Tempted Again by Cathie Linz Read Free Book Online Page B

lease—providing her references checked out. “Which I’m sure they will,” Sally said. “Your dad has been a professor at the college for as long as I can remember. Everyone knows him.”
    Did they really? Because despite living at home for a few weeks, Marissa had yet to feel like she knew him. She knew things
about
him, sure. Like the fact that he loved quoting Terry Pratchett’s novels. But that was different than really knowing him.
    She was no Pollyanna. She realized that lots of parents didn’t tell their kids that they were proud of them.Her work with young adults had told her that. Many came from single-parent households where the struggle to get from paycheck to paycheck took every ounce of energy the family had.
    “Your mom and I share the same hairdresser,” Sally was saying. “And the same manicurist at Liz’s Nails.”
    Marissa hid her hands in her tote bag as she dug for her car keys. She hadn’t had a manicure in more than a year. When it came down to a choice between food and good nails, she’d gone with food. Her sister, Jess, would most likely have gone with the good nails option. Just one of many ways they were different.
    “Plus you’re working at the library here now,” Sally said. “Your boss, Roz, and I are in the same book club group. We’re also in the same knitter’s group. Do you knit?”
    “No. I’ve done some crocheting but that’s about it.”
    “You should try knitting. It’s not that hard. Anyway, I’m sure everything will check out. And I’m willing to have you pay the deposit over the next few weeks.”
    “I really appreciate that.”
    “Hey, I went through a divorce myself a number of years ago. I know how hellish it can be.”
    Marissa just nodded.
    “I still get angry about it sometimes,” Sally admitted. “When I do, I put on that Carrie Underwood song ‘Before He Cheats’ and dance. It makes me feel better. You might want to try that when you move in.”
    “I don’t play my music loud,” Marissa assured her. “I usually listen with headphones.”
    Sally laughed. “I never thought you’d be rowdy.”
    “I’m not.”
    “I believe you.”
    “I’ll be back later today to sign the lease.”
    “That’s fine.Unless you want to sign it now?”
    “Really?”
    “I’m a good judge of character and as I said, I know your parents. You’re a local.” Sally nodded. “I don’t need to check your references any more than that. If you want to sign the lease now…”
    “I do.”
    Marissa didn’t even read it before signing, she was in such a hurry to get things finalized. Finally a place where she could put her own things and not live in days gone by.
    “Great.” Sally added her signature on both copies and gave Marissa her lease while keeping the other for herself. “It’s a safe building.” Sally said. “You couldn’t find a more secure place because the sheriff lives here. Next door to you, in fact.”
    Marissa’s stomach dropped. “The sheriff?”
    Sally nodded. “Connor Doyle.”
    For a second, Marissa wanted to grab that lease back and rip it in shreds. How was she going to manage having Connor as her neighbor? She should have recognized the building from that Sunday morning when she’d been out walking and he’d confronted her, but she hadn’t. After all, he’d appeared out of nowhere and she’d walked away. It never occurred to her that he might have an apartment right here.
    Sally said, “The college kids aren’t eager to live near the local law for some reason. But you’re different. I’ll bet it will make you sleep easier at night.”
    Marissa seriously doubted that.

Chapter Four
     

     
    “Are you okay?” Sally put a hand on Marissa’s arm. “You’ve gone all pale.”
    “I’m okay.”
    “Do you need a glass of water or something?”
    Marissa shook her head.
    “Look, here he comes now,” Sally said.
    Marissa didn’t have time to run for it. Besides, that would be the cowardly thing to do. Appealing but