Lessons From a Younger Lover by Zuri Day Read Free Book Online Page A

hers, tongue swirls and love bites. She remembered his eyes, and imagined drowning in their depths as he professed his undying love. He was tall and hard and beautiful. She imagined that his…well…all of him was as perfect as what she’d already seen.
    When she’d asked Chantay about him, her usually know-everything-about-everybody friend drew a blank. At one point, she’d almost called Joanna, the fellow first-grade Sienna teacher. But she didn’t feel she knew her well enough to enlist her help on a personal matter.
    And just what matter is that? she asked herself. Joe violated his wedding vows but you’re still a married woman, Gwen Smith. And you’ve got priorities—your mother and your job. Whoever that man was, okay whoever that fine, strapping, gorgeous chunk of oh-my-goodness is, makes no difference to you…no difference at all!
    Draining the last of her chocolate, Gwen tried to chase away the erotic thoughts by turning to the bird bath and methodically cleaning out the debris. Soon memories of her and her dad visiting on this very bench replaced thoughts of him . Just when she felt the tension leaving her shoulders, a sound interrupted her peace. She started and looked around her. It had gotten dark, and while there were back porch lights on at various houses, it was hard to see past ten or so feet. After looking around for a moment, she went back to cleaning the bird bath. And then another sound, something scraping or being dragged, a creaking of wood.
    Gwen strained to see into the darkness. This was Sienna, the small podunk town that was almost as clean cut and drama free as Mayberry. At least it used to be, when she was growing up. But hadn’t Miss Mary said things had changed since then? Gwen’s heart began to beat a little faster as she heard the distinct sound of footsteps. How could that be? The yards were all covered with grass and inlaid with either cobblestone or large rocks to make paths. This was the creaking of footsteps across wood. It didn’t make sense. Gwen tried to calm herself down. “You’re being silly,” she said aloud.
    And then she saw him. An unmistakable figure crawling on the roof of her neighbor’s house. Miss Mary! Just as she was about to yell out, the figure disappeared into a window sitting on the roof’s backside. Her attic! He’s gone inside her attic!
    Gwen sprinted inside her house and dialed 9–1-1.

8
    Officers Young and Lopez approached the front of the Walker residence, while two others ran around the house to the back. Carlos Lopez placed a hand on the handle of his weapon as he cautiously approached the front porch. His partner, Young, drew his weapon and planted himself at the side of the house, with a clear shot to whoever answered his partner’s knock.
    Carlos silently stepped up on the porch, peering into the medium-sized picture window as he did so. The curtains were drawn, but part of the material had caught on a knickknack positioned on the television console. Carlos motioned to his partner, then cautiously stepped closer and peered inside.
    There were two people sitting on the couch: an older woman and a younger man. The man leaned over and spoke to the woman, eliciting a hearty laugh. She reached for a plate of cookies and offered one to him. He objected briefly, running a hand across his midsection, before taking one.
    Carlos frowned as he walked over to the door and knocked. “Mrs. Walker, this is the police. Open up.” There was a flurry of footsteps before a cautious pair of eyes appeared above the rim of a small window in the middle of the door. “It’s the police,” she said to her visitor. He joined her in the small foyer and soon his eyes peered down squarely at the officer at the door.
    â€œOpen up, Ransom.” Carlos sighed.
    Ransom assured Mrs. Walker all was well, and then opened the door.
    â€œWhat’s going on, man?” Ransom asked his