Forever Hers Walters, Ednah (best novels for teenagers .TXT) 📖

on the dock to say his goodbyes and watched the seaplane take off.

***

Eddie and Amy sparred again in the evening, but his head wasn’t in the game. He took the boat out to clear his mind. He still felt like a heel for accusing Amy of flirting with Vince and telling her he wanted nothing from her before kissing her like she was his lifeline. The woman pushed his buttons every time she opened her mouth. He had to come up with a way to deal with her or go crazy.

Leaving while her ex was still a threat was out of the question. Ignoring her wasn’t a good idea either. He’d tried it and hated it. He liked hearing her voice, the catch in her breath before she laughed, the way she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him or laugh at him.

 “You’re going to be okay once you stop fighting it, bro,” were Chase’s last words before he hopped on the plane. Eddie now knew the attention his cousin had paid Amy hadn’t been serious.

“It’s going to be fun watching him crash and burn,” Ron had added, smirking.

Eddie could still hear their laughter. Was he fighting a losing battle with Amy? There was something about her that touched him deep to his core and no matter what he did, the feeling refused to go away. Maybe it had something to do with her present predicament. He was often at his best, or worst, depending how one looked at it, when he was on a case. It often consumed him, leaving little room for anything else. Maybe once he had Nolan behind bars, the need to protect Amy and never let her out of his sight would go away. Or maybe he should sleep with her and get her out of his system.

Even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew it was idiotic. If he needed to get laid, he knew who to call. An image of Clarissa flashed in his head. Long legs, model-slim, blonde hair perfectly cut and styled, intelligent brown…no, hazel eyes. He was sure they were hazel.

He killed the engine and pulled out his cell phone from its holder and speed dialed her number. What had Amy called Clarissa? A booty call. Eddie chuckled.

“Yes?” Clarissa’s melodic voice drifted over the line.

Eddie waited for the rush of heat that usually accompanied the sound of her voice or thoughts of her, but it didn’t come, confirming his fears. He was no longer excited by other women. First Lauren, now his regular sex partner. Maybe seeing her would do the trick.

“Who is this?” she asked sharply.

“It’s me.” They’d been seeing each other for nine months and she still hadn’t added his number to her list of contacts.

“Eddie? What a surprise! Are you back?”

“No. I’m still in Sandpoint. Do you want to come and join me?”

There was silence then a dry chuckle. “Sweetie, I don’t do backcountry. Second, I have work. I thought we had an understanding.”

Clarissa was a stickler for rules. They hooked up on Fridays and that was it. She was ambitious without apologizing for it and had a lusty sexual appetite that matched his, but at times she could be so cut and dry. Like the way she didn’t like to be touched after sex. He never minded. Once he’d satisfied them both, he often wanted to leave anyway.

Did Amy like to cuddle after sex? Images of her naked astride him flashed in his head, causing blood to rush to his groin. She was so small he’d fear crushing her, yet her womanly curves said she’d fit perfectly in his arms.

“What’s going on, Eddie?” Clarissa asked, shuttering his fantasies.

Yeah, what did he want? “I thought I’d call and see how you are doing.”

“That’s sweet. I miss you too, baby, but I’ll see you in two weeks. We’ll make up for the time you’ve been away.” Her voice became low and husky when she added, “I’ve picked up a few outfits you are going to love.”

The promise of decadence in her voice was real because she loved roleplaying, but he felt no excitement at the thought of seeing her. The realization that it was time for him to move on hit him.

“I think we need to talk when I get back, Clarissa.”

There was silence. “About?”

“I’d rather we talk when I get back.”

“Just spit it out, Eddie,” she said sharply then she sighed and continued calmly. “Listen, I’ve noticed lack of excitement on your part the last few times we were together, so if you want to end things, just say it. I don’t like prolonged goodbyes.”

Eddie grimaced at her directness. It was tinged with anger. “Yes. I think our association has run its course. I meant to discuss it with you when I got home, but if you feel the same way...”

“I do.” Her voice was calmer. There no regret or pain, and the anger was gone. “We had fun, didn’t we?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Then that’s all that matters. If you change your mind, call me.”

It wasn’t going to happen. “I’ll do that.”

“Goodbye, Eddie.” The line went dead.

He slipped his phone back in its holder and sat back to stare at the sunset with unseeing eyes. He just ended a nine month relationship with a phone call. Instead of feeling bad, he felt free, as though a burden had been removed from his shoulders.

Smiling, he restarted the engine and headed toward the house and…Amy.

He’d gone too far and it was getting dark by the time he propelled the boat toward its canopy. Raelynn, in a life jacket, came running to the dock. Amy stayed by the patio steps, watching. Something clasped Eddie’s chest, making it hard to breathe as he watched them. A man could get used to this kind of welcome.

“Where are your brothers?” Raelynn asked as soon as he stepped on the dock.

He scooped her up. “My brothers?”

“The four big men,” she clarified.

Eddie chuckled. “Does that mean I’m small?”

She giggled. “No. Where did they