Touch Slowly (Red Light: Silver Girls series) by Debra Kayn Read Free Book Online

Nova copied his movements and instead turned the outsides of the cookie in opposite directions, opening the inside layer of cream to her tongue. "Mm..."
    "Do not put the cookie back in the package after you've licked everything off." Shayla laughed. "You used to do that when you were young, and then we'd hide and watch Nick pop them in his mouth, one after another, and almost pissed ourselves when he failed to notice."
    Nova glanced at Nick and wrinkled her nose. "Sorry. We were so immature."
    "Great, girls." Nick scooted the cookies closer to him. "I don't even want to know what else you did behind my back."
    Her happiness over being with her cousins outweighed her embarrassment in front of Emmett. Family meant everything to her. If she could bottle the good times, she'd keep the memories forever.
    "Everything we did was behind your back." Nova grinned. "You were overbearing and strict."
    "Someone had to be," muttered Nick.
    "Right," she whispered on an exhale. Her aunt's lack of supervision while she drank herself drunk meant the three of them grew up doing whatever they wanted. She'd taken the free-time and spent her youth running the streets, tagging her artwork all over town, and doing her best to keep out of the hands of the older boys who wanted to take advantage of her.
    "Have you thought any more about moving in with us?" Shayla opened the bag of chips and settled down on the couch beside her brother.
    "You're moving back?" asked Nick
    "No, Shayla won't drop the subject. I'm only here for a visit." She waved off the question. "I'll need to...get back to my job in ten weeks."
    "Are you still working for that art place?" Nick brushed off his hands on his thighs.
    "I, um..." Nova tilted her head, trying to remember what her cover story was when she moved away. "Still work for an art gallery. That's why I travel to different places."
    The lie spilled out like an old friend.
    "Federal's hosting an art show?" Emmett chuckled. "That's a first. They usually stick with festivals."
    "No, I'm not here for work. Just a vacation." Nova stood from the chair. "Shayla, can I borrow your room to make a phone call?"
    "You don't have to ask." Shayla wrinkled her nose. "A little late, though, to call anyone."
    "Time change. It's to the..." She drew a blank.
    "I'm teasing you." Shayla stood. "I need to use the bathroom."
    Together they walked down the narrow hallway in the single-wide trailer. Nova hooked her arm underneath Shayla's elbow.
    "I need to talk to you," whispered Nova, pulling her cousin into the bedroom and shutting the door.
    "What's going on?" Shayla leaned forward. "Everything is going great. Nick doesn't suspect a thing."
    Nova rolled her eyes. "You're not helping matters. Stop asking me to move in and if someone asks about my job, at least change the subject. I don't like lying to Nick."
    "Then tell him the truth. He's not going to care."
    "Are you delusional?" Nova tapped her foot. "Nick punched Tommy Coche when he caught him kissing me in his car the day after I turned sixteen years old. What do you think he'll do when he finds out the miners he works with are visiting me at the bordello?"
    Shayla's jaw opened, and she gaped at Nova.
    "What?" said Nova on a hiss.
    "Oh my God, what if Nick goes to town and buys sex?" Shayla blinked into Nova's face and then burst out laughing. "I'm just kidding. He's always broke. He couldn't afford you."
    "You're disgusting." Nova leaned forward and shook her cousin. "I need to leave in an hour if I’m going to sneak back inside the building without getting caught. If Nick starts questioning why I only come at night and leave when everyone else should be sleeping, tell him I'm working from my room at the inn. Tell him my boss is demanding, even on vacation."
    "Don't worry. I've got you covered." Shayla grinned. "All this sneaking around reminds me of old times. Except, I'm not out covering your ass while you tag the side of a train. Maybe you can decorate the pillars under the viaduct