On His Terms Read Free

her little sister made the front page
     in this fashion. “That’s a great picture of you sis,” she said, and then paused.   “Your breasts even look bigger.” Julie walked up to Ally, and gave her a look as if
     comparing her real boobs to the ones in the paper.
                          “Knock it off, Julie. Don’t you have laundry to fold?”
                          Suddenly, the creaky bedroom door swung wildly open.
                          “Baby! You slept so good sweetheart!” Julie cried out.
      Seven year-old Gracie came running out in her Dora the Explorer footy pajamas, diving
     into Julie’s arms.
                          “Hey little Ms. Munchkin, where’s my hug?” The little girl turned, with sleep still
     in her eyes, to see Ally waiting patiently with open arms.
                          Gracie ran to her as well.
    “Oh I could just eat you up,” said Ally, squeezing everything she could out of Gracie.
     She loved her more than she thought possible, and little Gracie was pretty much the
     only person on the planet who could take her mind off her chance encounter with the
     governor for a moment or two.
    “Okay, little one,” Julie said.   “It’s time to wash up and brush our teeth.”
                          Ally laced up her sneakers and headed for the door.   “I’ll be back guys, I got to get in a run before work.”
                          “Be careful sis. Do you have your cell phone with you?”
                          Ally rolled her eyes, reaching for her IPod that lay next to an old photo of her parents.   Then she headed out of the apartment and slowly began to remember what was gnawing
     at her soul.
                          We looked… good together.   I know it wasn’t just my imagination.
                         
    * * *
                          Ally loved to go for runs. It was her time to unwind and let go of everything that
     plagued her mind. And she had a lot on her mind, especially given all that she’d been
     trying to accomplish for the last couple of years. But today’s run was different.
                          She couldn’t get him out of her mind.
    And why not?
    It just didn’t make any sense to her. Maybe she didn’t realize just how lonely she’d
     been feeling lately. His touch, his voice, it had somehow seemed to wash away her
     pain altogether, even though he’d only been close to her for a few brief moments.                      
    And when Hale Westbrook had kneeled down to rescue her after she’d fallen, Kallie felt so safe.   It was the first time in a very long time that a man had actually taken care of her,
     rather than simply admiring her cleavage as she served him a plate of eggs and homefries .
    This is so ridiculous.   You don’t know a thing about him.
    She had to find a way to get him out of her mind. It was a total waste of her time,
     and the last thing she needed was a distraction at this point in her life.
    Plus, she told herself, she would never see him again.
     
    * * *
     
                          Ally darted off onto Monagan’s Trail, a path that she had run probably hundreds of times. Today was a perfect day
     for one of her cleansing runs- the sun was burning brightly, but the air was cool
     and crisp. Ally was always amazed that she could come to a trail like this and not
     find a single soul enjoying its beauty like she so often did. But she wasn’t complaining,
     she didn’t mind having the entire path to herself .
                          Or so she thought.
                          She’d felt a lot of different emotions on her many trail runs, but never fear.
                          Until today.   A few times, she turned around, certain she was being followed.   Someone was watching her run.
                          Fear tingled her spine,