First Impressions by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online

sarcasm was both petty and wasted. He’d never notice.
    â€œI’m sorry I didn’t get by last week. Things have been hectic.”
    â€œBusiness is good?” she asked without any intonation of interest. He failed to notice that too.
    â€œMoney’s loosening up.” He straightened his tie unnecessarily. “People are buying houses. Country property’s always a good investment.” He gave her a quick nod. “The real estate business is solid.”
    Money was still first, Shane noticed with irony. “And your father?”
    â€œDoing well. Semiretired now, you know.”
    â€œNo,” she said mildly. “I didn’t.” If Cy Trainer Sr. relinquished the reins to Trainer Real Estate six months after he was dead, it would have surprised Shane. The old man would always run the show, no matter what his son liked to think.
    â€œHe likes to keep busy,” Cy told her. “He’d love to see you though. You’ll have to drop by the office.” Shane said nothing to that. “So . . .” Cy paused as he was wont to do before a big statement. “You’re settling in.”
    Shane lifted a brow as she watched him glance around at her packing cases. “Slowly,” she agreed. Though she knew it was deliberately rude, she didn’t ask him to sit. They remained standing, just inside the door.
    â€œYou know, Shane, this house isn’t in the best of shape, but it is a prime location.” He gave her a light, condescending smile that set her teeth on edge. “I’m sure I could get you a good price for it.”
    â€œI’m not interested in selling, Cy. Is that why you came by? To do an appraisal?”
    He looked suitably shocked. “Shane!”
    â€œWas there something else?” she asked evenly.
    â€œI just dropped by to see how you were.” The distress in both his voice and eyes had an apology forming on her lips. “I heard some crazy story about your trying to start an antique shop.”
    The apology slipped away. “It’s not a story, crazy or otherwise, Cy. I am going to start one.”
    He sighed and gave her what she termed his paternal look. She gritted her teeth. “Shane, have you any idea how difficult, how risky it is to start a business in today’s economy?”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll tell me,” she muttered.
    â€œMy dear,” he said in calm tones, making her blood pressure rise alarmingly. “You’re a certified teacher with four years’ experience. It’s just nonsense to toss away a good career for a fanciful little fling.”
    â€œI’ve always been good at nonsense, haven’t I, Cy?” Her eyes chilled. “You never hesitated to point it out to me even when we were supposed to be madly in love.”
    â€œNow, Shane, it was because I cared that I tried to curb your . . . impulses.”
    â€œCurb my impulses!” More astonished than angry, Shane ran her fingers through her hair. Later, she told herself, later she would be able to laugh. Now she wanted to scream. “You haven’t changed. You haven’t changed a whit. I bet you still roll your socks into those neat little balls and carry an extra handkerchief.”
    He stiffened a bit. “If you’d ever learned the value of practicality—” he began.
    â€œYou wouldn’t have dumped me two months before the wedding?” she finished furiously.
    â€œReally, Shane, you can hardly call it that. You know I was only thinking of what was best for you.”
    â€œBest for me,” she muttered between clenched teeth. “Well, let me tell you something.” She poked a dusty finger at his muted striped tie. “You can stuff your practicality, Cy, right along with your balanced checkbook and shoe trees. I might have thought you hurt me at the time, but you did me a big favor. I
hate
practicality and rooms that smell like pine