CoyoteWhispers by Rhian Cahill Read Free Book Online Page B

here.”
    Steve wrapped his arm around her neck and dragged her back
to his side. “Definitely sexy dirty talk, Doc. Now let’s go wait for our
company.”
    He felt her stiffen against him and knew she was thinking about
what she’d have to reveal. As much as he wanted to take away her worry he knew
she had to do this. He’d stand beside her and support her as best he could but
he couldn’t fight all her battles no matter how badly he wanted to.

Chapter Three
     
    They’d reached the main area of the house when someone
knocked on Steve’s front door and continued to knock.
    “Let me guess.” Steve let her go and walked over to unlock
the deadbolt. “This’ll be Kat.”
    As soon as the door opened her sister charged past Steve as
if he didn’t exist. Kat spanned the gap between them in less than a second and
threw her arms around Gordie’s neck.
    “Thank God, you’re okay.”
    “I’m fine, Kat.” Gordie smiled at Steve over her sister’s
head. “Unless you plan to choke me to death.”
    Kat eased up on her grip but didn’t let go. “Give me a sec.
I just need to know you’re all right.”
    Gordie could allow her sister that much. While they hugged
in Steve’s foyer, Rowan came through the door carrying bags of food. One by one
the others came in out of the cold, all of them laden down with groceries. Dale
was the last to arrive, murmuring something to Steve as he closed the door
behind everyone.
    “Come on, Kat. Let your sister go so we can eat all this
food you made us drag up here,” Rowan said.
    “I bought…” Kat sniffled. She leaned back and looked at
Gordie with one arched eyebrow. “Well, I’ll be.” Her sister took a deep breath
and smiled. “About damn time, too.”
    She knew what Kat could smell but this wasn’t the time or
the place for that conversation. “Not now.”
    “We’ve all waited years for you two to get it on. You should
be yelling it from the rooftop.”
    “Shh. I don’t want to talk about it at the moment.”
    “Oh come on, Gordie. You guys have been dancing around each
other since you came home years ago. Everyone is going to be thrilled that you
finally gave in.”
    “Kat! I did not—”
    “Sure you did, the whole town knows you’re the one fighting
it.”
    “Enough, Kat.” Steve’s quiet words didn’t hide the hard edge
they were delivered with.
    Gordie watched Kat wrestle her need to argue. The girl could
argue under wet concrete and she still didn’t know why her sister had given up
her dream of being a lawyer and taken over The Dec Café from their mother.
She’d probably never find out. Even though Kat was the first to ferret out other
people’s secrets, she kept her own locked in a vault, not even Gordie was privy
to what lay hidden behind that sealed door.
    “I brought stew for tonight. I also packed up a heap of
groceries, lasagna and a chicken pie. But don’t think all this food gives you
reason to stay up here Christmas Day. I want to see you both at my place for
lunch with presents in hand.” Kat marched toward the kitchen.
    “She’s like this every day isn’t she?” Steve asked, shaking
his head.
    With a sigh, Gordie turned to face him. “Yeah, she is.”
    “I’ve seen her take charge of things at the café but have
never been subjected to it personally. Did she really bring all that food?”
    Gordie laughed. “You saw the bags everyone carted in. Kat’s
always had this need to feed anything with a mouth. We used to joke when she
was little about her finding a mate early and having a truckload of kids to
mother.” Gordie stared after her sister. “You know I don’t think I’ve seen her
date anyone since she was in high school.”
    “And that’s a subject we’re not touching.” He placed a hand
on her lower back and gently nudged her forward. “Come on, we’ve put it off
long enough.”
    The next few minutes were taken up by Kat giving orders and
everyone following them. Bowls were filled with hot stew, and with food