Before she had met William, she had everything figured out. She was happy and engaged to the perfect man or so she thought. Up until that point, she thought she knew what she wanted and knew how to get it.
But it was all a lie.
Josie stopped playing as her mind drifted back to her and William’s emotional good-bye…
“You love me!” William shouted, gripping her arms and pulling her close. Her bedroom walls vibrated with the force of his anger. “You know you do!”
Josie struggled against him. “I’m engaged, William. Last night was a mistake. It should’ve never happened.”
“How can you say that?”
He released her and she staggered backwards. When she glanced up into his eyes, her heart felt as if it was being ripped out of her chest. “I’m sorry, William. I never meant to hurt you, but…“
“Don’t say it.” He reached for her again. “You’re making a mistake.
“We’re from two different worlds. We want different things out of life,” she insisted. “Etienne and I are cut from the same cloth.”
William’s gaze drifted to the man in the photograph beside her bed, and a mask of utter-loathing covered his features. “You mean you’re from the social class.”
“Why are you refusing to
“Because it’s not the truth,” he snapped, and succeeded in drawing her back into his arms. “You can study music back in the States. There are just as many opportunities there, if not more.”
“Why do I have to give up
Doubt crept into his eyes. “You
She stepped back, while her gaze lowered to the hardwood floor. In an instant, William’s strong fingers directed her chin up. “I’ll leave if you can look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t love me.”
Her gaze met his sharp blue eyes, and a painful lump swelled in the center of her throat. As much as she wanted to give in to his man, she couldn’t completely ignore her promise to another.
“Josie,” he urged again.
“I’m sorry, William, but I don’t love you…”
“Why did you stop playing?” Josie jumped and looked up to see William smiling from the fen’s entryway. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” “Frightened me is more like it.” He crossed his arms. “But it’s good to see you up and about. How do you feel?”
“Good. I’m still a little shaky, but overall, I feel a lot better.” She met his steady gaze and gave him a wobbly smile. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” “You don’t own me anything. I’m just glad I could help.” Josie’s gaze fell. He moved away from the archway and over to the piano. “Mind if I join you?” “Not at all.” She scooted over on the beach to make room.
William sat beside her. “You know it’s been a long time since we’ve sang together.” He played a few bars of “Willow Weep for Me” “Remember that one?” Josie smiled but felt the sting of tears behind her eyes. “How could I ever forget?” “I always thought that you were the next Billie Holiday.” She shifted uncomfortable in her seat. William abruptly changed the music and sang, “I’m a fool to want you.”
She closed her eyes and remembered their first night onstage. “To want a love that can’t be true.” Her voice trembled so badly that she lowered her head in shame. He stopped playing. “What’s wrong?” She shook her head and refused to look up at him. He draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her trembling body against his. “You can tell me,” he encouraged.
His attentiveness deepened her embarrassment mainly because she knew that she was being silly for crying, but damn if she could stop herself.
“Josie?” he asked, giving her an affectionate squeeze. “I know that I’m not the best singer, but I’ve never caused anyone to start crying before.”
She laughed.
“There. That’ much better.” He kissed the top of her head.
Shocked, Josie lifted her head and met his gaze again. The air in the room thinned while her heart thudded against her chest. When a magnetic force pulled them together, a voice in her head warned her to resist, but it was no more than a whisper.
Her gaze fell to his lips when his warm breath brushed against her face. Butterflies she had long forgotten began their wild flutter seconds before William’s soft lips pressed against hers.
The familiar taste of him was the sweetest homecoming she could have ever imagined. While her mind filled with exploding fireworks, her resistance melted like wax. There was no harm in stealing this one moment in time, she convinced herself.
Josie pressed closer and opened her mouth to his probing tongue. Everything about him and this kiss felt right despite the fact that she knew it was wrong. As abruptly as their kiss began, it ended. “Sorry,” William said, breaking way. “I shouldn’t have done that.” Disappointment stabbed her heart as humiliation burned her face. “What did I do?”
“Nothing.” William stood from the bench and the room chilled. “it’s not you. It’s me. I….Don’t worry. It won’t happen again,” he said.
Before Josie had a chance to reply, William turned on his heel and left her alone in the room.
For that she was grateful. It meant that he never saw the tears that slipped from her eyes.
Chapter 18
It was another chilly morning as Detective Delaney and Simmons huddle together while they watched a pair of paramedics lift a gurney into a waiting ambulance.
“Well, you were right. There was another body,” Tyrese said, sipping his morning coffee.
“Just not the one we were looking for,” she said. As she crossed her arms, her gaze swept across the accident scene. Only the rear end of a silver Mercedes stuck out of the lake. An odd place for a car. “Any theories?” Ming asked. “Not yet, but check with me after the caffeine kicks in.” “Always a possibility. Not too many people decide to take a drive into a lake. No one I know anyway.
Frustrated, Ming turned and faced her partner. “I give up. Why did you drag me down here? This is Gwinett County. Out of our jurisdiction.” Wearily, he nodded toward the vehicle. “Look at the bumper. See anything familiar?” Sighting, she turned back around and scanned the car’s back bumper, however nothing jumped out at her. She shrugged, “What?” “Don’t tell me you’re losing your touch,” Tyrese snickered. And then she saw it. A silver sticker that read, ‘Keystone M.D.’ “Bingo.” He patted her on the back. “Sorry, I’m all out of door prizes though.” Ming started toward the ambulance. “Who is it?”
“Ambrose Turner, according to the driver’s license. Police detective Cathy Lansing called out department when she saw the sticker. Said that she remembered seeing something on the news about our investigation at Keystone.” Ming nodded. “So is this our baby?” “Not officially, but it probably will be before the day is out.” “Two Keystone doctors,” she whispered to herself. “What the hell is going on here?” “I don’t know. Maybe we’re off the mark thinking the Keystone murder is tied in to the Thornton case,” Tyrese said. “And Conan’s twin theory.” He chuckled. “Even farther off the mark.” She folded her arms as she watched a team arrive to recover the sinking Mercedes. “Maybe it was just an accident.” “The bullet in the back of his head says otherwise.” Exasperated, Ming turned on him. “None of this crap makes any sense.” He held up his cup. “No yelling. I’m still waiting for the caffeine to kick in.” Ming shook her head and stormed past her partner. “We’re going to start over.” “Meaning?” Tyrese’s long stride struggled to keep up with hers. “I want another interview with everyone we walked to in the Thornton case. All this is related somehow. I just know it.” “We’re supposed to be looking for Michelle Andrews, remember?”
