Page 34 of Too Much Heat

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A gentle knock on her front door came at eight the next day. Still wearing her pink summer pajamas and robe, she opened it. Joe stood before her.

Her eyes teared.

“What’s wrong?”

“Come on in.”

Once inside, she took him to the kitchen so as not to wake Sammy. He said, “Are you crying because I came? I’m sorry but I couldn’t stay away. I had to see you.”

“It isn’t that.” She turned to the coffee pot and poured two cups and brought them over. A bittersweet scent filled the room. “It’s Sammy. And for the record, there’s nobody else in the world I want to see more than you.”

He relaxed. She noticed he wore yellow shorts, sandals and a navy shirt with a yellow stripe. His chestnut-colored hair was still damp. “God, you look good.”

A half smile. “I like hearing that.”

She set the coffee down on the table then leaned over and brushed his lips with hers. He smelled like the outdoors. She drew back. “Hmm.”

He grinned. “I could get used to that every morning. I know you told me we couldn’t do this again, but—”

“I have to put all that on hold. My mother-in-law’s in the hospital. Sammy put her there.”

He pulled her down onto his lap. His hand went around her. “Oh sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, me too. I know this is selfish, but she can’t watch him anymore. And I don’t think his sisters should either.” She bit her lip. “Which was why we moved to Westwood.” Her voice broke on the last word.

His hand tightened around her waist. His other one stroked her arm. “I’m so sorry. What will you do?”

“Hire more aides. Big ones, that he can’t push around.”

He drew her head to his shoulder. “I told you this before. I don’t think that’s enough anymore.”

“No?” she mumbled against him.

“No. It seems as though he’s getting worse. And violent. He should be in a skilled nursing facility.”

She yanked herself back. “No, no, Joe, don’t say that. I can’t do that to him.”

He grasped her arms. “You have no choice, Lara.”

“Of course I do. He can stay here with me. I can handle him most of the time.”

Joe’s gaze narrowed. “Most of the time? Has he hurt you?” His voice was full of horror.

She just watched him. She’d been hiding the bruises. Some of them intentional. Some she got by just maneuvering him.

Joe watched her. “You’re not telling me something.”

To distract him, she leaned over and kissed his mouth.

It worked.

Chapter 6

Joe sat at his desk and stared at the computer. He’d refrained from seeing or calling Lara on their second day off. Only one more day to go and they’d be back at work together. He’d checked the firehouse and repairs were coming along.

He wondered if the guys went to her place again to spell her. If she hired an aide who was strong and could deal with her husband. He clicked into some residential sites and read what they offered. Bright Oaks Park advertised itself as a care facility for people with memory loss, MS, Parkinson’s and ALS. The testimonials were on the main page.

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