Friends and Lovers by Tara Mills Read Free Book Online

her areolas and nipples growing more distinct the closer she got to him.
    She bobbed to a stop and smiled up at him. Wes jerked his eyes back to Lauren’s and gave her a grateful smile in return.
    “All set?” he asked.
    “All set.”
    They crossed with the light and passed into the shady oasis of flower beds and lush green grass. A grounds crew was trimming along the ornamental fence and the sound of at least two lawnmowers could be heard in the distance.
    “You know, I hardly ever find the time to walk in this park anymore,” she said sadly.
    “I don’t either.” His eyes slipped down to her blouse and Wes sighed. Without the direct sunshine it wasn’t transparent anymore. Bummer.
    “How’ve you been?” he asked, shrugging off his disappointment.
    She laughed lightly. “You mean since the other night? Fine. You?”
    “Good.”
    Wes put his hands in his pockets and jiggled his keys and change. She glanced over and smiled but didn’t say anything.
    They strolled quietly toward the center of the park. Wes’s mind was on Lauren, but she seemed miles away. When they reached the fountain Lauren walked to one of the benches and sat down, facing it. Wes meandered over and settled beside her, his right elbow crooked over the back.
    Lauren stared blankly at the fountain for several silent beats before saying softly, “Sarah’s husband’s parole hearing is coming up next month.”
    One of his eyebrows arched up. “Are you going?”
    She expelled a deep sigh. “That’s the plan. My parents can’t handle it, so I get to make the victim impact statement for us.”
    “You could send it.”
    “I know, but I want to see him, face him. He should know he’s not forgiven and never will be. I’m going to do everything in my power to keep him behind bars for his full and inadequate sentence.”
    Wes picked his words carefully. “Of course you know once his sentence is served, technically he will be forgiven, at least from a legal standpoint.”
    “It isn’t enough!” There was impotent fury in her voice. “He took two lives, after making them suffer hell first. It wasn’t an accident. Will stalked Sarah, terrorized her, yet he’s going to go free whether I can delay it or not. It doesn’t seem right.”
    “No, it doesn’t, but until our laws change that’s what we’ve got.”
    She snorted bitterly and repeated, “It isn’t enough. As far as I’m concerned they should lock these guys up and lose their files and the keys to their cells, but that’s not going to happen.”
    Lauren stood abruptly and walked to the fountain. She pulled her purse around, obviously searching for money. Wes followed her, fishing in his pocket for spare change. He held out his open palm. “Here.”
    She took one of the quarters and squeezed her eyes closed to make a wish. With a flick she sent the quarter spinning through the air. They both watched it settle on the bottom among the rest of the glittering coins. Wes took the other coin and with a quick glance at her, sent it tumbling into one of the falls.
    “You know, I never hated anyone before. But I hate him. I hate Will.” Lauren shook her head. “We all knew Sarah was too good for him. Why did he have to prove us right like this ?”
    Wes didn’t know what to say. Finally he asked carefully, “Have you had counseling?”
    Lauren gave a harsh laugh. “Yes.”
    “Still going?”
    “I don’t think I can forgive when I’m still this angry.”
    Anger. He could help her with that. “Maybe I have a way to help you deal with it. Care to get sweaty?”
    Already pumped up on emotion she spun on him indignantly. “Sweaty, angry sex? That’s your answer?”
    Wes’s head snapped back as if she’d struck him, and his hands came up defensively. “No! Stop jumping to conclusions. I was going to suggest that we put you in boxing gloves and let you work out some of that aggression.”
    “Boxing?”
    “Trust me, you’ll feel better, mentally and physically.”
    “I