Fire and Ice: Book One: Burned (The Fire and Ice Series 1) Read Online Free Page B

down as he
swallowed and clenched his jaw. We were several feet apart, and all I wanted to
do was run to him.
     
    His beautiful
lips were beckoning me to run my tongue across them. I was losing ground being
near to Kellan, and losing it fast. I wasn't here to fall for some punk. I was
here to make much needed money for my mom and me, so she could live
comfortably, and I could go back to school to finish my degree. This was a
means to an end, not a situation where I wanted to get involved with a
coworker. Talk about the proverbial picking up a guy at the bar. Kellan was bad
news, and I'd had enough bad news lately to last me a lifetime. I furrowed my
brow, as if to telekinetically apologize, and sharply turned, walking quickly
towards the front door to make a fast escape. If I knew what was good for me,
I'd stay away from Kellan Haines altogether.

Chapter Four
     
    Hailey
     
    I awoke the
next morning, and just as Jordan had predicted, I was now questioning whether
or not I was cut out for this job, as my legs ached and throbbed, and my feet
were swollen and blistered. I hadn't gotten home until almost four a.m. and I
looked at my bedside clock, noting it was nearly nine in the morning. I didn't
usually sleep past seven, but even at this late hour, I was feeling exhausted.
I knew Mom was probably waiting on breakfast to take her medicine, so I rushed
to freshen up, and get in gear to go make her some eggs. We would have to find
a way to make this work for the both of us.
     
    I took just
five minutes to clean last night's make up off of my face, brush my teeth, and
run my finger's through my bed head before jetting down the steps, only to find
Mom sitting on the couch with toast and fruit on a plate in front of herself.
She had a large glass of iced tea perched on the coffee table next to her, and
her morning pills were lined up, waiting to be taken. I stood before her, my
mouth slightly agape, trying to form words, as she looked at me, nonplussed,
before she said, "What? You think I can't peel a damn orange?" and
shook her head back and forth.
     
    I stammered,
"I...I didn't say anything, Mom. It's just, I usually get your breakfast,
and..."
     
    She cut me off
suddenly. "Do I look like I need a babysitter? "
     
    I was
completely taken aback. All this time, I thought I was helping my mom, getting
her things for her, rounding up her medications and reminding her to take them
before it was time. Making her meals, and even cutting up her steak, and such.
When I look back upon the time I started doing things like those, Mom had
become more and more agitated. I thought maybe she was in depression, or pain.
Maybe she was just pissed at being treating like a child. I can see where a
capable adult would be. "No, Mom, you look absolutely qualified to handle
peeling an orange," I squeaked out. She shot me the stink eye. "Mom,
are you upset with me because I've been babying you?" She simply shrugged.
I took it as a 'yes'. "Mom, why didn't you just say so? You've never been
one to hold your tongue, you know," I ribbed.
     
    She wiped her
hands and mouth with her napkin and set her plate down, before leaning back
against the couch, and taking in a deep breath. Her breathing had become more
labored as of late. "Hailey Marie Dawson, you're my kid, and I love ya.
I'll love ya till the Lord sees fit to take me home." Tears gathered in my
eyes. She only ever used my full name to either yell at me as a child, or as an
endearment. She continued, "But child, I'm a grown woman. I have my good
days, and my bad." She gave me a pointed stare, and I nodded my
understanding. "Now, if I need you, I'll let you know; otherwise, for my
sanity, child, please quit hoverin' over me.
You're always interrupting my shows, asking me how I'm feeling. How do you
think I feel? I feel like crapola! But life goes on, Hailey. What do ya want me
to do? Go to a nursing home and take up crocheting and bingo? Sweet Jesus, take
me now! 'Cause that's not gonna happen. If