Sentimental Journey Read Online Free

supple, that reminded her of a wild animal. She remembered the sensation she had felt when her parents had taken her to a zoo in California and she had seen a large wolf loping across an enclosure designed to resemble his native habitat. She had sensed she was looking at something ruthless, predatory and dangerous.
    Staring after Brodie Hayes, Jessica had the same feeling. And as with the wild lobo, she experienced the same compelling fascination to watch Brodie Hayes from a safe distance. But she knew that if she ever met him face to face, she would be terrified.
    Her knees were shaking when he drove away in a battered Chevrolet. Part of her wanted to curl up in the big, overstuffed chair in her room until the trembling stopped. But the stronger urge was to race downstairs to discover her sister's reaction to the meeting.
    It was as easy to slip, unseen, into the family room as it had been to slip out. Her sister was standing at a window, staring at the expansive rear lawn, and Justin was watching her. There was no sign of their father.
    "You should have told him you didn't want to see him again," Justin said with undisguised impatience.
    "That's easier said than done, and I doubt if he would have listened." Jordanna moved away from the window and began nibbling on a fingernail. "God, do you know what he told me, Justin?" She laughed, but it had been a shrill sound. "That I had more class in my little finger than all the girls he knew!"
    "That isn't surprising, considering the kind of girls he knows. You know the reputation the girls have that he dates. If you were ever seen with him, people would say the same thing about you."
    Jessica checked herself just in time from asking what people would say. That wasn't the moment to interrupt the conversation with questions. She kept silent and played the little mouse in the corner.
    "I know that. Believe me, I have no intention of going anywhere with him," Jordanna stated emphatically.
    "I should hope not!"
    Jordanna shuddered and rubbed her arms. "There's something about him that frightens me. I think it's his eyes—they're so piercing. You have the feeling he's looking into your soul. And they never seem to register any emotion. Even when he smiles, his eyes don't."
    "What color are his eyes?" Jessica had piped up, forgetting her vow to remain silent.
    "Blue," Jordanna answered automatically, then exchanged a quick glance with Justin as they both realized she had been listening.
    Since her presence had been noted, Jessica tried to includeherself in the discussion. "I thought he looked dangerous," she added.
    "When have you ever seen him?" Jordanna frowned.
    But Justin smiled. "I'll bet it was from your bedroom window, wasn't it, Jessica?"
    "I wanted to see what he looked like," she answered in defense of her action.
    "You shouldn't spy on people like that." The admonishment came from her sister.
    "What's the matter?" Justin teased. "Afraid of what little sister might see when you and Tom say your good-nights?"
    "Oooh!" Jordanna picked up a pillow from the sofa and threw it at her brother.
    Much to Jessica's regret, the conversation never got back to Brodie Hayes. She knew it was because she was there.
    The second time Jessica had seen Brodie Hayes, she and her sister had been in the house alone. Justin was off playing tennis with some of his buddies. Their father was working and their mother was at a committee meeting of the local auxiliary.
    Skinny and shapeless in her bathing suit, Jessica was swimming in the pool in the backyard. Just as she entered the house through the rear sliding glass doors, the bell at the front door rang.
    "I'll answer it!" she shouted, and raced barefoot to the entryway.
    With the abandonment of a young person, she flung open the front door. Instantly the smile of greeting died as a shaft of cold fear rooted her to the ground. Her hand continued to clutch the doorknob. On the threshold stood Brodie Hayes with his black hair and cool blue eyes.
    "Is