Hard Core by Tess Oliver Read Free Book Online Page A

still cast plenty of light on the sand. As diligent as Jacy was at taking an early morning walk on the beach, she didn’t always walk in the afternoon. Not that I hadn’t still kept my eye out for her. I had. But she never walked past. I was still feeling the sting of disappointment after my visit to her shop. But I easily reminded myself that I was not good enough to be part of her life. She deserved the best, and I was laughably far from that.
    The chair made an angry sound as I leaned back and once again questioned my decision to furnish my place with garbage bin relics. The knock on my door that followed was light enough to be shrugged off as wind pushing against it. The next knock was hesitant but louder.
    I put down the soda and pushed to my feet. My pulse raced as my hand wrapped around the doorknob. I knew it was her on the other side of the door. I could feel her standing there.
    I opened the door. God, she was fucking unbelievable.
    Her hands were tucked in her back pockets as she shrugged. “I was feeling like a heel this morning. Truth is, you interest me, and I haven’t felt interest in anyone in a long time. If we could still be friends, I’d really like that.” She paused. I stood silent like a fool. “Now it’s your turn to say something because I’m out of stuff to say.”
    I found that it was always easier to swallow back all the feelings first when I was trying to talk to her. “I’d really like it too, Jacy.”
    She pulled her hands from her pockets and wrapped them around herself to remind the dolt in the doorway that it was cold outside.
    I stepped back. “Come on in. I’ve got some new furniture.”
    She walked inside and smiled at the two crummy chairs situated right in front of the picture window. “I like what you’ve done to the place.” She followed her observation with a soft laugh.
    Again, I knew I was staring, but I didn’t give a fuck.
    She pushed one of her many unruly strands of hair behind her ear. A tiny diamond earring sparkled back at me. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing. I just wish there was a way to bottle your laugh. I’d wear it on a chain around my neck. That way, I could listen to it anytime.”
    “That is so darn poetic and unexpected. Nothing about you makes sense, Ledger. Do you know that?”
    “Learned that long ago, unfortunately.”
    “No, I meant that as a compliment. Guess I’m not very good at tossing those around.”
    “Nah, I’m just not used to hearing them.”
    She walked over to the window and looked out at the beach. “Your view is better than mine.”
    “The view is pretty much the only good thing about this place. Even the doors don’t lock.” I swept my hand around the room. “Which is no big deal considering the worth of my valuables.”
    “But aren’t you worried about someone coming in and attacking—” She stopped and looked at me. “Never mind. A person would have to be crazy to do that.”
    That conclusion made me smile. “Can I get you a soda? I don’t have any beer or wine. I try to stay away from the stuff.”
    She looked back at me. “Does beer make you mean?” It seemed the second the question came out, she wanted to take it back. A pink blush covered her cheeks. “God, I’m sorry. What a stupid thing to ask.”
    I badly wanted to tell her that I knew, that I wished I could have been there to stop it all. “You don’t need to apologize. It’s a legitimate question. I don’t get mean. I just don’t know when to stop, and then stupidness follows, usually in the form of really bad decisions. In other words, I’m not a mean drunk. I’m a goofball drunk.”
    She laughed, but it was more a sigh of relief.
    I walked to the ice chest and pulled out a drink. She stared down at the chair as I handed her the can.
    “I asked all spiders to vacate, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
    Her blue eyes rounded. “Actually, I wasn’t, but now I am. Did you see them leave or are you just hoping that they listened to