Finders Keepers - Softcover

Swerving into the complex where she'd lived for the last twelve years, and would be so happy to leave behind, she slackened her pace as she crossed the patch of oil-slicked asphalt that separated the buildings. The morning was cool, but the brilliant sunrise promised more winter warmth.

At the common mailboxes she slowed to a halt, willing her breathing to return to normal.

"Damn!" she swore quietly as stinging sweat pooled into the corners of her eyes.

Straightening, hands pressing into the small of her back, she walked toward her front door, realizing as she got closer that there was someone waiting there. At this hour? A small alarm trilled inside, but she discerned it was a woman, which allayed some of her fear.

It was a tall woman, with dark hair down her back. And when she turned around her eyes were brown.

In her head Marissa heard, clearly as the night it had been said, "Is this what you want, Marissa?"

Now she also heard her breathless, adoring answer. "Yes. Please, yes."

The smile Marissa had tried to forget. The charm she'd tried to deny. The memory of those hands, that body, everything she'd tried to erase from her consciousness, rushed back into vivid reality.

One year since the moonlight and kisses. It had taken months for her heart to finish breaking when each day brought silence and more silence. She didn't want to go back in time. One year since the vacation of a lifetime had changed her life, for the worse and for the better.

Fighting for breath, but no longer due to exertion, Marissa willed herself to meet the sparkling brown eyes with a chilled stare of her own. "What do you want?"

"You," Linda answered.