Bound by the Past Read Online Free

mean?”
    “Adam and I were—actually, are —better friends than lovers. Our relationship was never based on passion, just companionship.”
    “Excuse me for saying so, but that doesn’t sound like much of a marriage.”
    “You’re right. Our marriage was probably a mistake from the beginning, but the fact is we were really great friends. I suppose in a lot of ways it was easier to just hang in there. I mean, we got along fine. Why mess with something that wasn’t terrible? We rarely fought and we had a good time together, even if we weren’t ripping each other’s clothes off every night.”
    “So what happened?”
    “He met someone whose clothes he wanted to rip off.”
    “Ah.” He was unsure how to respond to her carefree response.
    “Shelby is Adam’s soul mate. She completes him in a way I never could. She’s wonderful for him. Truth is, as much as I know I should be devastated, I’m not. Why are you looking at me like that?”
    “Like what?”
    “Like I’m several eggs short of a dozen.”
    “Sorry, but that’s not what I’m thinking.”
    “You aren’t?” Her face showed her disbelief at his statement.
    “Nope.”
    “Then what were are you thinking?”
    “That you are too good to be true.” Before he could think about his actions, he reached for her.
    And then he kissed her.
     
    Night watched Jon lean forward to kiss the gorgeous brunette. Making a quick adjustment to his pants, he imagined what it would be like to put his mouth on those oh-so-kissable lips as well.
    He hadn’t seen his best friend in well over a year, since before Jon had started his new life as an English teacher. Night knew it was foolish to be nervous about seeing Jon again, yet for some reason he couldn’t shake the feeling.
    Things had changed between them in the last few years. A wall had been erected and for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out how or why. Jon was struggling to overcome and forget the past. Night could respect that even if he couldn’t quite understand. For him, the past would never go away as long as Cassandra Walker was a free woman.
    Now—for the first time in nearly a decade and a half—he saw his chance for retribution.
    Night ran a hand through his dirty hair, shaking loose clumps of soil and dried leaves. Damn Reilly wanted him up on that godforsaken mountain twenty-four-seven. After days without a shower, hot food or a decent night’s sleep, he’d had enough. On top of his discomfort, he was tired of wondering how Jon would respond to the fact that Mommie Dearest was back in town.
    He’d just been pulling into the parking lot of Jon’s townhouse complex when he saw his friend pulling out. Jon hadn’t seen him and, as Night didn’t have a key, he’d decided to follow. He’d been surprised to see his friend pull up in front of a small house on the edge of town and pick up the pretty little brunette. Grinning at the prospect of having a bit of fun at Jon’s expense, he’d followed the couple to this restaurant.
    He could just imagine the look on the woman’s face if he walked up to Jon and hugged him. He looked like a homeless person and his smell was potent. However, he could see from here that something was bothering his friend, and he wasn’t sure this was the right time to approach him.
    So instead he’d simply sat in his truck and watched Jon and his date throughout most of their meal. He knew his friend better than anyone on earth. He could only assume Reilly had finally made contact, and Jon hadn’t taken the news of Cassandra’s reappearance well.
    As he watched, Jon ended the kiss with a smile and his date blushed.
    “Christ.” The entire thing reminded him of an episode of The Andy Griffith Show , it was so innocent and sweet. Nausea swam through him. So it looked like his best friend had finally gotten his heart’s desire. He’d achieved what they’d both assumed was impossible—a normal life.
    The couple rose to leave the restaurant. Night bent down in