Falling Hard Read Free

me a stricken look, then pushed past me and hurried from the bathroom.
     
    I ignored my impulse to follow her. I wasn't going to take any lip from any female silly enough to get pregnant by a man who expected someone else to shoulder his responsibilities. I heard her crying and shrugged. If she were in love with Jim she'd better get used to crying. He'd probably get some other woman pregnant while he was in L.A.
     
    I took two aspirin, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. Then I walked to Jim’s room. His bedroom door was half open, but I tapped anyway before going in. Tanya was dressed in a pair of baggy sweatpants and a sweater. She was putting on the short jacket she’d worn the night before. Lifting her two largest suitcases from the floor, she turned to face me.
     
    Her eyes were glassy but tear-free. “These are all I can carry. If you don’t mind, I’ll get the other two later.”
     
    I stared at her. “You're leaving?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “Where are you going?”
     
    “I'm sure you don't care!”
     
    My instincts told me she was nothing. Still, I bit back the urge to agree with her.
     
    She gave me an expectant look.
     
    I stared back in silence. She'd better not hold her breath waiting for me to try to convince her to stay.
     
    After a moment, she compressed her lips and pushed past me. A couple of moments later I heard the front door open and slam shut.
     
    I didn't owe her anything. I'd given her a place to stay for the night and I would keep her other cases until she was ready to come for them. If she needed a ride to a doctor's appointment or money to help pay rent somewhere, I'd help her. And that's all anyone could expect me to do.
     
    I tried to convince myself I was relieved to be free of her. And I actually believed it--for an entire minute. Then I realized I couldn’t let her go. Even if she were almost twenty, she clearly wasn't equipped to be on her own--or she wouldn't be homeless and pregnant.
     
    Besides, I'd promised Jim I'd let her stay for a few weeks. And I always kept my promises. Having convinced myself I was going to follow her for noble reasons, I ran back to my own room and threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I grabbed my truck keys off the dresser and left the apartment.
     
    I stood outside my apartment building, frowning. Where the hell was she? How far could she have gotten in such a short time? I ran to the parking lot to my truck. It wasn't until I was in the driver's seat and couldn't get my key in the ignition that I realized my hands shook and my heart pounded.
     
    I took a slow, deep breath before I finally managed to get the key in the ignition. Why was I feeling so desperate? I'd find her, bring her back, and end this unexpected panic attack. I tried to relax but I felt on edge as I drove slowly through the early morning light, scanning both sides of the street.
     
    I felt myself getting more nervous by the second until I finally spotted her getting off a bus and heading into the downtown bus station.
     
    The relief I felt scared me. I took a few moments to calm down before I drove around looking for a parking spot. I finally found one half a block away. It took effort not to run back to the station.
     
    She was one of only four people inside. She sat with her back toward me. I guessed she must have already bought a ticket and checked her suitcases because they weren’t anywhere in sight.
     
    I hesitated in the door, trying to persuade myself to turn and walk away. The sheer relief and ...joy I felt at seeing her told me I needed to let her go. Nothing good could come of taking her home with me. Not the way I was feeling. Jim had already hurt her. The last thing she needed was some older guy lusting after her. Because that’s what was driving me— lust. And that’s something our small town wasn’t used to.
     
    I'd almost convinced myself to leave when she turned and caught sight of me. I couldn't interpret the look in those incredible eyes of