Tom racked up yet

as amazing. She'd never been very g

owest slot, but To

hurl the balls through the

t her and held u

ion with

" she said. Il

breakfast she needed the salt ai

tter than to head back to th

n to throb, but s

ses and some asp

stores. She hadn

red the glasses mu

r bru

of the benches ou

rms around hersel

king, much as she'd

f Wade fro

ight places. Her marriage to John h

nestly couldn't

love. And she'd never made love t

de las

ring if he'd done as she'd asked

ra

ough the night. She and Wade had ma

xt to impossible i

m roll yet anothe

ation of being w

look over

ame man whoʻd bee

ake hous

eye on the man,

. Could he be fol

ne Ridge? ?Or the

ened, fear taking

her i

wearing a ba

all

see his features

on might

and hel

er instincts to

her side a few m

g her arm through

from th

om

later." She lied,

g her son out i

iot to bring Tom

lk, for heayen's s

h Wade she could

e chances-foo

ped dead in his

You pr

wn into her son

idn't want to a

imagini

nd them, scannin

rists. The sun bea

glare even throug

face with her han

on the bench, r

me man. Di

igh of relief, b

aning against

e. The other man had

o

one jerked her f

scan of t

eluctantly. "One

rom her pocke

ed on the ride's s

brating inside his skin as he waited

ted since. Her heart ached. Sinc

cation after the

been to Wildwo

re than a

ar, and Keri waved back, moving

f the

he cars were empt

k Swarmed with vacationers who wou

but for now, she

en to walk under the unfo

d the cars jerke

nd accelerated o

r tires on the sho

or another

u

spread wide acro

herself beg

Was overreacting to seeing the s

ong as they stay

de co

then leaned aga

he track to take in t

pancake house a

tly opposite fro

throat and her stomach d

a

e could write of

as one

and smiled. A tight

uickly. glancing ba

nued to careen

he middle of a

d off this boardwalk. They had to

effic

to where the man

d, leaving his n

wn her spine jus

r car rid

e o

nk

d to her side,

and successes, sh

him toward the be

tever it was the m

newspaper's banne

no R

ed and she squint

paper's dat

ust

ter

ry and her surroundi

everything in my

cation a

ade echoed thr

been to bring Tom

ctly where they

like-altered ap

only one t

u

UTTERED to a st

nto the boardwalk

mber 202, their roo

his gut. He laun

and sprinted towar

e until he hit th

cy door in t

ssing himself to

g for noise, v

o

ushing the doo

ard n

aught and

area had been t

foam stuffing sc

itchen area had be

ls and plates, fo

h of the faded

ri!

th

gh the mess, maki

He stopped cold

tle clothing Kerri

n tossed about th

clothing chest pul

hazardly wherever

leeping bag had

s had been partia

ms cast a bright

tic

s cell phone fro

carpet glimmered.

amethy

d left as she thr

e behind? He cross

ipping the heavy

the heart a bou

ng? Any idiot co

nOw Kerri and Tom

hy were there no

w

ly damage of thi

hell of a

m in, he could on

for his mistake

through him at

he mother's face

admit, leaving it

. A message, if e

ap covered most of

d might recognize

d be so wrapped up

e wouldn't give hi

other hadn't had

esterday, but he

kles of his hand.

nd by his punches

ound the sensation

to the list of th

plea

ire-starter had be

rganizations, but

whole other area

have be

ud, then caught h

ping back into the

ide and a discou

w where the mo

following them wa

an associate to pa

wer

s concerned,he'

which his associate's hand

the shadows as t

g careful to stay

glanced around

he admired the w

rances, but her ef

e. She should

any women could say that. The boy was at

ong enough to becom