Blackmail by Robin Caroll Read Free Book Online Page B

words, she realized she hadn’t even offered him something to drink. Where were her manners? She turned and faced him.
    The envelope lay beside his left hand. Her heart sped. “C-Can I get you a glass of iced tea?”
    â€œI’d really prefer a glass of water, if I might impose?”
    â€œOf course.” She pulled a glass from the cabinet and hesitated at the freezer. “Would you like ice?”
    â€œPlease.” He seemed entirely too comfortable in her kitchen. And right beside that hideous envelope.
    She filled the glass with ice and water, then handed it to him. His fingers accidentally grazed against hers.
    The familiar sizzle was there. She jerked her hand free and busied herself with mixing the sauce for the po’boys.
    She grabbed the envelope and slipped it into a drawer. If Jon noticed anything odd, he didn’t comment.
    â€œI hear music. Guess Caleb’s in his room?”
    â€œYes. He likes to unwind with music.”
    â€œApparently.”
    Was that normal for a teenage boy? She opened the French bread and placed it on the cooking sheet. “Would you like to stay for supper?”
    He flashed that annoyingly crooked smile. “I’d enjoy that very much.”
    Great. Southern hospitality had bit her in the behind. Why’d she have to invite him to stay? His magnetism made her nervous enough with just the two of them. How tense would it be when Caleb joined them? Would her brother mention the letter? Panic choked her. She’d have to warn Caleb to keep mum about the blackmail.
    She slid the bread into the oven and set the broiler on low and then set the lettuce on the drain board to chop.
    â€œHow’re you doing? Handling being a single parent to a teenage boy?”
    She nearly sliced her finger. Taking a deep breath, she fought to appear nonchalant. “It’s an adjustment, as I said.”
    â€œI can imagine. Used to living alone…having Caleb forced on you has to be quite a change.”
    She met his gaze. “He wasn’t forced on me. I agreed to be his guardian, yes?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œWhy are you here?” Caleb interrupted from the doorway.
    The knife clattered to the counter. Sadie’s nerves were tangled more than fishing line on a messed-up rod. “Caleb. Um, you remember Mr. Garrison?”
    â€œYeah.” He moved to the fridge and pulled out a soft drink.
    â€œHow was school today, Caleb?” Jon asked, apparently not fazed by Caleb’s rudeness.
    â€œSchool.”
    Oh, this so wasn’t going well. Sadie handed the bowl of tossed salad to her brother. “Could you put this on the table, please?”
    He met her stare.
    God, please let him know to keep his mouth shut about the letter.
    Caleb took the bowl without a word and set it on the kitchen table. The thud echoed off the tension in the room. Nothing she could do about the basic stress she and Caleb were under, but what could Jon be thinking?
    â€œSo, do you think you’ll like your classes?” Jon kept after Caleb.
    â€œDude, it’s summer school.” He jerked one of the chairs out from the table. It scraped against the worn linoleum, sending goose bumps racing over Sadie’s skin.
    â€œWhich you have to attend and pass to qualify as a senior in the upcoming school semester.” Jon moved to sit at the table across from Caleb.
    Sadie pulled the bread from the oven. “He attended them today.” Why couldn’t Jon just cut Caleb a little slack? This was only his third day here.
    â€œSo he did.” Jon sipped his water.
    She made three plates, then carried them to the table. She had no choice but to sit between the guys. Po’boys with a side of testosterone, lucky her. She asked them to bow their heads, offered up a short prayer and then spooned salad onto her plate.
    A long silence ensued. She wanted to think because they were enjoying the meal, but she knew the truth. So did Jon.
    She