Seams of Destruction Read Online Free Page B

barracks, living with someone.”
    “Let’s take these out on the deck and watch the sunset. It’s beautiful as the sun goes down over the ocean.”
    Mitch followed her out and sat down in one of the lounge chairs. Only the clicking of the spoons against the glass dishes broke the silence.
    “What’s on the agenda for this evening?” Mitch asked.
    “I have to get my stuff organized for Milan. Which reminds me. Tomorrow when we go to Sorrento’s, I need to go in and get the dresses I’m taking to the fashion show. After all that has happened, I haven’t picked them up yet.”
    “How many will there be?”
    “Most of them have already been shipped to Milan, so I only have a couple to pick up. The seamstress who was making them took a little longer than usual because Giovanni didn’t like the fit.”
    After Jade put the dishes into the dishwasher, she showed Mitch how to use her satellite TV and video player, in case he wanted to watch a movie. He settled down in a comfortable chair and she headed for her bedroom.
    “I’m going to bed now,” Jade said a couple of hours later as the movie Mitch had been watching began to run the list of credits.
    “Okay. I think I’ll read for a while,” he said and reached for a book on a nearby shelf.
    “Don’t you want to handcuff me to the bed?” she asked sarcastically.
    “That sounds kinda kinky.”
    “I meant, aren’t you afraid I might get away while you’re sleeping.
    “No, I’m a light sleeper,” he replied, ignoring her sarcasm.
    The next morning, Mitch woke up hoping he would be able to take his morning jog. He had had the dream again and after that had spent the rest of the night tossing and turning. Dressing in a T-shirt and running shorts he sat down to put on socks and running shoes. The apartment was quiet, so he had a feeling Jade was still asleep.
    Too bad if she was. He wasn’t here for her convenience.
    He opened the door to her bedroom and peeked inside. Jade was sprawled out on the bed in what looked like a pair of cotton pajamas.
    He entered the room and gave her shoulder a shake.
    “Time to rise and shine,” he said.
    Turning over, Jade stared at him out of sleep swollen eyes. “What time is it?”
    “Time for our morning jog.”
    “You can’t be serious.”
    “It’s either that or I handcuff you to the bed.”
    “The way I feel, I’ll take the handcuffs.”
    “Sorry, it doesn’t look like there’s any place on the bed to fasten them, so you don’t get a choice.”
    She struggled to sit up on the side of the bed. “I think you enjoy torturing me.”
    He nodded slowly.
    “All right. Give me five minutes and I’ll be with you.”
    He left the room and went into the kitchen where he looked for a can of coffee.
    Great! No coffee.
    He couldn’t believe it. By the time he had looked in every cupboard and the refrigerator, Jade had come into the kitchen dressed in a green jogging suit with a matching headband.
    “What are you looking for?” she asked.
    “Coffee.”
    “Since I never drink it, there isn’t any.”
    “We’re going to have to change that.”
    “Are we going jogging or are we going to stand here worrying because there is no coffee?”
    He gave her a disgusted look and headed for the door.
    “There’s a Starbucks a few blocks away, so we can jog that way.”
    “Well, why didn’t you say so?” he asked, feeling grumpy that he had to wait to have his coffee. “Let me grab my wallet.”
    He was back a minute later and they headed for the elevator.
    “I heard you moaning and groaning in the middle of the night,” Jade said as they rode down to the ground level. “Did those hamburgers upset your stomach?”
    He ignored her question and she didn’t pursue it.
    When they walked out of the building Mitch stopped to warm-up. Jade did the same and when they were both ready, she starting jogging toward the ocean.
    Mitch followed her out on the street and adjusted his pace to hers. The morning air felt fresh and he