The Road to Rose Bend Naima Simone (ebook pdf reader for pc .txt) đ
- Author: Naima Simone
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âCole, you remember Sydney Collins, donât you?â
His self-protective instincts screamed a blaring, banshee-like warning at him to keep his distance. To conjure up any excuse to throw his motherâs wayâwork, mayoral responsibilities, a zombie-fucking-apocalypseâto get out of here.
But then Sydney started to push to her feet and his own carried him swiftly across the lobby and into the living room; his hands, of their own volition, cupped her elbows, and helped her stand from the deep cushions, steadying her.
âUh, thanks,â she said on a chuckle. That low contralto seemed too deep, too husky for such a petite woman. It caressed the skin bared by his short-sleeved T-shirt. âIâm not so far along yet that I canât rise from chairs, but I appreciate the sentiment,â she teased.
The reference to her pregnancy scalded him, and before he could rethink what it would imply to her or his mother and sister, he snatched his hands away from her, dropping his arms back to his sides. And taking a step back.
âIâm sorry,â he murmured.
Something flickered in her eyes, there and gone before he could decipher it. No doubt the same confusion that had dwelled there last night just before his abrupt departure. Or disgust. Hell, he was disgusted with himself.
âNo worries,â she said, giving him a slight smile before turning to his mother. âMoe, I canât thank you enough for accommodating me at the last minute. With summer and the rally so close, I know you have to be pretty booked. I doubt things have changed that much.â
Moe waved her gratitude away. âNonsense. It was nothing but a word. Besides, the cottage was sitting empty, and youâre practically family.â
âNo âpracticallyâ about it.â Leo cradled Sydneyâs baby bump. âIâm going to be an aunt to little Arwen or Aragorn here and plan on spoiling her or him rotten.â
Moe rolled her eyes. âGood Lord. Sheâs not naming her baby after some Lord of the Realms characters.â
âLord of the Rings, Mom. Seriously? Whose child am I?â
Cole ignored their byplay, focusing on nothing but âaccommodating me at the last minute.â Apprehension skated down his spine. âYouâre staying here?â Yeah, he was a coward. But it didnât change the fact that avoiding her would be a hell of a lot harder if she was booked into his familyâs inn for the foreseeable future.
âSheâs renting one of our cottages. The one down the road from yours, actually,â Moe informed him.
Well, damn.
âWhich is why we need your help,â Leo added, unaware of his panic. His sister slung an arm around Sydneyâs shoulders and hugged her. âWe need your big muscles instead of your big brain today. Call it your civic duty, Mr. Mayor.â She scrutinized his arms. âWell, biggish muscles.â Her brow crinkled in a mock frown. âWell... Ah, never mind. Youâll do.â
Any other time, he wouldâve snapped an equally derisive comeback as that was how siblings exhibited their undying affection for one another, but he couldnât speak. Couldnât do anything but stand there and mentally scramble for a reason why his mother shouldnât rent Sydney one of the properties that would place her in much-too-close-for-his-sanity proximity.
But he suspected She makes me fucking feel wouldnât fly with Moe. On second thought, it just might. And seeing that hopeful light enter his motherâs eyes only to watch it extinguish would break him.
The only other choice would be moving back to the house heâd shared with Tonia. Back to the house and the empty, decorated nursery.
So, yeah, he was shit out of luck.
And stuck.
âItâs okay, really,â Sydney said, glancing at him before shifting her gaze to his sister and then to his mother. âI donât want to inconvenience anyone. I didnât bring that much with me. Just what I could manage to stuff in my car. Between Wolf, Sonny and Leo, we should have everything covered.â
âNonsense. Whatâs the purpose of having brothers if I canât put them to use? And I refuse to let my recently returned best friendâwho has a lot of explaining to do about why she didnât let me know sooner that she was coming homeâtire herself out.â Leo batted away Sydneyâs objections with a flick of her hand. âBut I mean it. As soon as you get settled. Girlsâ night. Wine for me, Moeâs special non-alcoholic cocktails for you, caramel popcorn and movies. Just like old times.â
Leoâs plans slid right over Coleâs head, because heâd latched onto Sydneyâs words and they were all he could hear.
She didnât want his helpâdidnât want him there.
Not that he could blame her. Shame and anger clutched his gut. Twisted it. What kind of man had he become? One who makes an innocent woman feel unwelcome and uncomfortable because of your own hang-ups and issues. The answer echoed in his head like a struck gong.
It wasnât her fault that sheâd dragged his body out of hibernation kicking and screaming.
Wasnât her fault that guilt streamed through his veins like a caustic acid.
âNo, Iâm glad to help,â he murmured. Then turning away before she couldârightfullyâtell him to go home, he kicked his chin up at Moe. âWhereâs Wolf?â
âHeâs loading up his truck with some food Iâm sending over with Sydney,â she replied, studying him in the same contemplative manner that had dragged the truth out of him the first time he and Tonia had sex all those years ago. The CIA could uncover secrets of states, nuclear codes and the location of Jimmy Hoffaâs body with her stare. She was dangerous.
Not willing to spill any of the confusion swirling inside him, he dipped his head in a nod and with a, âIâll go see if he needs any help and ride over with him,â he stalked toward the kitchen and the driveway that reached around the back of the house.
Maybe physical labor
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