Silver Falls by Anne Stuart Read Free Book Online Page B

locked it, before heading into the bathroom. She turned on the hot water, then began to pull off her clothes.
    There were too many mirrors in the bathroom—she always hated the unexpected views she’d get of her less than perfect body, and she tried to avoid it, but it was close to impossible. She pulled the tank over her head, and then paused.
    There was blood on her mouth. A smear of blood over her lips, and she realized he’d done it when he’d been trying to kiss her.
    Now wonder he’d freaked out. David had a horror of blood—whenever he had some drawn for a medical test he fainted. The one time she’d scraped her knuckles grating cheese he’d left the kitchen in a blind panic.
    She grabbed some toilet paper and dabbed at her lip. David’s sensitivity was one of the things she loved about him.
    But right now she was feeling more than a little annoyed. He was the one who’d made her bleed—he had no right running off like a scared little girl.
    â€œFuck it,” she said out loud, savoring the forbidden word, and climbed into the shower. Tomorrow morning she’d be solicitous and caring. Tomorrow her split lip would be almost healed and he’d come to her bed and finish what he’d started. For now, she was going to savor her solitude.

4
    S ophie dumped her school books in her locker just as Kristen caught up with her. “How was the guidance counselor?”
    Sophie made a face. “She asked me if I masturbated.”
    â€œEww,” Kristen said. “I always thought she was a perv. Did you tell her you and I turned tricks every weekend down at the roadhouse?”
    Sophie laughed. “If I’d thought of it, I would have. She wouldn’t believe I wasn’t having a full-blown meltdown, so I had to placate her with a few tears.”
    â€œSpeaking of which, why aren’t you having a full-blown meltdown? Your best friend was murdered six months ago, and now another girl’s been killed, and you seem to be taking it in stride. Don’t you care? I’d be having hysterics.”
    Sophie looked at her. “I thought you knew me better than that. I don’t have hysterics.” She shovedher locker shut, hoisting her backpack over her shoulder. “There’s nothing I can do about it. It creeps me out that someone was murdered, it reminds me of Tessa. But that happened in San Francisco—there’s no connection. I’m mostly worried about my mom freaking out. She goes into full protect mode and she’s just as likely to throw me in a car and start driving without thinking it through.”
    â€œWouldn’t that be a good thing? I thought you didn’t like it here.”
    â€œI like it here well enough,” she said with a shrug. “And my mom’s really happy. She’s so in love with David that she’s not thinking clearly. She worships the ground he walks on.”
    â€œThat doesn’t sound like your mother,” Kristen said doubtfully.
    â€œShe does it in her own way,” Sophie muttered. “At least she doesn’t hang on him. But there’s no other reason she would have just thrown everything away and married him. We had a wonderful life when we were traveling. I thought she loved it as much as I did.”
    â€œMaybe she was ready to settle down.”
    â€œI guess. But why did she have to pick David?” She couldn’t keep the dislike out of her voice.
    â€œI still don’t understand why he bothers you so much. I’ve always thought he was pretty cute. Areyou sure you’re not doing that jealous thing? Most daughters don’t want to see their mothers remarried. They don’t want to share.”
    â€œShe was never married in the first place. And I’d be happy to share her. Just not with David Middleton,” Sophie said firmly.
    â€œAnd you don’t have any solid reason why you don’t like him?”
    â€œNope. But as long as