Jezebel Koko Brown (best books to read non fiction txt) 📖

she wasn’t worth it, any of it,especially when the insult hadn’t fallen far from the mark. Her father had given her the name Jezebel and she’d spent thepast five years drinking enough hooch and taking enough lovers todeserve the moniker.

Horrified at her role in thenight’s turn of events, Celeste inched back, blending into theshadows. She waited for Shane to turn his back and then she bolted.

By the morning, all of thiswill be nothing to me Celeste thought fiercely. And if he came acalling, she would have Maggie turn him away. All of this had been aflight of fancy. Everything she felt, everything she had done with analmost mesmerized abandon had been part of a fantasy—allmake-believe.

Through sheer habit alone,Celeste found her way home. Once inside, she yanked off her cloak,including her hat and gloves as if all three of them were the causeof her shortness of breath.

Since their removal didn’timprove her current mood, Celeste dropped them unceremoniously in thehallway. Clawing at the dress’s neckline, she stumbled to herfather’s study.

Celesteran her hand along the top of a lacquered chinoiserie cabinet. Before moving in she’d made sure the entire house was dry. Onlyyesterday, she’d discovered she’d forgotten the ryewhiskey her father kept for special guests when she found Maggiedusting in here. She’d meant to dispose of the bottle, but inall of her excitement over her new gig and Shane, she’dcompletely forgotten about it.

Until now.

Smiling, Celeste fingeredthe key. All she needed was a sip.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

“Long time no see.”

Celeste dragged her gazefrom the drink in hand to the man now standing in the doorway. Hedidn’t look too worse for wear. His dark suit still fit him toperfection, not a single strand of hair out of place. The onlyindication there’d been a fight was the bloody handkerchiefwrapped around his right hand.

Disgusted by the throbbingpulse at the base of her throat, in spite of everything she stillwanted him, Celeste muttered, “Too soon, if you ask me.”

Ignoring the way heflinched, she brought her half-empty glass to her lips.

Whydidn’t he just go away?Be done with it. They would never fit just like two square pegs in around hole.

Unfortunately, his reactioncut her to the quick and she temporarily lost her taste for anythingwith ethanol.

Irritated, Celeste set herglass down with a loud thud. Her eyes met his and she froze. If theeyes were the window to the soul, his seemed to be at war.

Obviously frustrated, hepummeled his good hand through his hair, mussing it. Unkempt, helooked ten years younger. Despite her best efforts, the look pluckedat her heart strings.

“You’re a hardwoman to please.”

“Who asked you to?”She felt horrible for saying it, but the quicker she nipped this inthe bud, the sooner he’d move on. She didn’t need ordeserve a hero or a savior.

“You didn’t,”he mumbled as if having trouble with the words.

Equally troubled, Celesteleaned against her father’s desk for support. For some reason,she felt cold, empty and weak kneed.

“I’m sorry Itroubled you,” he said with a finality that raised the hairs onthe back of her neck. He turned to leave and the bottom dropped outof her stomach.

For the first time in herlife Celeste was terrified of someone walking away from her. In amoment of insanity she would question in years to come, Celestedecided to provoke him. Throwing back her shoulders, she pushed awayfrom the desk.

“Coward.”

He rested his hand againstthe door frame, but didn’t turnaround. Instead, he slightlycocked his head so all she could see was his near perfect profile. “You got me pegged, sister.” Expecting to be met bybluster and bravado, Celeste choked on her initial comeback.

“I’m ayellow-bellied coward,” he rasped as he turned around, “andso are you.”

His words hit their mark andit felt like the carpet had been yanked from under her. He compoundedher instability by slowly advancing on her. Unsteady, she stumbledback against the bookcase.

“Only cowardsretreat.”

He paused to extinguish afloor lamp, blanketing the far end of the room in semidarkness. Thebanker’s lamp resting on her father’s desk outlined hisbulky silhouette.

“I’m not acoward,” she said, finally finding her tongue. She even pushedaway from the bookcase and squared her shoulders. Even when hebreached her comfort zone, she stood her ground.

“Then why the hard—assact?” He inched closer until his body heat was faintlytangible. “Can’t you see I’m sweet on you?”

His words and the tone inwhich he said them burned into her, shooting through her body andnestling in the pit of her stomach and lower.

Why couldn’t he bemean and hurtful like her daddy? Or even ugly for that matter. Maybethen it would have been easier to not want him so much.

He reached out and pulledher into his arms. So close, she could see the gold flecks in hisgreen eyes and if she went up on her toes they would be lip locked.“That’s why I keep refusing to walk way.”

“I’m rotten tothe core,” she warned as he lowered his head.

Inthe dim light his eyes looked dilated, yet intense. “You’restarting to sound like a scratched phonograph record.”

He moved in to kiss her, butCeleste turned her head. “I’m not what you think…I’ma woman of loose morals.”

Each word that tumbled fromher lips felt like a catharsis, a heavy load falling from hershoulders.

“I-I love to drink…andhave a good time…I have had lovers…plenty of them.You’re not my first and knowing my history not my last. But I’mtrying…really, really hard…turning over a new leaf, youcould say…I poured myself a drink…b-b-but I…whenyou came in I ended up just beating myself up…and then I tookit out on you….”

Shane planted his hands oneither side of her head and she fell silent. Her confession had beena deal breaker for sure. The thought of him walking away now did ajob on her insides, but it was for the best.

She didn’t want him towalk into their assignation with a false impression. Coming cleanwould save his pride and her unnecessary time wallowing in guilt.

“Done?”

Celeste’s shouldersslumped as she nodded her head.

His tone was emotionless,harsh even.