The Promise of Paradise - By Allie Boniface Page 0,53
insides had worked themselves into a giant pretzel by the time she pulled into the lot. The office light burned, and she jumped from her VW. Please be here. She peeked around the side of the building, where the employees parked. Five empty spots. And one with a truck inside it, parked at a crooked angle, as if its driver had slammed on the brakes just in time. A red truck. Eddie’s truck.
Ash’s heart hurled itself into her throat. She had to stop and take a breath before returning to the front door to try the knob. Locked. She frowned and tried again. It didn’t budge. Then she read the sign near the bottom of the glass:
Monday-Friday: 9 to 5.
Thursday Nights and Saturday Afternoons: By Appt. Only.
Ash knocked on the glass. She hadn’t seen anyone else’s vehicle parked outside, but if Eddie was here, wouldn’t his boss be as well? She cupped her hands around her eyes and stared inside. It looked as though a dim light illuminated the work area, back behind the office. Maybe they’re hanging out in the shop. She knocked one more time.
“Ash?” The voice came from behind her.
She spun around, startled. Frank stuck his head out the window of his over-sized diesel truck, which rumbled in place beside her car.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m…” For a moment, she thought the tears might come again. “I’m looking for Eddie. He’s not here?”
The big man cleared his throat. “I—um—no.”
“But I saw his truck out back.”
Frank nodded, eyes averted. “He was here earlier today, left it parked there.” His gaze flicked over her shoulder and back. “He wanted to borrow my bike.”
Ash tried to picture Eddie on a ten-speed and couldn’t. “Sorry?”
“My Harley. I bought it off a guy last year. Eddie’s been messing around with it, wanted to take it for a ride.”
“Oh.” She shivered and crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”
Frank raised his eyes, but the look of pity inside them almost knocked Ash to the pavement. “Honey, I’m sorry. He met Cass here around three-thirty. The two of ‘em have been gone ever since.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Cass clutched Eddie around the waist, leaning in close when he took the curve too fast. She shrieked something into his ear, but he couldn’t make out the words. Nor did he really want to. When he’d seen her at the convenience store a few hours earlier, she had taken one look at him and known. Black moods and stormy temperaments, Cass could read like an open book. It was the subtleties within a relationship she’d never really gotten. Without saying a word, though, she’d pulled a six-pack of his favorite beer from the cooler and followed him to Frank’s. Fifteen minutes later, they were on the bike.
As long as he didn’t think too much about it, Eddie was content to ride, as fast as he could. As far as he could. Anything to get away from Paradise. Anything to forget about the woman who had lied her way into his life and then cleaved his heart straight down the middle.
“Cromer’s Corners 2 miles” read the sign at the intersection. He slowed for the blinking red light. A right turn took them winding back toward Paradise, a left, nothing but farmland for twenty more miles. Straight ahead lay one of the state’s most historic towns, dotted with landmarks, restaurants, and gift shops. With its connection to the Civil War, it remained one of New Hampshire’s biggest tourist draws. Eddie gunned the engine and took off again. A few raindrops splattered down his chest and onto his legs.
They could get something to eat and wait out the rain. If he remembered right, there was a local place downtown with fat burgers and endless drafts of beer. That might soothe his anger. Or at least chase it away for a while.
* * *
“Finally.” Cass climbed off the bike and strolled into the pub. “God, just in time. I was getting wet.” She ran both hands down her chest, smoothing her flimsy tank top over a bra that didn’t hide a damn thing. “Nice ride.” She looked at him through full lashes.
“Yeah.” Eddie found a couple of stools at the end of the bar and pulled them up. “Two tall ones,” he told the bartender, opening his wallet.
Cass took her time easing onto the stool beside Eddie, turning the heads of the three other guys at the bar. She wore slim jeans that hugged her hips and