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recipe.”
“What hair?”
Jack chuckled. “His chest hair, I guess. The man’s a beast. Anyway, he didn’t like
it.”
“You know I like it hot.” Autumn looked up at him, unable to restrain herself. “I
mean—”
“Yeah, I know.” Jack’s unrepentant grin said he recognized the accidental double
entendre. “You’re digging yourself in deeper.”
“Tell me about it. Maybe I should just eat and not talk at all.”
“So when are you going to tell me what happened between you and George all those
years ago?” Jack took a swallow of sangria. “And about the nightmares.”
“Time to pay up, eh?”
“You got it.”
She inhaled, drawing strength from the deep breath. “All right.” She chewed a
spoonful of tasty chili, then swallowed hard. “I don’t know where to start. I feel like I
can’t tell anything quickly or I’ll miss something. It seems imperative I tell you
everything.”
Jack nodded. He’d finished his chili and salad. “We can move out to the living room
and talk about it if you want.”
“You’ll tell me about Ground Zero after that?”
Jack shoved his plate and bowl to the side. “I keep my word, Autumn. You know
that.”
As delicious as his chili tasted, she didn’t know if she could eat another bite. “All
right. I’ll start with George.”
Jack shoved back his chair and snagged his sangria. “Let’s get comfortable.”
Once in the living room, he slipped a CD in the player with quiet, sexy jazz music
that reminded her of the night at Top O’ the Morning Club. Soft light from the fireplace
illuminated the room. As he settled near the middle of the sectional couch, she nestled
near one end.
“If you sit any farther away, I won’t be able to see you,” Jack said.
“Very funny.”
The boyish glint in Jack’s eyes said he didn’t care. “Sit closer so I can hear you,
too.”
She scooted over until one cushion separated them, knowing full well what he
wanted, but playing his game nonetheless. “You must be kidding, Jack. You can hear me
perfectly well. This is a ploy to get me closer.”
With a straight face he said, “Yes, it is.”
Exhaling an exaggerated sigh, she decided now was the time to start from the
beginning before she lost her nerve. “George was very friendly when we first dated. We
went out a couple of times before he started to get … aggressive.”
His eyes filled with anger, and for a moment, she saw the warrior glint inside. She
remembered that steel-hard gaze from the night George had accosted her in the
newspaper offices.
He placed his mug on the knotted wood coffee table. “Aggressive how?”
“Touching me when I didn’t want him to. It was too much, too soon. And I didn’t
like his kisses.”
“Was he the first guy to kiss you?”
Uncomfortable, she put her drink on a coaster near Jack’s sangria. “Yes. He was also
rough with me.”
“What?” His tone was tense. “Are you saying he physically abused you?”
She smoothed her hair back from her face with both hands, and the sudden memory
caused tears to surge into her eyes. “Um … he…”
When she faltered, Jack shifted closer. “Hey, it’s all right.” He reached out and
tucked his fingers into her hair, a soft caress that comforted. “Take it slow and tell me
what happened.”
Autumn saw banked rage fighting with tenderness in Jack’s eyes, and it turned her to
pudding. Waves of reassurance flowed from where he touched her straight to her heart.
She’d never imagined a man could be so gentle.
She fought back the tears. “The day before the fire, we were up on Bullet Point.”
“The lover’s lane of Clifton.”
Embarrassed and ashamed of the memory, she sighed. “I didn’t realize he thought I
was going to have sex with him.” One tear escaped and slid down her face. “I should
have known better than to head up there in total isolation with him. I wanted the male
attention so much I guess I was willing to take any kind of attention even if it was
negative.” She saw questions in Jack’s eyes and didn’t blame him for wondering. “My
parents were arguing a lot and I felt terrible. I was so mixed up and depressed.”
“I know the feeling. That was about the time my parents self-destructed and were on
the way to divorce.” His fingers brushed over her cheek. “Our families caused each other
so much pain. Ironic that we’re here now, talking like this.”
“That’s for certain. I think back then I was on the path to self-destruction with
George, too. I didn’t recognize it at first. Then when he took me up to Bullet Point,
reality came home.” She clutched at her skirt, wading material between her fingers. “I
thought he wanted to neck a little. Things progressed and he kept at me even though I
didn’t really want to. It didn’t feel right.” Autumn gulped, swallowing a knot of tension
in her throat as large as a small country. “He pushed me down in the back seat and before
I knew it he tore my panties—”
“Jesus H. Christ!”
She flinched, memories of George’s strength resurrecting as if it happened yesterday.
Long shivers rocked her body, icy and relentless.
Fury scorched Jack’s eyes. Sharp anguish flickered over his features. “Are you
saying he raped you?” She didn’t answer, and the tears slipped down her face without
pause. He cupped her face with both hands, caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. “Oh,
God. Sweetheart.”
Even the soft endearment couldn’t unclog the logjam in her throat. As if he expected
her to bolt like a frightened deer, he slid his arm around her shoulders and tucked her
close. Calm chased away the cold knot forming in her heart as she recalled that horrible
night. Under the strength of his arm around her, she felt protected. Memories couldn’t
harm her.
His chin rested against her forehead as he nestled her close. She closed her eyes. “I
fought George, but he was too strong. I kicked and screamed.”
“Oh, God,” Jack whispered again.
“The only thing that saved me was another car. George heard it driving up and he let
me go. It was another couple in a convertible.”
“Then he didn’t…” His voice sounded strained.
“No. He didn’t.”
Jack squeezed her gently, and he pressed a kiss against her hair. “But it was still
attempted rape.” He pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “You didn’t report it?”
“I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Why, Autumn?” She saw disbelief and disturbance in his face. “Why?”
“I was scared and young. I couldn’t believe what had happened. Besides, my parents
were suspicious of George and had told me I couldn’t see him anymore.”
“So you would have been admitting you were out with him that night if you
confessed that he almost raped you.”
“Right. I wasn’t thinking clearly, and I was ashamed.” [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]