Yesterday's Tomorrows Read Online Free

was promoting. I guess they thought it made them look like they cared more about people than the almighty bottom line in the accounting department.
    Now, I was anxious to be done with my unexpected chore and to get away from the woman who wasn't anything that I expected.
    A few yards down the street I gestured toward my black Ford F-350 truck and double-clicked on the key fob to unlock the doors. Most of my colleagues drove foreign luxury cars, but I didn't spend time defending my country as a Marine to buy some fancyass excuse for manhood by a foreign manufacturer. It pissed me off most of the parts were made overseas, but at least it was an American company.
    I assisted Madelyn into the passenger seat, watching as she ran her fingers over the soft leather of the seat. I might like the durability of my truck, but that didn't mean I didn't like perks on the inside. By the time I'd climbed into my side, she was staring out her window with her hands folded demurely in her lap.
    The V8 engine started with a roar before settling into a purr. I hesitated, drumming my thumbs on the steering wheel. Madelyn still hadn't made a peep. Sighing, I angled my body toward her. "Are you alright?" I asked.
    Her head gave a jerky nod as she folded one of her arms across her stomach and propped her other arm on the door, cradling her chin in her hand. She appeared to be fascinated by a blue jay who was attempting to overtake a small sidewalk puddle that had already been claimed by a smaller brown bird. Her upper lip lifted ever so slightly as the smaller of the two birds pecked its way to victory and was now bobbing its head and flapping its wings as if it was doing a celebratory dance.
    It seemed we were both advocates for the underdog.
    Deciding it was better to respect her need for silence, and knowing she wasn't my problem for much longer, I shifted the truck into drive and pulled away from the curb. As I navigated the roads toward downtown, I couldn't help but notice that her free hand was flexing on her thigh, alternatively pinching then smoothing the denim. It was hard to recognize this uncertain girl as the same woman who'd stood up to me with such snark a short while ago.
    Curiosity drove me to finally ask, "Why didn't you defend yourself to that woman? Or why didn't you let me report her for harassment?"
    Her eyes remained glued to the road for several minutes before turning toward me. "Did you see the looks on her girls' faces? They were so scared. They didn't need anyone to make things worse for them." She wrapped one arm around her waist and raised the other so she could gnaw on her thumb. "They've already lost enough. I won't be the cause of any more hurt for them. I just wished she hadn't done it in front of them." Her voice was soft but resolute.
    A murderer with a heart?
    I darted another look at her, impressed by her insight and caring, yet bewildered by the contradictions I'd witnessed in the twenty minutes or so I'd spent with her. I'd seen the bright look of eagerness on her face when she entered the greeting room, followed by the slump of her shoulders when she didn't recognize anyone sitting in the chairs. I watched her swallow hard and square her shoulders when she thought she was on her own. She even earned a kernel of my admiration when she feistily called me out for my lack of manners, only to stand with quiet dignity as Mrs. Regis unleashed a wave of fury upon her, and now this sympathy for these girls.
    Part of me wanted to hate her. I had literally been brought me to my knees when I lost the other half of my heart. If someone had knowingly and deliberately taken her from me, I'd be full of hatred and bent on revenge. Hell, even as it was I'd been so full of anger, so ready to kill someone - even myself. Mrs. Regis had reason to feel so pissed off; her security for herself and her girls had been stolen, in addition to losing her lover and best friend. At least, in theory , I reminded myself. She seemed more upset