River's Return (River's End Series, #3) Read Free Page B

and his ponytail swung behind him. He stepped close to the railing and leaned on it, so that only about ten feet of lawn space separated them. She really needed to build a new fence.
    “Didn’t realize you was the same teacher who lived next door to Celia.”
    Celia Damon was married. Her husband worked four days a week just outside of Seattle and commuted back home on Saturday mornings, staying there through Monday night. Allison cringed. She realized all at once why, on a Friday evening, Shane was lounging on Celia’s deck. Celia was around Allison’s age, which was thirty-one. She was nice enough and they got along okay whenever they happened to see each other. She took care of their cat once when they left town. She did not however, need to know about Celia cheating on her husband.
    “You do realize Jett will be home tomorrow morning, I hope.”
    Shane’s smile slowly disappeared into his cheeks, leaving a dimple. “Oh, sure, I realize that.” He drank another gulp.
    She sighed, sipping a drink of her own wine. It was really none of her business. She had no idea if Celia and Jett’s marriage was happy, or where, and how long Shane had been a factor in it.
    “So… who’s the asshole?”
    His casual disregard for Celia’s marital status turned her off him. She raised her eyebrows and stated clearly, “You. I was, ironically, referring to you.”
    His eyebrows shot up as if mimicking her, and a startled laugh escaped his lips. “Me? How so? You couldn’t have known I was doing your married neighbor.”
    She drew in a breath and shook her head. He was just what she said: a total asshole. “Well, now you’re an asshole for that. But before? You were just the rudest person I dealt with all week of all my twenty-five conferences. That’s a total of about forty-plus parents. Many divorced couples too. You get the prize, however, for walking in as an asshole.”
    A small grin started to lift the corners of his mouth, but he kept it at bay and set his beer bottle on the railing. Leaning his hands on the rail, he replied, “Well—”
    He was interrupted when Celia came rushing out her back door. Her voice was panicked as she screeched, “He’s coming home. He’ll be here in a few minutes. Get out, Shane! Now!”
    Shane rose up to his full height. “Who?”
    “Jett. He called, and was all happy to be surprising me tonight. Please, please! You have to leave.” Celia pushed him towards the stairs of her deck.
    “You’ve got to be shittin’ me. You want me to run out of your backyard like some kind of criminal?”
    “Please. Yes.” Celia’s voice was panicked and her eyes darted about frantically. She froze when she noticed Allison standing there, and witnessing it all. She had the good grace and modesty for her cheeks to turn bright pink. “Mrs. Gray! Oh, I didn’t realize you were home…”
    “Can the innocent act, Celia. She’s not stupid,” Shane mumbled as he picked up his beer bottle. “You realize my bike is out front. And has been too many times to count. You really think Jett is so stupid he hasn’t figured it out yet? Why do you suppose he’s coming home early?”
    Celia hid her face from Allison and mumbled something to Shane. Allison should have turned and left to give them their privacy, but in all honesty, she was riveted by the domestic drama unfolding before her. Even more intriguing was Shane’s complete lack of concern, and guilt or shame.
    He suddenly lifted his head up and laughed out loud to whatever Celia said and his gaze was firmly planted on Allison. His eyebrows rose and he shook his head.
    “Please just… go with it,” Celia said louder, her tone becoming desperate. Shane unexpectedly stepped off the deck and started across her lawn towards Allison as his eyes held hers. He stopped at the edge of her patio.
    “What?” she finally asked when she found her voice again. How did Shane Rydell manage to end up at her house tonight?
    “How much do you value your