The Wrong Man by Lane Hayes Read Free Book Online

into a soft snore. I watched him closely for a moment, amazed by his ability to go from wide awake to sound asleep in seconds flat. Fine by me. My bed was calling my name. I headed for the bathroom to brush my teeth. As I stared bleary-eyed into the mirror, I heard the jingle of his collar tags and looked down to find him sitting in the doorway.
    “Nothing exciting is happening here, I promise. Aren’t you tired?”
    No response. I was beyond exhausted and ready to give him the keys to the house, the car, and anything else he wanted as long as I got to go to bed.
    I changed into a larger sized T-shirt than I usually wore out in the real world and a pair of lightweight baby blue pajama bottoms, then jumped into my gloriously comfortable bed. I carelessly pushed the decorative print pillows aside and burrowed under the delicious weight of the duvet. I reached for my cellphone to turn on the alarm just as it buzzed and alerted me I had a new text message.
    I didn’t know the number, but I figured it was Jake.
    I’m sorry. I should b done in 1hr. Text me ur address. I’ll pick M up asap.
    Oh, hell no. I was not staying up another hour to wait for Jake fucking Westley to pick up his damn dog. I was going to bed. I typed a quick message before I got myself wound up. I was desperate for sleep, and a peek at the dog lying on the cool hardwood floor a couple of feet away told me he felt the same.
    Don’t. I’m tired. M is fine. Pick him up in the morning. I’ll b up at 7.
    He replied immediately.
    Thk u. See u at 7. Address?
    I replied quickly and reached over to turn off the bedside lamp. The screen on my cell lit up with another message, complete with a yawning emoticon smiley face.
    Goodnight Bran
    I looked at the screen longer than normal thinking how the silly emoticon was so… Jake. The Jake I remembered from long ago would make me laugh by doodling whimsical stick figures in the corners of my homework. He had been an extraordinarily charming teenager. Quick to smile and easily amused. I sighed heavily. If a stupid text could make me grin like a fool, I’d better be careful. I was a sucker for charm. It’s why I had his damn dog at the foot of my bed, for God’s sake.
     
     
    I STRETCHED my arms over my head and picked up my cell to check the time: 6:55 a.m. Perfect. Most mornings I woke just before my alarm rang. I loved the slow decadent feeling of lying in state as I made lists in my head of things I needed to accomplish during the day. I loved the way the sunlight slyly slanted through the roman blinds, casting a soft glow across my light gray comforter. My room, like the rest of my house, was small so I kept the furnishings to a minimum. There was a queen-sized bed with a beautifully upholstered linen headboard, two bedside tables, and a long, low-mirrored dresser across from the bed. And a gorgeous, gilt-framed mirror tilted on the wall nearby. It was a peaceful haven decked in soothing shades of the lightest grays and softest blues.
    A steady thumping had me sitting up taller. Mack was sitting next to the bed, wagging his tail wildly in greeting.
    “So last night wasn’t a dream. How’d you sleep?”
    He cocked his head to the side expressively and continued his happy wagging. I reached out to pet his face and scratch his ears as I cooed at him, telling him what a clever boy he was. He licked my cheek, and I flinched in surprise laughing at the unexpected sensation.
    “I’m not sure we know one another well eno—” The alarm sounded and my doorbell rang in unison, which of course made Mack bark like crazy.
    I scrambled out of bed unsteadily and immediately bumped into a wall in my haste to get to the front door. Mack stayed by my side as I checked the peephole and fumbled to unlock the old, wooden, Spanish-style door for Jake.
    “Shh. It’s okay.”
    The moment the door was opened, Mack launched his big body at Jake, who must have known to brace himself for the enthusiastic greeting. He scratched and