Page 1 of Tempting Fire

Chapter One

Chloe pushed up from the computer. Her hand and back hurt. It didn’t make any sense. Why was it dark out? She’d just sat down to play a game of solitaire that morning. She stumbled and grabbed the dining room chair for support. Her leg had fallen asleep. She looked at the clock over the stove.

“Oh God.”

Ten hours had passed. If she hadn’t been thirsty she would still be playing the game. She reached the kitchen. flipped on the light switch and winced. When was the last time she’d done dishes? Did it matter? She saw the plastic bag of solo cups and reached for one, and filled it up with water from the fridge. She gulped down the water. Why did her mouth hurt? She reached up and touched her dry lips. Were they cracked?

Chloe added the cup to the pile near the sink, and headed towards the bathroom, touching her sore lip. When she turned on the light and looked in the mirror, she leaned forward and stared.

“Who are you?”

If she’d been one of those girls who wanted to lose weight, she would have hit the jackpot. Her cheekbones were knife sharp and her hollow brown eyes were empty.

“Answer me, dammit! Who are you?”

Dank brown hair moved as she leaned forward toward the mirror and a scar on her forehead was revealed.

Time stopped.

She was back in that cabin, her friends tied and whimpering on the floor near her feet. She felt that first blow from the man’s meaty fist as it hit her cheek. She’d been surprised. Then she realized he wanted her to hurt, wanted her to scream. He kept shouting at her to scream into the cell phone as he hit her over and over, punch after punch. Splitting open the skin of her forehead with his ring. So much pain, so much blood.

Now the brown eyes in front of her weren’t empty, they were scared. They were surrounded by white. She saw that face in the mirror whimper with fear.

Chloe picked up the brush she saw on the bathroom counter and hit the face in the mirror. Over and over and over. A rush of feeling careened through her body with every splinter of glass that shattered. At last she felt something other than numbness and fear. A smile reflected back at her in the remnants of the mirror, she was satisfied that she’d killed that pathetic and weak girl whose very existence disgusted her.

Something stung her foot as she stepped out of the bathroom, she ignored it as she walked back to the computer to start playing solitaire.

***

“Are you here yet?”

“I’m just pulling into Polly’s,” Zarek said as he maneuvered his truck into a spot in the crowded restaurant parking lot.

“I’ll be right there.” His phone went dead. Of course, Zoe would meet him there. She was impossible to shake loose. She’d been calling him every hour since he’d left Dallas. She was the reason he was back in Tennessee in the first place.

He went into the diner, and wasn’t surprised to see the flaming red haired hostess at the stand. Polly was an institution here in Jasper Creek.

“Zarek? Is that you?” she cried out. How could she possibly notice him in this crowd, let alone remember him after five years away?

“Hey Polly,” he greeted with a forced smile.

“I’ll get you a table in a jiffy. Unless you want to sit at the counter,” she grinned.

“Zoe’ll be joining me.”

Heads turned to look at him. Nothing had changed, the Avery’s still caused a stir.

“How’s Evie? How’s Chloe? Are they doing all right?” Polly walked away from the stand and sidled up next to him. Her concern was genuine, but Zarek was still aware of the greedy attention of the gossip seekers.

“They’re fine. Everybody’s fine,” he lied.

“I’ll get you a booth near the back,” she said frowning at the nosy patrons. She guided him to his table. “Can I get you anything besides coffee and water while you wait for Zoe?” she asked.

“Some orange juice and biscuits.”

“Coming up.”

Polly whisked away, and Zarek had a few minutes to think about what he’d gotten himself into. He hadn’t been back to Jasper Creek, Tennessee since his parents had retired to Florida, two years ago. Sure, he’d called and Skyped. Deep in his heart he knew he should have come back sooner, but life had gotten in the way. He stared down at the laminated menu and blew out a breath. His fist clenched.