Page 3 of Shadows of Before

She transferred her thoughts to her plans. She’d seen in the news that calling hours for Jonas Kirkland were held tonight. Will’s father. Should she go? She finished work in time. Nah. She and Will just had sex. He left her house before she woke up.

But three hours later, Kate walked into the designated room at Cobb’s Funeral Home. She’d changed out of her uniform—dark blue pants and a light blue shirt—into khaki capris and a linen blouse. She’d used the blow dryer on her hair. It rarely looked presentable these days but when she glanced in the mirror, she saw a glimpse of the woman she used to be.

Diego and Annie Rodriguez and Jackson Kane and Maisy Shepherd flanked Will now. His face was drawn. He’d told her somewhere along the line that he’d loved his father. That he’d been forced to put him in a nursing home because of his Alzheimer illness. That had been hard for Will but he had no alternative.

Will caught her staring. He said something to Diego and then strode toward her. “Hey.” He squeezed her arm. Left his hand there. “I’m surprised you came.”

“Isn’t it okay?”

“Of course it is.”

“You snuck out this morning.”

“I did not sneak. I had a million errands. You were sound asleep. I set the alarm for seven so you’d get up for work.”

She nodded. “You’re sad, Will. I’m sorry you lost your dad.”

His jaw tightened. “Yeah, I am too.”

Starting to feel uncomfortable, she drew away. “You should get back to your friends.”

“All right.” Even though he was grieving, he arched a brow. “That was something else, though, last night. Wasn’t it?”

“I was blown away.” She squeezed his hands. “Now go.”

“How about a repeat tonight?”

“Um, sure. Just sex though.”

“It’ll be late. Ten or so.”

“That’s okay.”

He walked away. God, she wished he wasn’t so handsome. His blond hair was combed back, his blue eyes the color of the sky. His shoulders looked a mile wide in the suit. The whole package could make her swoon, if she was into that sort of thing.

What the hell was she doing? She made her way to the door, darting in between people. When she got to her car, she had a foreign emotion, one she hadn’t had since the fiasco with Annie. She wanted to be with this man.

* * *

“You didn’t have to invite me over. I have plenty to do.”

Annie said, “You need company.”

He gave a weak smile. Most days he woke up morose. About his Dad, his job.

Diego came into the living room from the kitchen; he’d cooked Sunday dinner. Both he and Annie knew everything, as he’d called Will right after the president was shot. Diego dropped down close to Annie. These two were still lovebirds. She leaned over and took Will’s hand in hers. “I haven’t talked to you since the Secret Service ordeal. I’m so sorry, Will.”

He couldn’t help but be real with these two. “Thanks. I’m having a tough time handling it.”

Diego said, “Then your father died.”

“Really bad luck.”

“Remember when he caught us with those two girls in the big shed behind your house?”

“Naked as jaybirds. All of us.”

“He didn’t even yell. My Papa would have raised hell.”

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