Hearths of Fire Read Free Page B

not that she wanted to. It was easier this way. No mess. “I appreciated the…company.”
    “The feeling is mutual,” Josh said, his soft laughter filling the air as he stood up, oblivious to his naked stature and started to put on his clothes. Catori would have been made of stone not to appreciate his muscular body and the way his skin contained a healthy golden hue that was recognizably from the sun and not his heritage. She realized that his shirt must have been left in the bedroom and she quickly retrieved it. He must have taken care of the condom because by the time she got back to the living room he was standing there waiting for her. He took the shirt from her hands, his fingers purposefully brushing against hers. “If you’re ever back in town, you can usually find me at Joe Pop’s Shore Bar.”
    Catori had met Josh at the lively nightspot, so it didn’t come as a surprise that he was a regular. She didn’t bother asking what he did for a living. More than likely she wouldn’t see him again after tonight. It was highly doubtful that he would be here, seeing as he didn’t strike her as the type to stay in one place for too long. Once he was dressed, he gave another charismatic smile while waiting on a cue from her.
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” Catori replied, leading the way to the door. She pulled on the knob and kept her hand on it, leaning her head against the edge of the wood as she watched him walk out onto the porch. “Josh?”
    He didn’t turn around until he’d sprinted down the three battered greying steps. When he did, his appearance in the moonlight seemed younger than what he was, striking a chord in her heart. Josh had the world waiting on him and she wished him nothing but the best. Wanting to say more to him but knowing that would only delay the inevitable, she said the only two words that meant anything.
    “Thank you.”

Chapter Three
    ‡
    “N o, Catori… thank you.”
    Catori didn’t stay where she was to watch Josh leave. Instead she closed the door and then once again leaned her head back onto the hard surface of the allegorical exit. Nothing that had taken place in the last hour, or last night even, had changed her or given her the peace of mind she thought she’d get. In fact, having meaningless sex with someone as sweet and young as Josh had left her feeling somewhat dejected. Pushing herself off what they referred to in the Corps as the Endex , she threw the deadbolt, not that it would keep anyone out if they were determined to get in. What she needed was a hot shower, hoping like hell it washed away this pitiful solitude.
    Catori made her way through the living room and into the small bedroom. The older furniture in here wasn’t any better than what was throughout the house. A mattress with sheets, one bedside table, and a dresser consisted of the boudoir, but considering she’d slept on a fold out canvas cot most of her time in the field, she wouldn’t complain. Plus, this house held a place in her heart that no five-star hotel could ever take.
    Catori spun the knob for the water, doing her best not to mull over the fact that she’d just brought a man into a special place that had been only hers and Red’s. She peeled off her clothes and waited for the water to steam before stepping underneath the plentiful lines of water. She faced the showerhead, letting the hot beads rain down over her body. She hadn’t stopped to think that bringing Josh here would sully her memories with Red. She’d just wanted to feel something, anything other than this tortured seclusion she’d done to herself.
    Tears were now mixing with the water and Catori was unable to stop them. She would have thought that she had no more, but the grief would always hit her out of nowhere and produce more. She didn’t want more, but whenever she tried to prevent them they continued in droves. Now was no different. She’d ruined their special place. What would Red think of that? Whether on purpose or