’t solve everything
in one afternoon.”
    Alex kissed her with tenderness and
passion. Until their mouths met, he had not realized the hunger
dormant inside him. He felt blown away with desire. His hands moved
down her arms to her hips and pressed her to him. No other woman
could make him burn like this. The sound of voices brought them
back to their surroundings. They loosened their embrace. A group of
giggling teenage girls passed within yards of them. Their two
chaperones glared at Lanessa and Alex with disapproval.
    Lanessa wore a half smile.” Fine role
models we are. We put on quite a show.”
    “ Good thing they didn’t come
a few moments later,” Alex whispered.” I was about to. .
.”
    “ Hold on now.” Lanessa place
both palms on his chest. “We’re taking it slow.”
    “ Yes ma’am.” Alex kissed her
forehead. He was happy enough to agree to anything at this
moment.
    “ We should start off like
any new couple. We’ll date and get to know each other.” Lanessa
actually sounded prim and proper.
    ” Okay. I’ll pick you up at
six tomorrow night.” Alex cradled her head against his neck. This
is where she belonged, close to his body.” We’ll have dinner and
talk more.”
    “ New couples don’t date