Sins of the Past (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

purchases. From the jerky way she scanned the groceries and slammed them in the bags, Lorna had to hold back her smile. She knew she had just made two new enemies.
    Once she had paid and gathered her bags, Lorna couldn’t help getting in one last dig as she headed out the door. “Bye, bitches.” Twin gasps of indignation followed her as she threw her head back and laughed.
     
    * * * *
     
    Once all of her groceries were put away, Lorna changed into a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a tank. She grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and plopped down in the chair. If anyone accused her of choosing that one because it offered a clear view of her neighbor’s porch through her front window, she would deny it as she buried the body of her accuser.
    Lorna refused to even acknowledge the little pain in her chest when she had arrived home and her neighbor hadn’t been still sitting on his porch. She had hoped to catch another glimpse of the man, preferably naked, but it seemed he had other plans. She wondered where he was and what he was doing. The man fascinated her like no other. Lorna wanted to know everything about him, starting with why he was on crutches and why he chose her god-awful town to move to.
    She mentally corrected herself as she took a sip of her beer. It wasn’t the town that was awful. It was the small-minded people who lived in it. There were only a select few who made her life a living hell, but she hated the rest because they were too scared to step up and help her. The rest of the town was afraid that if they went against how she was treated, then the attention would be turned on them. Most just went about their day or kept walking like she didn’t exist.
    It bothered Lorna, but she was too stubborn to admit it. Sighing, she stood, giving up on her pity party, and headed to her room to change. It was hot enough outside and even though the sun was low in the sky, she was determined to enjoy the last of her Sunday and do what she loved the most. Who cared if her backyard was only big enough for a two-and-a-half-foot-deep kiddie pool? In a perfect world, she would have an inground oasis with a waterfall and diving board. Unfortunately, the world wasn’t perfect so she had to settle for her kiddie pool, and on a good day, if she positioned her finger over the hose just right, it made a pretty good waterfall. Stripping her clothes and getting into her bathing suit, Lorna grabbed another beer before heading to the backyard.
    Once she was settled in the lukewarm water, she sighed. It was the first time she had been able to relax since she had woken up that morning and found her car vandalized. It wasn’t the first time something like that had happened to Lorna and she didn’t expect it to be the last. Still, the whole “let’s all pick on Lorna because we all hate her mother” thing was getting old. She wondered if it was time to think about moving on. The town had nothing for her there anymore with Uncle John gone.
    Lorna’s mother had disappeared in the middle of the night about five years before, and Lorna hadn’t even batted an eye. She had always suspected that one day her mother would just up and leave so when it happened, it was no big deal. When Uncle John died two years later, Lorna felt like her heart had been torn in two. With him gone, for the first time in her life, she had felt truly alone. Uncle John had been her mentor, her father, and her best friend. He was the one person she could turn to when the town’s bullshit became too much to take. He was always there with a gruff, “fuck ’em all,” to put things in perspective when she needed it. No, with him gone, there was nothing left for her in town. At this point, Lorna was just being stubborn and bullheaded.
    She sat in her pool until it was too dark to see and her fingers had shriveled up before her stomach growled, forcing her to get out and hunt down dinner. Lorna dried off and went inside. She was determined to stay relaxed on what little she had left of her off day, so once she stripped off her wet swimming suit she didn’t bother searching for clothes to wear. Wrapping a dry towel around her, she headed to the kitchen and decided on quick sandwiches rather than worry about cooking. Just as she gathered everything she needed and sat it on the counter, her doorbell rang. Grumbling, Lorna headed to the door.

Chapter 3
     
    “Who is it? It better not be the fuckers who messed up my car because I’m in the mood to kill