The Passion Play Read Free

slammed the car door, shutting herself in, and threw the car into reverse, not even checking to see there was no one behind her. There wasn't. He was the only other person in the carpark, and if she saw him jog several steps after her she gave no sign of it. She drove bent over the wheel like her gut hurt, he saw in the last, brief glimpse he had of her before she was away down the long rows of parked cars. He stared after her, and wished he had spoken sooner instead of silently following, gazing at her perfect ass, like a chump.
    It took a deliberate effort to unclench his fists, to breathe normally, when he wanted to find whatever had put that expression on her face, and pound it. Not his place, to protect her, to solve her problems. Not his right, and dumbass stupid to want it to be. Wanting something didn't make it yours.
    He turned away, to go back inside for that shower. Carlos was on his way out, his tan face serene, probably riding the same endorphin kick Luke had been enjoying only moments before. They passed each other with an exchange of "Hey," but a moment later he stopped and pivoted as Carlos said, "Hey, man, where's good to get a bite to eat around here?"
    "Mama Bolton's, just up the road and round the corner. The red-and-white stripe awning."
    "You want to come?" Carlos flicked a thumb in casual invitation, taking his turn to be the new guy, newest member of the team, brashly confident but with a layer of anxiety just under the surface. He tried too hard, but Luke wasn't the kind of man to hold it against him.
    "Got to have a shower." Luke lifted the hem of his shirt and flapped it so it slapped damply against his own skin, uncomfortably chill now in the Fall cool.
    "'Kay. What about the nightlife? You guys go to bars or clubs or whatever?"
    "Sometimes." He took pity on the kid. "Not tonight. Friday. We can hit a couple of the places in town. How about it?"
    "Yeah, dude. Sounds good. Want to meet some ladies."
    Wanted to see how his new-and-improved status as an NFL player would work to get him laid, no doubt. And the kid was good enough looking - big square face and even white teeth - he'd probably do alright.
    Luke raised an eyebrow. "Whatever," he said, and the kid grinned and waggled his eyebrows, twenty-two and full of himself. 
    But a s he went inside it wasn't Carlos he was thinking of. It was her again. Her with that shaken no-good look on her face. He hoped she was okay.
     
     

CHAPTER TWO
     
    The tears would not come. Her eyes were dry and burning.
    Should she cancel her appointments and go home? To do what? To stare at the wall and not-cry some more?
    Work would be good. A distraction from this pitifully strange emptiness.
    So after twenty minutes sitting in her car in the parking lot of a large park, soothing greenness in front of her and a tissue at the ready, she gave up on grief and drove to her client's house. She was ten minutes early, so she rifled through her briefcase for her client notes and re -read them with careful attention, sinking with gratitude into the clarity and control of her work persona.
    With one minute to spare she exited the car and went to ring the doorbell of the prosperous brownstone. Siobhan Hastings was a very successful saleswoman who had followed her parents' recommendations to start investing early. They had been some of Felicity’s first clients when she began work as a financial analyst, and their relationship was very friendly.
    Felicity liked their daughter too, which was a good reason to dread this appointment, given the advice she must deliver.
     
     
    "I'm really sorry. You have to sell. This property investment is your largest financial burden right now. With you off work the mortgage is undermining your resources. Here." Felicity slid a print-out across the table. "These are my projections if you hold onto it. Three more months and you'll be forced to put it on the market, unless you break one of the term deposits or sell out of a fund. Honestly I