Only in Time (A Mystique Antiques Novella) by Kelli McCracken Read Free Book Online Page B

her heart into another tizzy. Silent prayers passed over her lips. Hopefully it was Cassie coming to tell her the cab had arrived. Or maybe someone else from the bar wanted to hit the stogie being passed between the group.
    A low, husky voice finally filled her ears. “Ally?”
    Damn… Just the person she hoped it wouldn’t be.
    A cautious turn had her facing Jonah. She feigned a smile for him, all the while dying inside. Juniper lingered in the air. The familiar scent teased her nose, reminding her of all the times she cried on his shoulder when she thought about her dad.
    “Jonah. Wow! What a surprise it is to see you. It’s been—”
    “Six years.” How nice of him to remember. “I almost didn’t recognize you. You look great, Ally.”
    Laughter exploded from the group behind, drawing his attention toward them, but Ally couldn’t think about anything other than the words she’d just heard. Maybe he hadn’t recognized her like she thought. Then again, maybe this was part of his game. Pretend like he hadn’t known it was her. That he hadn’t tried seducing her with his eyes.
    “What brings you back home?” He asked, his eyes still focused on the group near the dumpsters.
    She sucked in a deep breath, not ready to give him every detail of her life. “I just moved back this week.” Pressing her lips together, she stopped herself from revealing how close she lived to his old house. If he still lived in the area, he’d find out soon enough. “What about you? Is Savannah still home?”
    Lime green eyes locked with hers. A twinkle of humor played within them, and the side of his mouth as it crooked. “Savannah will always be home. But no, I don’t live here anymore. Only came back to help out Theo.”
    The Fates hated her. Why else had this happened? The odds of them running into each other, under such circumstances, should have been impossible. Yet here they stood, a mere foot away from each other. At least he’d be leaving soon. Probably after the show.
    “Are you guys heading out after this gig?”
    He took a few steps toward the outer wall, leaning his back against it as he tucked his hands in his pockets. “No. Well, I shouldn’t even be here right now. I was scheduled to leave this afternoon, but another opportunity presented itself, so I’m staying until the fifteenth.”
    Ally couldn’t help but wonder if she were this other opportunity . Now that he knew she lived here, had he decided to stick around and play with her heart some more? As if he hadn’t done enough damage six years ago.
    “Is this your last stop on the tour?”
    His brow creased as he stared at her. “Um, I’m not on—oh, wait a minute. Of course you would think that.” A chuckle slipped past his lips. “I left Theo’s band almost a year after you left. I’m actually a sound producer, now. Long story on how that happened, but that’s what led me to L.A.”
    “Oh.” Ally couldn’t muster anything else. Curiosity took hold. Music meant the world to Jonah. Rather, making music. What would make him want to give that up to produce?
    She shouldn’t care. The more she learned about him, the harder it would be to forget about him once he left. And he would leave. Would break her heart again if she allowed it.
    The tension between them increased the longer they stared at each other in silence. Guess this turned just as awkward for him. Good. Maybe he would say his goodbyes and leave her in peace.
    He cleared his throat, shifting his stance to the other foot. The wall continued to support him while he gawked at her. “Well, since I’m in town for another week…” Here it came. “I was wondering if maybe you’d like to go—”
    Metal smacked against the concrete as a woman came running out the door. Not just any woman. Cassie.
    “God, there you are!” She made her way to Ally, not acknowledging Jonah’s presence. “What are you doing out here? I thought you were going to wait in the bathroom for five