Unfinished Business Read Online Free Page B

wrong when his father never returned to the family he had deserted.
    The day he had realized the truth, that all the love in the world wouldn’t make his father return, he had lost control and totally trashed his bedroom. On that day he had promised himself that no matter what, he would never fall in love and no one would ever make him lose control of his emotions again. By the time Alex left for college at sixteen, he had learned a hard lesson in life and had vowed never to put stock in the power of love.
    His thoughts shifted back to Christy and he felt a deep pounding of his heart in his chest. If it wasn’t love he was feeling, than what was it? What had him in such turmoil at the thought of her with someone else?
    He rubbed his hand down his face, feeling both mentally and physically exhausted. Moments later, he released a slow breath. He might not want any part of love, but he did want Christy.
    And no matter what, he was determined to have her.
     

 
     

CHAPTER 2
     

 
     

     
      “So, how was your date last night with Kevin?”
    Christy glanced up as Shemell Parker dropped down into the chair next to her desk. It was at the party Shemell had given where Christy and Kevin had met. He had recently moved into Shemell’s apartment complex and she had invited him.
    Shemell was twenty-six and was the first one to welcome Christy to the Cincinnati Enquirer when she began working there a month ago. She was a reporter for the entertainment section and was determined to find the perfect man to marry before her thirtieth birthday.
    Christy smiled thinking of her date with Kevin last night. “It was fun. In fact, we’re going dancing at the club again tonight.”
    Shemell beamed. “Umm, two nights in a row. Things are sounding serious.”
    Christy shook her head as she tossed the file she’d been working on aside. “Trust me, it’s not. He’s just a lot of fun and I have a lot of nervous energy to work off.”
    There was no need to explain that it was probably more anger she was working off than nervous energy. Alex showing up at her place unexpectedly last night hadn’t been a good thing. And to make matters worse, it had been Alex and not Kevin who had intruded into her dreams, igniting some of those basic urges that would come to the forefront whenever Alex was around.
    “Well, I’m glad you and Kevin seem to be hitting it off. I don’t know a lot about him, but he seems to be a—”
    Shemell stopped talking in midsentence when her gaze latched on to someone who had entered the newsroom. Christy glanced over her shoulder to see who had gotten Shemell’s attention, and all she saw was a middle-aged white woman who was walking toward her boss, Malcolm Wilcox’s office. It seemed everyone had stopped what they were doing and was staring.
    “What’s going on?” Christy whispered, curious as to what was happening.
    Shemell shook her head sadly. “That’s Morganna Patterson. Her family used to be one of the pillars of the communities until around five years ago, when their manufacturing company went bankrupt and the family hit rock bottom. But the Patterson name still carries some weight in this town, especially since her great-grandfather was one of the founders of the Enquirer .”
    Christy nodded. “Why do you think she’s here?”
    Shemell sighed. “Probably because her daughter has contacted her again with more information.”
    Christy raised a brow. “I don’t understand. What kind of information?”
    Shemell leaned closer to Christy and whispered, “Two years ago Mrs. Patterson’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Bonita, ran away from home. She used to get into all sorts of trouble around town, not being able to handle the family going from riches to rags. So it wasn’t surprising when we heard she had run away without a trace, leaving a note letting her parents know she thought they sucked, because of her financial ruin, like it had been deliberate. She was nothing but a spoiled, ungrateful