Effortless by Lynn Montagano Read Free Book Online Page A

how everything was going here and wouldn’t take too kindly to being ushered off the phone after a brief conversation.
    Eyeing the silver envelope again, I finished reading the invitation for Olivia’s bridal shower. The Hotel du Vin? I did a quick search online and learned it was a luxury boutique hotel in the West End. It looked quite lovely from the photos.
    Maybe I should go
.
    I exorcized the thought from my mind before it had a chance to fester and grow. The last thing I wanted was to spend time with that girl.
    * * *
    Steady rain tapped against the windows, its delicate rhythmic dance relaxing me as I walked into the living room. Being alone in this big house put me on edge a little but only because I was still getting used to its size and some of the weird noises it made late at night. I decided against watching TV and chose to be nosey. Seeing as Alastair kept decorations to a bare minimum, there wasn’t much to see. Yes, the earth tones that drenched the room were gorgeous and luxurious but aside from the framed photos I’d put out the other night there wasn’t much here that screamed
him
.
    I ran my fingers along a gold key that sat in a small crystal dish on one of the shelves while looking at some of his books. They were mostly reference books about various financial topics. Almost lost among them was a book that appeared to have no title on its spine.
    “What’s this,” I mused, pulling it off the shelf. The soft, dark leather was old and worn, so I assumed it had to be a favorite novel of his or something. Opening it, I discovered it was an old diary. I saw the name Rose Taylor Holden handwritten in the front. Though small, I felt its weight in my hands after seeing his mother’s name. I scanned the shelf again, hoping to find another hidden treasure. One by one, they made themselves known; a tattered children’s book, an old photography manual, a comic book about someone named Moven Marvin.
    The closer I looked, the more I could see that he did keep pieces of himself in this house. He just kept them hidden and protected, like he did with everything else.
    A surge of love flowed through me as I returned the books to their proper places. What I first assumed to be nondescript decorations must have belonged to his parents. Every little figurine or bookend or delicate vase must be something from his childhood home.
    His well-versed ability to show the world only what he wanted them to see extended to the privacy of his own house but was so subtle it went unnoticed. I trotted off to the bedroom and grabbed my phone.
    10:49pm I miss you
    11:02pm The plane is fueled and ready. Fly here now
    11:03pm Wish I could
    11:07pm You can. I’ll handle Archer
    11:10pm Next time, Holden. You’re busy with work anyway. I’d be bored
    11:11pm Not if I can help it
    11:14pm Now you’re just teasing me
    11:16pm Are you in bed?
    11:18pm Yep
    11:21pm Dream of me x
    Curling up on the mattress, I hugged his pillow tight and smiled.

CHAPTER FIVE
    “
Why didn’t you call me as soon as it happened
?” Stephanie shrieked, staring at my hand. The handful of people standing to our left on the sidewalk gave her a dirty look. She didn’t care one bit and carried on. “Jesus Christ, it’s Friday. You’ve known all week and didn’t say anything. I mean, what’s the point of being your official-best-friend-unofficial-big-sister if
you don’t tell me the important things
?”
    Shivering, she pulled the jacket around her body tighter and shook her head. Her jet black hair had grown even longer, nipping at her shoulders like a swath of sultry, dark silk.
    I gazed at the diamond, not bothered by her dramatics. “I’m telling you now.
Before
telling my actual flesh and blood sister and
before
telling my parents.”
    “But you told Darren?”
    “Hey, I called to see if you were free for lunch and you sent him in your place. Don’t blame me.”
    She started to say something then stopped, knowing full well I was right. I