Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
She was deep in thought when her doorbell rang. Liza glanced up, surprised by yet another visitor, this one in the middle of the day.
She walked to the door and discovered Kelly Barron on the other side. “Hi,” Liza said as she opened the door to let the other woman inside.
“Hi yourself.” Kelly looked Liza over thoroughly from her now bare feet and over her wrinkled suit. “Well, you look like you made it through unscathed. The center of town doesn’t look nearly as good.”
Liza winced at the reminder. “I’m fine. Just really embarrassed.”
“By an accident? Don’t be silly. I’m just glad you’re okay. Your brakes failed? That’s so scary.”
“Tell me about it.” She shivered involuntarily. “I’d ask what you’re doing here, but I have a hunch Dare sent you?” Liza flexed and unflexed her fingers, waiting for an answer.
“Well, I’d have come anyway as soon as I heard what happened, but yes, Dare called.”
Liza shook her head. “Don’t you need to be at work?” she asked, knowing the other woman was a paralegal.
“It’ll wait. Today’s a light day, so no worries about me. What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Dare mentioned you might need a ride to a car rental place…or to the police station to sign your statement.” With a light laugh, Kelly shrugged. “Sorry, but those Barron brothers like to take control.”
And it didn’t seem like it bothered her all that much.
“I realize that.” And though Liza should be angry, she was strangely touched as well. “I just don’t get it,” she added softly.
“Get what?” Kelly asked.
Liza sighed. “Come on into the kitchen,” she said, figuring they could sit down for this conversation. “Soda? Water? Iced tea?”
“Whatever you’re having.” Kelly settled into the kitchen chair Dare had been in just this morning.
After handing them each a can of diet soda, Liza joined her at the table. “Remember, you asked,” she warned Dare’s sister-in-law before she dove into any conversation. If she dove in. Liza wasn’t used to sharing.
“And I’m listening.” Kelly, wearing denim shorts and a cropped T-shirt, crossed one long leg over the other.
Again, Liza reacted against type and decided to confide in her. She didn’t understand it. She was usually so self-contained, but something about the fact that these strangers kept showing kindness got to her. Liza genuinely liked Kelly and Faith. More than that, she was embarrassed to admit she was starving for the friendship they seemed to willingly offer.
Liza only hoped that friendship wasn’t contingent on her relationship with their brother-in-law because that seemed dead in the water. “Dare and I…” She trailed off, not knowing how to explain.
Kelly waited patiently, not pushing her to divulge more than or before she was ready.
“It’s just that we have more things that divide us than we have in common.”
Kelly popped the top of her cola can and pulled a long sip. “So? Nash and I didn’t have an easy go of it either. But it was worth the hassle, even when things got really bad. And believe me, they did. And that good relationship you see between the brothers now?” Kelly shook her head. “It wasn’t always that way.”
Liza should have been surprised at the other woman’s candor, but everything about her seemed so warm and open, she’d almost expected it. “Dare mentioned something about their difficult road.”
Kelly nodded. “Ethan got his shit together first. Pardon my French,” she said, laughing. “And he came home to make amends. He and Dare warmed up to each other next. But Nash? He came to the party kicking and screaming. In fact, he actually decked Ethan.”
Liza blinked, startled by that revelation.
“Yep. It took Nash a long time to forgive his older brother. And Dare? We all thought Dare was the most easygoing of the brothers, but it turns out he had secrets nobody knew.” Kelly eyed Liza over the rim of the soda can.
What kinds of secrets, Liza wondered, but knew she wouldn’t ask any more than Kelly would tell. Whatever secrets Dare kept hidden, Liza would learn from Dare himself if he chose to tell her.
When Kelly continued to stare, Liza grew uncomfortable. “What?”
Kelly shrugged. “It’s just that Dare projects this easy persona, but underneath? He’s been hurt and abandoned, and it’s hard for him to trust. Like all the brothers, really. But he’s hidden it the deepest.”
This revelation, though not specific, came as more of a surprise. Liza had assumed his harsh words about her behavior with her brother came from his being a cop with a judgmental personality. But from what Kelly was telling her, Dare wasn’t as judgmental as he was scared of trusting.
Just like she was. Which made them quite a pair, really.
Could he have been looking for an excuse to push her away this morning? Was the tattoo and then Brian’s arrival an easy way for him not to deal with his feelings? Or was she reading more into Kelly’s simple words because Liza was falling for the man and wanted an excuse to let him back in?