Best Kept Secrets(156)

taking from you what I'd always wanted from Celina. I want

you to understand something. We're the only two people here

now. There's nobody between us. No ghosts, either. You got

that?"



"I think--"

"No." He shook his head so emphatically that strands of

dark blond hair fell over his green eyes. "Don't just think

--know. You're the only woman in my head right now.

You're the only woman mat's been in my head since I met

you. You're the only woman I'm dying to f*ck every minute

I'm awake and that I dream about f*cking when I'm asleep.

"I'm too old for you. It's stupid and probably wrong for

me to want you. It's complicated as hell. But, right or wrong,

no matter whose daughter you are, I want you." He imbedded

himself firmly inside her. "Understand?" He pushed higher,

harder, hotter, and groaned, "Understand?"

He made himself understood.



Junior woke up before sunrise, a rarity for him. He'd had

a bad night. Following Reede's suggestion, he'd spent several

hours with Stacey. Her physician had given her a sedative,

but it hadn't worked well enough. Each time Junior thought

she was asleep and left his chair at her bedside, she would

wake up, clutch his hand, and beg him not to leave her. He

hadn't gotten home until well after midnight. Then he'd slept

fitfully, worrying about Alex.

The instant his eyes opened, he reached for the telephone

on his nightstand and dialed the Westerner Motel. He instructed

the clerk, who was tired and cranky during those

waning minutes of his long shift, to connect him with her

room. The phone rang ten times.

Breaking the connection, he called the sheriffs office. He

was told that Reede hadn't come in yet. He asked to be

patched into his mobile unit, but the switchboard operator

told him it wasn't in use. He called Reede's house and got

a busy signal.

Frustrated, he got out of bed and began to pull on clothes.

He couldn't stand not knowing where Alex was. He would

find out for himself, starting with Reede.

He crept past his parents' bedroom, although he heard

stirrings behind the door. He was sure Angus would want to



talk to him about the deal with Judge Wallace concerning his

marriage to Stacey. Junior didn't feel up to discussing that

yet.

He left the house and climbed into his Jag. It was a clear

but cold morning. The drive to Reede's house took him no

more than a few minutes. He was glad to see that the Blazer

was still parked out front and that smoke was curling out of

the chimney. Reede was an early riser. Hopefully, he had a

pot of coffee already perking.

Junior jogged across the porch and knocked on the front

door. He stood there, hopping from one foot to another and

blowing on his hands in an effort to get warm. After a long

wait, Reede pulled open the door. He was wearing only a

pair of jeans and a rumpled, sleepy, disagreeable expression.

"What the hell time is it?"

"Don't tell me I got you out of bed," Junior said incredulously,

opening the screen door and stepping into the living

room. "It's late for you, isn't it?"

"What are you doing here? What's going on?"

"That's what I was hoping you could tell me. Alex hasn't

answered her phone all night. Do you have any idea where

she is?"

From the corner of his eye, he noticed the pallet in front

of the hearth, then a movement. Turning slightly, he saw her

standing in the hallway leading to Reede's bedroom. Her hair

was tousled, her lips full and red, her legs bare. She was

wearing the top to the pajama set he'd given Reede when

he'd had his appendectomy. She looked wanton and well-screwed.

Junior fell back a step as the breath left his body. Slumping

against the wall, he looked toward the ceiling and uttered a

short laugh.

Reede laid a hand on his arm. "Junior, I--"

Junior angrily shook off his friend's hand. "It wasn't

enough you had her mother, was it? You had to have her,

too."

"It's not like that," Reede said in a steely voice.



"No? Then, you tell me, what's it like? You gave me the

green light the other night. You said you didn't want her."

"I said nothing of the kind."

"Well, you damn sure didn't say hands off. You moved

faster than a sidewinder when you found out I was interested,

didn't you? What was your rush? Were you afraid that if she

slept with me first, she'd never want to give up quality for

low life?"

"Junior, stop it!" Alex cried.

Junior didn't even hear her. He was focused on Reede.

"Why is it, Reede, that whatever I want, you take? Football