A Forever Kind of Love Read Online Free Page A

against her. Which she didn’t—Chase was fully aware of the extreme care she took not to let him touch her. The door closed behind them and he turned to study Zoe’s face.
    She looked tired.
    Still so fucking beautiful it made his heart ache just to look at her, but tired. Like she could sleep for a week.
    Tired and frazzled and frustrated.
    He felt like a major prick because he wanted to offer to hold her for the entire week.
    Her husband’s dying, man. Remember him? Guy used to be your best friend? Still is your friend ?
    “How are you?” he asked.
    “I’m fine.” She gave him a practiced, completely false smile.
    “Bullshit.” He dropped the bag on the table centered under a mirror and folded his arms over his chest, studying her face. “Don’t hand me the line you hand people in your store, people at church, whoever. I know you too well. How are you, really?”
    She lifted a golden brow at him. “Chase, you don’t really me that well. Not anymore.”
    “Don’t I?” He reached out and tucked her hair behind one ear. “When was the last time you watched Old Yeller ?”
    She scowled at him.
    “Still reading the Valdemar books? How many copies you gone through now?”
    She tucked her hands into her pockets and rocked back on her heels. “Things like that aren’t exactly knowing me.”
    “Hmm. How about this? You’re pissed off. You’ve been riding on nerves and caffeine for a while, but today, you’re pissed off and you just want to hit something.”
    Something flashed in her eyes, but she remained silent.
    “What set you off?”
    “Nothing.” Her voice was low and flat.
    “Nothing? You sure about that, princess?”
    There it was again…a flash of fire, hot and angry.
    “Come on, surely there’s something. Your panties are in a twist over something.” He slanted a look toward the bedroom she shared with Roger. Jealousy twisted his gut, but he kept his voice easy and light as he said, “It’s got to be rough, where you’re at right now. No way to burn off that anger, that stress, that…”
    He saw it coming, but he didn’t bother to move.
    His head snapped back from the force of her blow and even as the pain bloomed, he grinned at her. She stared at him, shock written all over her face. “Feel better?”
    Zoe gaped at him. “You…what…”
    Edging past her, he went to the mirror and peered at his mouth. He tasted blood. “Damn, you’ve got a good right hook there, Zoe.”
    She was quiet for a second and then, softly, she said, “You did that on purpose. Pissed me off.”
    Chase shrugged. She was studying him in the mirror. Meeting her gaze, he said, “You were already pissed. I can’t say I blame you. I’d be pissed too. Holding it in non-stop isn’t helping. So, do you feel better?”
    A reluctant smile curled her lips and she shook her head. “You’re an idiot.” Then she looked down. When she winced, he turned around and looked down at her hand.
    Her knuckles were discolored and swelling. “Let’s go put some ice on it.”
    She shook her head. “Can’t. Don’t have time. I need to see if I can get Roger’s sister to come over for a while. I’ve got to go to Brooklawn. It’s…well, there’s some problems with my mom.” She grimaced. “I guess that’s part of why I’m pissed off, as you put it. Too many things hitting at once. I’ve got to get payroll done for the store, I’ve got a shipment lost and I need to track it down. This mess with Mom. Too much crap going on, but Roger…well, he’s not feeling too well and I don’t want him alone and…”
    “I’ll stay with him.” The words popped out before he even realized it.
    Zoe opened her mouth. Closed it. Then she smiled and shook her head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
    “You didn’t. I offered. Look, it’s Thursday—I take Thursdays off at the store, so I’m not needed there. I can hang around here with Roger for a while. You go. Take care of your mom.” He reached out, lifted her hand,