The Sunstone Brooch : Time Travel Romance Katherine Logan (no david read aloud TXT) 📖

to meet a couple of friends. They plan to canvas another neighborhood close to the university. She’s going to be so pissed.”

“I’ll call her now.”

“The police might want to talk to you, too.”

“If they call me, I’ll answer their questions. But I need to get my stuff out of the Cambridge house.”

“Barb took everything to your apartment.”

“Oh, good. Well…okay. I’ll call you when I get back to the city.”

“Don’t you have to get back to work?”

“I got laid off Thursday. I don’t have a job right now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, almost sounding sympathetic, and if she was only listening to him, she could believe it, but his scowl had deepened.

“The truth is that I didn’t know until I arrived in Cambridge. And why aren’t you happy for me?”

“Happy? Are you kidding? Asking that question just shows how selfish you are. We’ve gone through hell because of you.”

“I’m sorry about that, George,” Austin said. “Next time you see me, I’ll give you a free swing. You can knock the shit out of me.”

Ensley gasped. “Please don’t hit him. I’ve already given Austin a hard enough time over what he did.”

George’s phone rang. “That’s Barb. I’m hanging up so you can call her.”

He disconnected, and Ensley slumped in the chair. “I knew he’d be pissed, but it’s way worse than I thought. I guess I was a little naïve. But I hate putting all this blame on you.”

“I’ve got big enough shoulders to carry it. Seriously, don’t worry about it. I’d rather they blame me than you or JC.”

While Ensley debated her next move—call Barb or her uncle—a call came in. “That’s Barb’s number.”

“Take it,” Austin said.

She clicked on the FaceTime button. “Hi, Barb.”

Angry lines had formed around Barb’s mouth, but it was the circles under her eyes that bothered Ensley more. Barb hadn’t slept much, and Ensley was responsible for that. And it was something else to feel guilty about.

“What the hell? I’ve been scared to death. Where are you now?”

“Didn’t George tell you?”

Barb shook her head. “No, he only said he just got off the phone with you and that you weren’t dead!”

“He’s pissed.”

“You betcha. So where’d you go?”

Ensley glanced up at Austin. “Austin O’Grady kidnapped me, and I’m at his ranch in Colorado.”

Barb drew back, but her eyes remained fixed on Ensley. “He whaaat?”

“He was furious that I turned down his manuscript, and he wasn’t going to let me go until I understood what he’d written.”

“Austin O’Grady? The basketball player?”

“Yep.”

“When’d he let you go?”

Ensley beckoned for Austin to come back into view.

“Hi, Barb. I’m Austin O’Grady.”

Barb nearly jumped out of her chair. “OMG! How’d you even convince her to talk to you? Athletes drive her nuts.”

“She thought I was an asshole, but she discovered I’m also a nice guy.”

Barb was looking at Austin with dreamy eyes, and Ensley almost laughed.

“So what do you think of my friend?” Barb asked.

Without missing a beat, he said, “I’m in love with her.”

“Whaaat? Did I hear you right? You’re in love with her? That’s impossible. She’d never be nice enough for an athlete to fall in love with her.”

“Well, she discovered I’m not all brawn, that I have brains and beauty, too.”

“So you like her?”

“No, I’m in love with her, Barb. She’s one badass babe, and I don’t plan to let her out of my sight.”

“Wow! I’m impressed. So, Ens, are you ever coming back to the city?”

“I’ll be there in a couple of days to gather up a few things, and then I’m coming back to Austin’s ranch for a while.”

“You’re what?” Barb exclaimed.

“I’m going to live in Colorado for a while.”

“That’s what I thought you said, but what about your job?”

“I got laid off right before I talked to you the other night.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“I have several sins to confess.” She came close to telling Barb that she was going with JC to Bhutan but stopped herself. Barb would compare stories later with George, and if she said she was going with JC, that would contradict what she told George. Lying was the pits.

Barb leaned closer to the screen. “I can’t wait to meet your superstar in person.”

Austin gave Barb one of his special-edition crooked grins. “I’ll invite you and George over for dinner as soon as we get to the city.”

“Where’s your apartment?” she asked.

“I don’t have one. I always stay at the house the family owns on 107th and Riverside.”

Barb scratched her chin, looking up. “I think… Ensley, didn’t you point that out once during a run through Riverside Park?”

“I did. JC told me about it, but I’ve never been inside. I look forward to dinner there.”

Austin leaned over and whispered, “I hope you’ll stay there.”

Ensley’s cheeks heated.

“I don’t know what Austin just said to you, but it certainly pinked your cheeks,” Barb teased. “Any man who can get that kind of reaction from you is a special guy. George and I will be there with bells on.”

Ensley grimaced. “George isn’t happy with me right now. He might not come.”

“Oh, he’ll come,” Barb said with a wave. “And when I see you, I’ll expect to hear the whole story.”

“There’s not that much to tell,” Austin said.

“Bullshit,” Barb said. “I’ve heard all about you, O’Grady. You better be good to my friend, or else…”

He stroked Ensley’s shoulder, and she leaned into his hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll always put her interests first.”

“Do you believe him, Ens?”

Ensley looked up, surprised. No, that was hardly the word she’d use. It was more like she was dumbfounded. “Yes, I do.”

“That’s all I need to hear. I’ll see you soon. But damn, girl, get some sleep. You look exhausted, and you desperately need a haircut and facial. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’d been living outside for six weeks, but you’ve only been gone three days. That man’s wearing you out.”

“I know I’m tired but didn’t realize I look that bad.”

Austin kissed the top of her head. “We’re both exhausted, but you still look gorgeous.”

“Damn. If a man