Dangerous Passage (Southern Crimes Book #1): A Novel by Lisa Harris Read Free Book Online Page A

act on his impulse, he felt her tense and pull back. Her gaze dropped.
    “Avery, I’m . . .” He stopped short of saying he was sorry. He wasn’t sorry for wanting to kiss her. Or sorry for wanting her to be a part of his world.
    She stood up and walked toward the basement window. “I wanted to be ready for this.” The setting sun filtered through the glass, casting a soft light across her face as she turned backto him, but he couldn’t read her expression. “I thought I was ready for something more to develop between us.”
    “And now?”
    “Today, I missed lunch with my mom along with my daughter’s swim tryouts because of a murder investigation. I know you are looking for more than just a casual dating relationship, but the bottom line is that I don’t know if I have enough of me to give right now.”
    “I know your life is full, and I’m certainly not trying to demand more of you.” How did he fight for her without pushing her away in the process? “But neither of us are walking into this blindly. We both know what it takes to make a relationship work. And while I realize it’s too early to know where our relationship will end up, all I know how to do is be honest with you. I miss coming home to someone. I miss someone to share my heart with, to wake up to, and snuggle with in front of the fireplace at night.”
    “Which is exactly the problem. I’m not sure I can be that person you want.”
    “Maybe you’re right. Maybe you’re not that person, but I had hoped we could at least see if it were possible.”
    The heartache he’d experienced over losing Ellie resurfaced. There had been so much loss coupled with her death. Marrying his college sweetheart had seemed perfect. They’d planned to start a family, giving him a chance to become to his own children everything his parents had failed to be.
    But none of that had ever happened. The January after their summer wedding Ellie was diagnosed with cancer. Nine months later he lost her forever.
    He glanced back up at Avery. Tonight wasn’t about Ellie, or even his past. It was about the fact that he was falling in love with that woman standing in front of him. She was the complete opposite to Ellie in many ways, but maybe the real problem layin the fact that the two of them had reached different places in life. While he was ready to commit to a relationship, she clearly wasn’t.
    “Maybe I’d better go.” Jackson took a step toward the basement stairs, hoping she’d say something to stop him, while not wanting to push her in a direction she wasn’t willing to take. “I’ll keep you updated on any new developments in the case from my end.”
    “Thank you.” Avery wrapped her arms around her waist. The professional tinge in her voice was back. “I appreciate all your help.”
    Jackson headed up the staircase, wishing he could take back the past few seconds. Wishing she’d say something—anything—to break the tension that had just settled between them. And hoping he hadn’t just managed to push away the best thing that had come into his life in a very, very long time.

8
    A very yawned, then snuggled closer against Tess’s shoulder. Jackson had been right. Somewhere between slices of cold pizza and Emily’s root beer floats, Tess had decided to forgive her for missing the swim tryout.
    Forgiving herself for what had happened between her and Jackson had proven to be far harder.
    Tess and Emily had talked her into watching one of their favorite renditions of the Cinderella story, Ever After . It was a movie she’d already watched a dozen times, but tonight it had taken the first half of the movie just to settle her mind. By the second half, she’d hardly been able to keep her eyes open.
    Emily echoed her yawn from the other side of the couch as the final credits rolled. “I don’t know about you ladies, but I’m going to have to call it a night.”
    “You’re not the only one.” Avery nudged Tess with her elbow. “You’ll never