Carnal Christmas-epub by Robin L. Rotham Read Free Book Online Page A

Apparently the girls’ conversation hadn’t gone well either. When they finally emerged from the master bedroom and started preparing the meal, their usual happy chatter had been glaringly absent. After listening to a half-hour of nothing but drawers opening and closing and utensils clattering, he’d offered to help Hake carry in their bags and then shown him and Mandy to the guest room so he could have some time alone with Ariel.
    Unfortunately, she wasn’t ready to talk about it yet, so all he could do was speculate about what had happened between them.
    “How are you feeling, Mandy?” Ariel asked abruptly.
    Mandy’s smile was more hopeful this time. “Good. I was pretty sick for a while, a lot more than with Ryan, but I’m doing better now.”
    “I don’t remember her being sick at all with Ryan,” Hake said as he sat back down and grabbed another piece of cornbread off the plate.
    “It’s always more memorable when you’re the one hugging the bowl,” Mandy told him dryly.
    He chuckled. “True.”
    “And everything’s…all right?” Ariel asked. “With the baby?”
    Brent and Hake traded oblique looks. What had the girls been doing all that time if they hadn’t even gotten this far into the hard questions?
    “Everything’s fine,” Mandy assured her. “Since the pregnancy is considered high risk because of my age, I’ve already started seeing a perinatologist, but my regular OB says I’m in a lot better shape than most of his patients. They both think we’ll come through this with flying colors.”
    Ariel looked relieved. “That’s really good news.”
    Joe startled them all when he slammed his spoon on the table. “For God’s sake, Ariel, just tell her you’ll take the damn baby already.”
    Oh boy. Brent’s pulse tripped into high gear and his muscles tensed for confrontation.
    “It’s not a damn baby , Joe,” Ariel snapped at the same time Hake said Joe’s name in a firm but even tone, his eyes sharp, advising caution.
    “Don’t Joe me,” Joe growled at Hake. “Everyone in this room knows what she wants. What all of you want.”
    “And what’s that, Joe?”
    “Fuck off, Hake, and take your psychoanalytical bullshit with you.”
    “Tread lightly, Josiah,” Hake warned without changing his tone one iota, “and remember that everyone at this table loves you.”
    “Well as comforting as that thought is, there’s only one way this scene can play out and it doesn’t include me.” He shoved his chair back from the table and stood up. “You can all hammer things out on your own. I’m sure it’ll be easier if I’m not here.”
    Then he spoiled his own exit line by gasping and rubbing at his right side.
    “What’s wrong, Joe?” Ariel asked, pushing back her chair and reaching for him.
    Joe’s eyes flashed down at her. “I just pulled a muscle or something. Don’t get your panties in a wad over it.”
    She pulled back like she’d been slapped. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
    If Brent had said that, the words would have been dripping with sarcasm, but Ariel made it sound like a solemn vow.
    Joe looked around at all of them, and for a second Brent thought he was going to say something, but then he just turned on his heel and walked into the kitchen. A few seconds later, the door to the garage closed.
    Mandy set her napkin on the table with a sigh. “Well, that was…”
    “Not unexpected,” Hake finished. “He has quite a temper, doesn’t he?”
    “Only when he’s scared,” Ariel said softly. Then she frowned, as if she’d just realized she’d left the oven on or something.
    “I’m so sorry to put you in this position,” Mandy said, looking back and forth between her and Brent. “I’d hoped he’d healed enough and felt secure enough with you to cope with this, but we both knew there was a chance he’d react badly. That’s why…” She bit her lip and turned to Hake. “I think you should tell them.”
    He picked up her hand from the table and kissed