Burning Barriers (Barriers Series Book 3) by Sara Shirley Read Free Book Online Page A

little by little into the open concept kitchen area.
    Lucy’s eyes catch my movement in the windowpane, but she doesn’t move to face me. She continues with the flowers and filling the vase with water. As soon as she’s done, she turns and wipes her wet hands on a dishtowel before coming back to stand in front of me.
    “Everything is fine.” She shakes her head as if she’s trying to rid whatever was just encompassing her thoughts. She quickly places her small purse under her arm and turns to head back to the patio door, telling her family that she’s heading out and not to wait up. Her boots stomp against the wooden floor as she walks toward me. My eyes trail from her boots and follow her toned legs up to her swaying hips before she stops directly in front of me. I focus on her subtle cleavage that sneaks out of the low-cut sundress she’s wearing. The light casts a slight reflection off her silver chain dangling around her neck as I try to make out what’s engraved on the hand-punched sterling silver pendants.
    I see a silver roller skate charm as well as the words on the round, flat, silver charm that read “Derby Sister 4 Life”. My hand unexpectedly reaches out to pull the necklace closer for me to see if there is anything else typed on the other side of the round pendant. Lucy catches my hand moving toward her and backs away abruptly. Her eyes are closed, and her lips are straight without emotion, but I can sense her pain when her hand rises to cover the scar on her neck. Just before her hand touches her skin, she opens her eyes and moves for the front door.
    “We better get going if we’re going to make it to wherever we’re going. Where are we going? Should I have worn different shoes? Ellen didn’t like my first outfit, and this was the only other option,” she rattles off without taking a breath in-between. I quickly walk over to stand beside her and place my hand at the small of her back as I push open the front door for her to exit.
    “You’re dressed fine, Luce. In fact, you look sexy as all hell in what you’re wearing. Remind me to thank Ellen later for the wardrobe.” I wink at her as a soft smile begins to grace her lips before she makes her way out to the front walkway.
    Lucy stares at the huge beastly truck that’s parked in front of the house as I walk behind her down the brick paver walkway toward the street.
    “I’m going to guess this monstrosity of a truck is yours?” she suggests as she stops at the end of the walkway, pointing to my truck with her thumb.
    “What? You remember how bad winters are around here. It snows nonstop from October through April, and I need a reliable vehicle to handle pulling the horses and to get to the firehouse,” I justify as I start walking down the street away from the truck.
    “Why are you heading that direction? Aren’t we driving?”
    “It’s a nice night. I figured we’d walk to the restaurant. Is that okay?” Lucy stands there with her head down, staring at her boots. With her shoulders slumped, I hear her mutter something that sounds like ‘fuckin’ Ellen and her cowgirl boots’.
    Before I have a chance to ask her what she said, she raises her head and begins walking in my direction. “All right, if we’re walking, let’s go. But, let me tell you something.” She points her finger at me. “These boots are not the easiest things to walk in,” she spouts as she storms past me.
    I shake my head and laugh softly at her continued complaining. Nothing has changed about her whiny mouth in all these years. I hastily catch up to her and watch as her head turns up to face me. Her blonde curls bounce with each step she takes.
    “Stop your whining, Luce, and ride me,” I say with an edge. It was always the line I used back in the day that drove her wild in the bedroom. Her questioning eyes stay fixed on me as my lips curl into a sinful smile. I chuckle to myself before pointing my thumb over my shoulder. “You know, hop on. I’ll