Love Scars by Lark Lane Read Free Book Online Page A

looked, Brad’s angel had just agreed to marry another man.
    Shit, the dude looked messed up. Maybe it really was love this time.
    Nora’s attention shifted to Brad. She cared about everybody. It wasn’t easy to walk away from Nora. But it was imperative I did. I turned away.
    “Brad, I’m so sorry,” I heard her say behind me.
    A cloud of mint and rosemary pursued me across the lawn, tormenting me. I couldn’t get away fast enough. As I reached the side gate, Brad caught up with me.
    “What are you doing?” he said. “You can’t leave.”
    Over his shoulder, I watched Nora leave the dancing and take the path to the garden. I wanted to follow her, run my hands through her hair, pull her close and kiss those lips.
    “We’ll find another way,” I told Brad. “I can’t do it. I’m getting the Pashley and riding home.”
    “Well, that’s just crazy,” Brad said.
    “I can’t, Brad. She’s too…”
    “I mean it’s crazy to ride right now. It’s getting dark and the Friday night drunks are out. I’ll drive you.”
    “It’s not that late. I want the exercise,” I said. “And man, I’m sorry about Lisa. She seems great. She’s definitely beautiful. Tonight the better man did not win.”
    “That’s the thing, dude,” Brad said. “When I look at it objectively, maybe Frank is the better man.”
    “I think not.” I got the bike out of the back of the SUV. “You’re an organizational genius, not to mention a tech billionaire.”
    Oops. We both looked around to make sure no one was listening.
    “Yeah, there’s that,” Brad said. “But can I cure a sick alpaca? Do I make Lisa laugh? No. And no.”
    “And you suck at cranberry martinis.”
    There. He laughed. He’d be okay.
    “I thought I was going to puke,” he said. “Give me a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale any day of the year.”
    While I strapped on my helmet, Brad turned his SUV around and headed down the driveway. I mounted the bike, eager to burn off my frustration. It was a beautiful evening, the stars were blazing, and there was a perfect crescent moon. I breathed in the scent of the lilacs that lined the driveway. Brad was going to be okay. I was going to be okay.
    Fuck Steve Heron. We’d just have to get our ducks in a row before MolyMo could make its move. Everything was going to be okay.
    I heard a scream like it was the end of the world. Then another.
    Nora.
    I spun the bike around and headed for the side gate. It was slightly ajar, and I plowed into it, knocking it wide open as I rode through. The music had stopped and people were just standing there on the grass, stunned and confused. They parted like I was Moses when they saw me coming.
    I hit the pathway to the garden and passed Frank and Lisa, both running toward the screams.
    “Dead!” Nora stood by the fountain, screaming. “You’re dead! Dead!”
    Half a dozen clowns from the party surrounded her, staring, doing nothing. Shitheads.
    “What are you doing to her?” I said. I dismounted and tossed the bike to the side.
    “Nothing, dude,” one guy said in a drunken haze. “We were just having a water balloon fight.”
    “Yeah, just having some fun,” said another. “Harmless.”
    I put my arms around Nora, but she fought me.
    “Dead!” she screamed and pounded on my chest. Her fists were clenched and hard as rocks.
    I hugged her tighter.
    She seemed to calm down, if slightly. “You’re all de-e-e-e-ead.” Her screams morphed into sobs.
    “It’s okay,” I said. I hugged her and kissed the top of her hair. “I’m here.”
    “Time to go,” Frank said to the clowns behind me. He sounded like someone you didn’t want to cross. Maybe Brad was right about that guy.
    “Now.” Lisa glared at the assholiest of the assholes until he nodded.
    I rocked Nora in my arms. Over and over, I told her everything would be okay, with no idea of it being true. In the distance I heard Frank and Lisa chasing off the drunks and shutting the party down.
    “You’re dead,” Nora