Fighting for You by Sydney Landon Read Free Book Online Page B

the wrong flight as well.” With a smile of satisfaction, Declan saw his brother’s face go white and he took off for his car at a fast clip. Declan laughed, unlocked his Porsche Cayman, and settled in the driver’s seat. It might be a bit of a stereotype, but he loved his car. Of course, he also owned a truck. Sports cars didn’t make that much sense other than the rush you felt when driving them. He was also pretty sure that if Ella wore one of those dresses that she usually wore, the odds were good that he might get an eyeful of leg when he helped her out of the low-slung car. Yeah, in the end, he was just a guy.

Chapter Six
    Ella fought the urge to pinch herself as she sat across from Declan in the crowded restaurant. How many times had she dreamed about just this moment? Conversation flowed easily just as it always did with them. He looked so handsome that she would have been content to stare at him across the table for the entire evening. And if she didn’t know better, she would swear that he started off just as nervous as she had. Luckily, due to the work friendship that they had forged, it was easy to slip back into the comfortable camaraderie that they had always shared.
    Declan smiled at her across the table midway through the meal and asked, “How’s the lasagna, Ellie?”
    She quickly swallowed the bite she had been savoring and rolled her eyes in bliss. “It’s wonderful. I’m glad that Claire recommended this place. She said it was where she and Jason had their sort of first date, whatever that means.”
    “They seem happy. I met Claire’s mother last week when she came by the office with their daughter. She was pretty funny, and reminded me a lot of Claire. I heard she was really sick for quite a while.”
    Ella nodded her head, “I’ve met her too. She’s great. And her housekeeper, Louise, who Claire calls her other mother, is hilarious. I thought I would pee myself when those two started cracking old age jokes the last time I was at Claire’s.
Ugh, did I just tell Declan that I almost peed myself? Too much information, dingbat!
    Declan chuckled, obviously amused at her story. “What about your parents? You said they were pretty strict on you growing up. Do they live locally?”
    Groaning, Ella said, “They live in Florence, about an hour away and, trust me, it’s too close some days. I love them, I really do, but they can be nosy and overbearing. When I first moved out, my mom came to visit me every evening for the entire first month. My dad finally complained about the amount of gas she was burning on the trips and she slowed it down to once a week. By now it’s become just once a month. She still expects me to visit them on Sundays. I haven’t for the last few weeks and I’m starting to catch a lot of heat over it.”
    “It sounds like they love you, Ellie. Are you an only child?”
    “Oh no, I have an older sister who is quite perfect. Her name is Crystal. Her husband is a deacon from the church my parents attend. Her life’s work is to make me look bad.”
    Declan lifted a brow, “I can’t imagine that being possible. I would think you would be every parent’s dream child. How can your sister make you look bad?”
    “Oh, trust me. She has it down to a science. Since she lives close to our parents, she has the home field advantage and she knows how to use it. She visits them daily, takes them to appointments, and runs errands for them. She never misses a church service. She is so well liked in the community that our parents sit beside her and beam on Sunday mornings, as if they are related to Meryl Streep or something. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear they’ve started a fan club for her. How about you? Do your parents live close?”
    Taking his time, Declan took a sip of his wine before answering. “My parents died when I was young. I was raised by my grandfather.”
    Ella reached a hand out to clasp his. “I’m so sorry, Declan. I had no idea. What happened?”
    He gave