Fool for Love by Marie Force Read Free Book Online Page B

he said with a
laugh, "it would be okay if you called me."
    "Well," she said, taking a deep
breath, "here goes nothing."
    "You'll get through this. You can do
anything you put your mind to."
    "I guess we'll find out."
    Joe gave her a little nudge. "Go.
Before I kidnap you and take you back home with me."
    She gave him a last reassuring smile.
"See ya around, sailor."
    He returned her smile, but she noticed it
was tinged with sadness and didn't engage his eyes. "See ya."
    Janey slid into Mac's black SUV, preparing to answer a million questions.
However, her brother surprised her with his silence.
    "Where're we going?" she asked
as he drove them out of town.
    "My place. I figured you might not be
ready to be alone just yet."
    Janey appreciated his thoughtfulness. Her
house was full of pictures of her with David that someone would have to get rid
of before she could return there. "Thanks."
    "So what was all that just now with
Joe?"
    Her stomach rippled with nerves. She
should've known he'd tune right into any secret she tried to keep from him. He
always had. Except for times like this when he stepped back into the role of
overbearing big brother, the seven years between them had disappeared once she
reached adulthood. "He was really great. I just wanted to thank him."
    "And that's all?"
    "What else would it be?"
    Mac studied her for a long moment before
accelerating through an intersection. "David called Mom again."
    Janey was glad her brother had moved on
from interrogating her about Joe. "What did he want?"
    "Since he still can't reach you, he
said he's coming over tomorrow."
    "Fabulous." She'd hoped to have
some more time to prepare for that confrontation, but at least this way she
could get it over with sooner rather than later. "I have to work
tomorrow."
    "I saw Doc Potter at the liquor store
earlier," he said, referring to the island's veterinarian. "I told
him you were dealing with a situation, and he said to take the rest of the week
off. It's slow because of the Fourth anyway."
    "Oh. Okay."
    "I hope you don't mind that I talked
to him."
    "It's fine." His interference,
which would've irritated her under normal circumstances, was the least of her
concerns at the moment. "What'd you do about Mom?"
    "I told her you'd call when you're
ready to talk about it."
    Janey glanced over at her handsome
brother. He was tanned from long hours at the marina, his dark hair was damp
from an earlier shower and stubble sprinkled his jaw. Being in love clearly
agreed with him. He'd never looked better. "What makes you suddenly so
good at Mom management?"
    He grimaced at the backhanded compliment.
"Fighting with her over Maddie."
    Their mother hadn't approved of his
relationship with one of the housekeepers who worked at the family's hotel. Mac
had knocked Maddie off her bike by accident and then insisted on caring for her
and her infant son until she was recovered—including taking her shifts at the
hotel until she could work again. Unlike their mother, who had since come
around, Janey had been delighted to watch her stubbornly single brother fall
flat on his face in love.
    "How's it going at the marina?"
    "Surprisingly well."
    "I still can't believe you're really
taking the place over and moving home to the island."
    "Some days I can't believe it, either,
but I seem to be exactly where I belong. Finally."
    "I'm happy for you, Mac. I really
am."
    He reached over and squeezed her hand.
"I know you are, brat. I'm sorry all this is happening to you, especially
with our wedding just around the corner."
    "I certainly don't want what's
happening to me to detract from your happiness. Please don't give that a
thought."
    "Are you still up for being Maddie's
maid of honor?"
    "Absolutely! I'd be heartbroken if
she asked someone else."
    "Good," he said, sounding relieved.
Clearly, they'd given that some thought since they heard about what had
happened with David.
    It occurred to her just then that Mac had
asked Joe to be his best man, since he'd