Lost & Found Read Online Free Page A

head. Where was she? A man’s hard body was beneath her, his strong arms around her. What was that noise?
    Some scuffling, another bang and then Derek’s slurred voice from across the room. “Hey. What’sh going on here?”
    If that was Derek standing in the kitchen, who was…oh, yeah. Nate. Krissa struggled to sit up, pushing her hair out of her face, while Nate released her and rubbed his eyes.
    “Derek.” She sat on the couch, hands on the cushion on either side of her hips as she leaned forward, struggled to focus on him in the dark. “Where were you?”
    His shirt was rumpled, tie gone, collar unbuttoned. His suit jacket lay on the floor in a heap with his shoes. His blond hair stood up and he stared at them with blurry eyes.
    He took two unsteady steps forward. His brows drew together. “Nate?”
    “Yeah, Nate.” Gathering her sleepy wits, she stood up. “You’re drunk, you idiot. Nate is here, remember? You were supposed to pick him up at the airport?”
    Derek stared in confusion at his old friend. Nate pushed a hand through his hair and stood up, too. “Hey, man. Good to see you.”
    Nate moved over to Derek to give him a masculine hug and slap on the back. Derek returned it but still seemed disoriented. “I forgot you were coming, bud.”
    “Yeah, you and Krissa both. Good to know I’m so memorable.”
    Derek swayed on his feet.
    “Looks like you’ve been having a good time.” Nate’s voice hardened. “Have a seat, man.”
    He pushed Derek down to the couch and he went down easily, almost falling.
    Krissa wrapped her arms around herself. The room was very warm from the fireplace that had been going for the last few hours, but a chill stroked over her skin. She glanced at her watch. “Derek, it’s two in the morning, for God’s sake. Where the hell have you been?”
    He gazed back at her bleary-eyed, sadness not obliterated by intoxication. “I’m sorry, Krissa.”
    She rolled her lips in, sank her teeth into the top lip. She closed her eyes, and turned away, her chest tightening.
    “Sorry to you too, Nate,” Derek said. “I totally forgot.” He sighed.
    “Don’t worry about me,” Nate said. “But Krissa was worried about you, man. Go to bed. We’ll talk in the morning. When you’re sober.”
    Derek scrubbed his hands over his face, sagged back into the couch, and blinked at them. “You’re right. I’m an asshole.” He focused on Krissa. “Sorry I didn’t call, baby.”
    She shook her head, trying to keep her anger going in the face of his apology. He was not going to get off that easy, this time.
    Nate looked at Krissa. “Want me to help get him to bed?”
    “I can get to bed.” Derek stood, wavering.
    “Sure, buddy. Come on.” Without waiting for Krissa, Nate led Derek up the stairs and into the master bedroom. Krista followed. “My assistance stops at helping you undress,” he told Derek, his mouth quirking at the corners.
    “I’ll do that,” Krissa said.
    Their eyes met. “Okay. Good night, Krissa.”
    “Thanks, Nate.” Her voice was low. He disappeared, shutting their bedroom door behind him.
    Krissa turned. Derek had fallen onto the bed, asleep. Or passed out more likely, still fully clothed.
    She went into the adjoining bathroom, the brightness of the light stinging her eyes when she turned it on. She stared at herself in the mirror that covered one wall. Her hair was a tangled mess, her eyes swollen from crying, mascara smeared under them. Oh lord, she looked atrocious. Derek hadn’t likely noticed in the condition he was in, but Nate probably had. Then again, they’d been in the dark.
    She brushed her teeth and washed her face, changed into the nightie hanging on the back of the door. She flicked off the light and returned to the bedroom.
    The rumble of Derek’s snoring and the odor of alcohol, cigarettes and perfume that wasn’t hers permeated the room. Krissa stared at him, lips pressed together, her stomach in a tight knot. Then she left their