Deception and Desire

ARD'

ing Jane-one of the most breathtaking women I've ever seen. Her smile is magnetic, he

ian. She's the one who signed me up on that blind date app. If she

vian stormed into my office, her usual

ually tossing her bag onto my

without looking up, my finge

on card on top of my papers. "Good, because I expec

ttered, still foc

unthinkable-she shut my

I barked, my face heatin

rk, work. It's not healthy." Then her tone softened, and she reached for my hand, holding it gentl

with one hand. "Not this

ee you like this? Miserable, stuck in the past? She'd hate it. You've

. "How can you ask me to move on when I'm the reason it happ

ow hard it is. But you've got to step out of this darkness-you owe it to yourself, to all of us." She pulled back,

I hated it when she made sense.

od enough." Her face lit up with that mischiev

d my eyes.

pp," she said, grinning

shaking my head. "I'm not about to star

st further, she grabbed m

announced t

ou're such a p

bing her bag, she headed for the door. Before leaving, she turned ba

g in my car, I know I

****

, heavy blanket. This house used to feel alive, but now it's just a shell. I take a deep

ere's a knoc

. Who the hell is

ng against the hardwood, echoing in the quiet. I glance through th

She's in a black dress, so short it barely covers anything, her dark hair

already wondering wha

, her heels clicking against the floor. Her per

k. I don't flinch. I'm used to this. Ever since Eva, my wife, passed away, Stacy has mad

glancing at the vinta

ing sadder. "I'm sorry, Richard. My car broke down just outside your estate.

ieve her for a second, but I nod anyway. "A

m, Richard? she asks softly, tugging at my jacket. Her fingers

e wearing thin. What the he

se. "Don't you like what you see? she whispers, her voice dripping

er. "No, Stacy, I say firmly

Her voice cracks slightly as she cups my face with both hands. "You need someone

e high school. She never hid it. She was devastated when I married Eva, and now, since Eva's de

r of my trousers. My body betrays me, heat pooling

ter, my voice

n't you miss it? She whispers, her lips

he warmth, the intimacy, the

ue eyes. Jane. Her face is so vivid in my mind that it almost feels real.

's touch. "Go to bed, Stacy"

y anything else, and I don't wait for her to. I turn and head upstairs,

ath. Stripping off my clothes, I head into the bathroom, the cool tiles grounding me.

ne. Her smile, her fiery hair, the way her blue eyes seem to see ri

image of her fills my mi

curse unde

to see h