Breeze off the Ocean Read Online Free

breath.
    “Micki, I don’t want to upset you, please believe that, but”—she drew another, shorter breath before rushing on—”we must talk about Wolf.”
    “No!”
    The one word escaped through Micki’s lips like a muffled explosion and she flinched as if the other woman had actually struck her.
    “But you don’t understand.” Regina’s tone held a pleading note. “We must discuss this, he’s—”
    “Regina.” Micki’s voice was low, intense with warning. ‘This is still my room. I’m asking you to please leave it so I can go to bed.”
    “But Wolf—”
    “Regina.” Micki’s teeth were clenched in an effort to control her voice. “You asked me earlier if we can be friends. Well, I’m willing to try, but there is one condition. I cannot, will not, discuss that person. Not now, not ever.”
    “Oh, Micki,” Regina sighed. “You don’t understand.”
    “And I don’t want to,” Micki snapped. “Do you want me to leave this house in the morning? Find a motel room until I can get an apartment?”
    “No!” Regina exclaimed in alarm. “Of course not. Your father would—”
    “Well, then.” Micki didn’t wait to hear what her father would do. “The subject will remain closed and forgotten.
    “As long as Dad looks as well and happy as he does now, I’m content to meet you halfway toward friendship. I fully expect you to do the same. Do you get my meaning?”
    Regina’s eyes closed briefly in defeat and she nodded. Before staring directly into Micki’s eyes, she murmured, “But please don’t say I didn’t try.”
    Micki wondered over those parting words several minutes after Regina left the room. What in the world could she have meant? With a shrug of her shoulders she turned toward the bed, then stopped and became very still, the echo of that name searing through her mind.
    Wolf.
    Wolf—a predatory animal’s name that suited perfectly the predatory human male. A mental picture formed and, her face twisted with pain, Micki pushed it from her mind.
    Damn, damn, damn Regina, for saying that name out loud.
    Memories crowded in threatening to overwhelm her. Shaking herself like a wet dog, Micki moved jerkily to the bed. No, she would not allow the memories to gather, collect in her mind. Forcing herself to stand very still beside the bed, she breathed deeply. In. Out. In. Out
    “I must call Cindy.”
    In. Out. In. Out.
    “I must go apartment hunting.”
    In. Out. In. Out.
    “I must run up to Atlantic City and check out the shop, introduce myself.”
    In. Out. In. Out.
    “I’ve controlled these emotions before, I will tonight.”
    Doing the breathing exercise, speaking softly, Micki felt the pain recede, the trembling leave her body. After what seemed a very long time she slipped between the cool smooth sheets, closed her eyes, and cried as if her heart were broken.
----
Chapter 2
    The next morning Micki woke early, refreshed and ready to face a new day. Surprisingly, after her violent crying bout, she had slept deeply. The realization that she had once again won the battle against her memories added to the feeling of well-being her uninterrupted rest had instilled.
    Glancing at the bedside clock, she sat up quickly and slipped off the bed; if she hurried she could have breakfast with her father. She thrust her arms into her robe and left her room at a near run, dashed into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face and brush her teeth, then hurried back along the hall and down the stairs.
    “Morning.” Micki breezed into the kitchen and planted a kiss on her father’s smooth, freshly shaved cheek before seating herself at the old-fashioned wooden table.
    “Morning, princess.”
    Micki’s perfect white teeth flashed in a grin of delight at her father’s use of the pet name. It had been years since he’d called her that, and she loved the sound of it.
    “I thought you’d sleep in this morning.” Bruce grinned back before adding, “What got you awake so early? Regina and I