Broken Ties by Gloria Davidson Marlow Read Free Book Online

Carlotta picked me up from the police station and took me to the first home. I don’t even know how my last name became Martin.”
    “You remembered being kidnapped.”
    “Only because that man accosted me. If he hadn’t, I might never have remembered anything. And I still don’t remember much of anything concrete. We don’t even know if it’s true.”
    “Give us a little time, Sidra. We’ll put the whole story together and you’ll know where you came from.”
    “And who I am.”
    “There’s no question who you are, Sid. You’re the same smart, sweet, beautiful woman I’ve known the last four years. Nothing can change that.”
    “I’m afraid you’re wrong about that, Levi. I think I’m someone much different than we think, and I’m not sure either of us is ready to know just how different I really am from the Sidra Martin you know.”
    A chill rushed through him at her words. Was she right? When they found out where she belonged, would he have a place in her life, or would he have to turn her loose and walk away?

Chapter Six
    A drizzling rain accompanied them to the office, casting a pall over what had happened between them and making Sidra wonder what in the world she had been thinking when she came on to him like that. She had never done anything even remotely seductive in her life, but something in his eyes when he saw her in nothing but the towel had awakened a response in her. Obviously, that response had pushed every rational thought out of her head and she had acted on some primal level she had never before explored.
    Now, however, as she studied his clenched jaw and dark eyes, the rational part of her came back with a vengeance. He hadn’t spoken since they left her house. Was he regretting their lovemaking? He had warned her more than enough times to keep her distance, that he didn’t want the distraction it would cause, but she had kept on, nearly forcing him to react to her.
    So here she was, wishing she could bask in the long-awaited proof of his attraction to her, but frightened she had pushed him beyond his breaking point. What would she do if the only person she could trust turned away from her?
    She had spent so many years alone, gone through so many foster homes where she was kept an arm’s length from anything resembling love or acceptance. There was no denying those years had left her scarred and uncertain of herself, and she had always doubted she would ever find the kind of connection a family of her own would offer.
    The day she met Thaddeus Monroe Tanner, “Teddy” to his friends and family, that had changed. He invited her into his world, welcoming her as if he had known her forever, and offering her an easy, brotherly friendship she had never had with the “brothers” she’d known in foster care.
    Despite his objections to hiring her and his decision to keep his distance from her, Levi too had accepted her as one of their own.
    She doubted Levi would deny the instant attraction that had flared between them, or that it was the driving force behind his aloofness. Assuming she was more to Teddy than just a friend, he had been bound and determined he wouldn’t get in the way of his kid brother. Even after Teddy was gone, Levi had held back, obviously reluctant to step on Teddy’s toes.
    She wanted to assure him once more that Teddy had never been her lover, but she couldn’t bring herself to open a conversation in which he would tell her he regretted making love to her. For just a few more moments, she wanted to believe her future held more of them together, that they would find themselves wrapped in each other’s arms sooner rather than later or—worse yet—never.
    They passed the square where the Christmas tree’s lights glowed dismally against the gray skies and the bright red ribbons on its branches hung in sodden clumps.
    Christmas in a nutshell, she thought bitterly.
    The thought was immediately followed by the questions her aversion to the holidays always raised.