Be My Valentine Chapter 11

Chapter 11

What is wrong to want to be loved? What is wrong to want the man you love for yourself? What is wrong to want to punish the bad and right the wrong? Emily Hasting drives away from the smoking apartment and contemplates to her laughing self. She didn't want to be late to her church choir practice(she's always the first to arrive), so she decided not to wait for Stephanie Plum and then planted the time-bombs. Her hands were shaking when she placed one under the narrow queen-size bed. And she had to bite her lips till she tasted blood as unpleasant images of her Joseph and that shameless woman flew through her mind. She may be a virgin but she's not naïve, thank you very much. Of course she knows Joseph has needs. He's a man, a healthy attractive sexy grown up man. And it's only sex. There's no love involved. She's sure of that. She can see it in Joseph's eyes when he looks at Stephanie Plum. She can see his lust. She can see his desire. But there's never love. Never.

NEVER.

Joe Morelli's car screeches to a stop when he sees the black smoke coming out of Stephanie's apartment and parking lot. His eyes narrow. His lips thin. His knuckles whiten around the wheel. He watches another driver gape and stare for a full minute before pulling out her cell phone and call 911. He wants to laugh. He wants to yell. He feels his anger rising. He wants to shake some sense into Stephanie Plum or punch someone or kill some unlucky bastard with his own bare hands. He can already see his fellow detectives' and officers' grins and smiles. He can already see friendly betting money change hands. He can already hear all those familiar jokes in his head. His mother will call. His aunts will call. His brother and sister and cousins will call. They will want to know what is wrong with Stephanie Plum.

Why can't she settle down and marry him? They will want to know. Why can't she quit her job and start a family with him? Why does she choose her sorry excuse of a life over you, Joseph? Why? WHY? Is there something wrong with you, Joseph? No, wait! It has something to do with the tall dark handsome mysterious Cuban man who drives expensive German cars and owns his own company, doesn't it, Joseph? Tell us the truth, tell us!

"Shut up!"

Joe Morelli snarls and smashed a fist against the driver's side window. No. He can't take it any more. He has had enough. It's time for Stephanie to make her decision. It's time for him to make a choice. He's too old too tired and too disgusted to keep on playing this game. This endless meaningless third-rate joke. He restarts the car and steps on the gas. He and Stephanie is going to have a serious talk.

Now.