Waiting for Wednesday by Mari Carr Read Free Book Online Page A

where I can.”
    Lane smiled. He leaned down to brush his lips against hers, the initial touch soft, sweet.
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    Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembered her impression of Tristan Collins when they’d first met. He’d been this huge, gruff bartender with his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows. Her first night in the bar, he’d tossed out two rowdy drunks without even breaking a sweat. She was continually intrigued by all the facets that resided within him—part grizzly, part teddy bear.
    Tris deepened the kiss and Lane knew it would be an impossible task to fight off his advances. She tangled her fingers in his thick, dark hair and reveled in the feeling of being held in his arms.
    Despite the progress she’d made over the past year to better herself, to shrug off some of the baggage she was still carrying around from childhood and a bad marriage, she simply couldn’t let herself get wrapped up too tightly in Tristan’s world. She was in the apartment to care for his father, but while here, she may as well enjoy some of these stolen, oh so hot kisses. She was an adult. Surely she could maintain this friendship with benefits without sacrificing her hard-earned independence.
    She stepped away and he let her go, looking at her curiously. “I can’t get caught in your web.” She was surprised she’d voiced her fears aloud. She never told anyone what she was thinking, always playing her cards close to her chest. Yet with Tris, the words seemed to just fall out.
    “I’m a spider?”
    She shrugged and laughed. “Sometimes it feels like you have eight hands.” She recalled the other night behind the bar—his teasing touches.
    “You know, kitten, you might like getting caught in my web.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and she laughed.
    “Why do you assume it’s a web of seduction?”
    He frowned. “Do I make you feel trapped?”
    “Oh no.” She wanted to dispel that misunderstanding. “It feels more like a web of protection.”
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    He considered her words and nodded. “That’s probably accurate. I’ll always keep you safe, Lane. Even from me.”
    “I can take care of myself, Tris. I don’t need protection.” His eyes lowered and she sensed she’d upset him with her words. “Don’t run away again.”
    She was confused by his abrupt change of topic. “What?”
    “If I say or do something that scares you, don’t run away. Stay and we’ll talk it out.”
    “You don’t scare me.” She sensed he was trying to tell her something and she was missing it.
    He smiled, but it wasn’t a happy look. “I terrify you and you know it. You like being independent, self-reliant. I get that, Lane. I’m not trying to steal that from you.
    I’m not like your fucking ex.”
    Truer words were never spoken. Tristan and James were night and day—
    physically, emotionally, mentally. Her ex-husband hadn’t been much taller than her and his build could only be described as slight, while Tris towered over her. After their marriage, James became a cold, distant man while Tristan tended to wear his emotions like some folks wore clothes. She could always tell how he was feeling and she liked that.
    “I’ve never confused you for James. I never would.”
    “He hurt you, Lane, and I’m not just talking about the beating. For two years he put you down, tried to make you feel small, stupid and insignificant. I can only assume that was his way of feeling like a big man. But he failed.” She considered his words. James had been an ass, constantly berating her until most days she’d dreaded going home.
    “You forget I was there. I saw you once a week, every week as you were going through all of that, and you know what I saw?” he asked.
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    She shook her head.
    “I saw a pretty, intelligent woman who, despite her miserable home life, still came in every week with a smile on her face and brimming with self-confidence.” She snorted and tried to