My Immortal by Wendi Zwaduk Read Free Book Online Page A

giant boxes of fresh produce decorated the windows at the Dorgan Family Grocery. The original stencilled letters and a selection of neon wigs welcomed patrons into the Cut Above Beauty Salon.
    The centrepiece of the town was the New Haven Empress Hotel. Four opaque oval windows peeked through ten white columns with Corinthian capitals that lined the front of the building. A wide strip of red all-weather carpeting led to the ornate bronze doors. Each time they passed the hotel, Stevie sent silent wishes that she could stay once in the elaborate building.
    For all the lush history, the town also bore its share of rough spots. The downturn in the economy showed in the increasing number of crumbling ‘For Sale’ and ‘Out of Business’ signs. Plywood and duct tape covered the bevelled glass windows on the old Firelands Insurance building. Potholes marred the once grand avenue that led through town.
    Stevie sighed. No matter how run-down and decrepit New Haven looked, she still loved it and called it home. She grew up here and would most likely die here as well, buried in the same cemetery where her grandparents rested.
    Storm accelerated through the green light and cleared his throat. “What are you thinking about, Stevie?”
    She blushed and turned her attention back to the man in the driver’s seat. “I wondered what it would be like to stay in the Empress Hotel,” she mumbled. “Expensive, I assume.”
    “We’re supposed to meet at Trixie’s Diner at eight, but why don’t we plan to stay there when the Tripp case closes?” Storm drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in time with the current song on the radio.
    A combination of shock and elation slid through her. Storm never failed to surprise her. “I’ll hold you to that.”
    “Please do.” He grabbed her hand and placed it on his lap. “We deserve a vacation.”
    Stevie massaged his thigh through the butter soft denim. “Why don’t you get the table and I’ll walk the deposit to the bank? I know they won’t get it until Monday morning, but I’d rather not have that much cash in hand.”
    “I watch the news. Too many people would kill to get their hands on that much money. I’ll have you take it in the morning.”
    “In New Haven? They don’t even lock their doors.” She scrunched her nose. “The security lights are bright and I’ve got my gun. I know how to take care of myself. It won’t take me long to walk next door. I’ll be fine.”
    Storm parked the truck and squeezed her hand. The tingle ricocheted through her body. “I don’t like it, because I have a bad feeling. I worry about your safety, but I trust you.”
    “I’ll carry my mace in my pocket and my gun in my purse, so you can ignore the spooky feeling.” She kissed his cheek and lingered on the corner of his mouth. The taste of spearmint toothpaste and sheer Storm flicked on her tongue.
    She broke away, only to notice how his heavy-lidded gaze caressed her body. She shivered and got out of the vehicle. If they stayed in the cab much longer, the deposit would be the least of her worries.
    The walk to the bank was only a short distance and it felt like she floated on a cloud the entire way. Stevie grinned yet kept a cautious eye on her surroundings. Despite the low crime rate in New Haven, Storm’s hypersensitivity kicked her paranoia to a new high. She’d never had someone concerned for her safety before and that made her feel, well, grateful.
    She licked her lips and slipped the thick envelope into the night deposit slot. In the space of twenty-four hours, she managed to jump the threshold into a freer existence. If this was love, she welcomed it with open arms. Storm’s unique style of lovemaking skittered around her brain, like a sensuous filmstrip. Her pussy warmed as she thought about him.
    As she eased away from the building, a foreign sweet scent curled around her nose. The bakery wasn’t open this late, so the sweetness couldn’t be a new batch of doughnuts.