Page 40 of Too Much Heat

The first time, she tumbled over the cliff. The second time, she was hurled into pleasure. He came, too, then with such force it thrilled her.

* * *

Joe teased open the door to Jimmy’s room, planning to wake his brother in the most inelegant way. The light from the hallway slanted through the entrance. He heard sounds.

“I waited a decent amount of time to do this.”

Shhh…

Lovemaking sounds. Jimmy was having sex. But with who? He didn’t have a girlfriend now.

He started to close the door but halted when he heard, “I love you so much, Diana. Promise you’ll never leave me.”

And there it was. The woman’s answer. Diana’s answer. Never. I’ll never leave you.

“Joe, wake up.”

“No, not you. He can’t be with you.”

She shook him. “Joe, you’re scaring me.”

He bolted up. “What’s that?”

“It’s me. Lara. You’re having a bad dream. God, you’re covered in sweat.”

“Jimmy…It was Jimmy. He’s alive and with Diana Hartfield.”

“Oh, honey. Jimmy isn’t alive. He’s not with Diana.”

He rubbed his eyes. “He’s not alive?”

“No. You had a bad dream.”

Tears sprang to his eyes.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”

They laid back down and she held him in her arms. When he calmed, his eyes closed.

They woke again to her phone ringing. Lara came fully awake. Fast.

She kissed his cheek. “Joe, we have to get up. Sammy calls me when he’s awake.”

“Okay.” He started to sit up. He said hoarsely, “What do we do?”

“Wait a sec. Don’t you remember your dream?”

“I dreamed? About what?”

“About Jimmy.”

“Oh, God.”

“He was in bed with Diana.”

The color drained from his face. “Hell. That never happened.”

The phone rang again.

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