Kisses After Dark by Marie Force Read Free Book Online Page B

guy.”
    Julia raised a brow in inquiry. “Shane says, huh?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “You two were awfully cozy at brunch.”
    “We were just talking.”
    “From all reports, he’s a nice guy, too.”
    “I guess,” Katie said, shrugging. “He asked me out, but I said no.”
    “You said no. Of course you said no.” Julia got up from the bed and began moving around the room again, gathering belongings that were strewn all over the place in typical Julia style. She exploded into every room she occupied.
    “Why does that make you so mad?”
    “Because! You’re thirty-two and have never had so much as a date! How long are you going keep this up? You’ve got a perfectly nice guy who our brother thinks the world of asking you out, and you still can’t bend your rigid rules? Even for him?”
    “It’s not that simple, and you know it.”
    “I do know. I grew up exactly the same way you did, but I haven’t chosen to seal myself off from the world in a protective bubble where nothing bad can ever find me. Newsflash, bad stuff happens. Two bad things happened to you this week , and you lived to tell. Do you honestly think Laura’s brother is going to take Owen’s sister out and treat her badly? Do you really think that?”
    “No, I don’t, but still… You never know.”
    “No, you don’t. But one thing I do know is you’re wasting your entire life because of someone who doesn’t deserve that level of sacrifice.”
    “I’m not doing it for him,” Katie said distastefully. The idea that Julia could think Katie’s life was still run by Mark Lawry was disgusting to her.
    “You’re letting him win, Kate. Every time a nice guy asks you out and you say no, the general scores another point.”
    “That’s not true!”
    “It’s exactly true. Look at Mom. Who has more reason to hide out from men than she does, and she’s found a great guy who loves and respects her and wants nothing more than to make her happy.”
    “So he says now. How does she know that won’t change after he puts a ring on her finger?”
    Julia shook her head. “You’re hopeless. I give up. Do what you want, but I’m sticking to my story. When you say no to a guy like Shane McCarthy, the general wins. He wants you terrorized and afraid, and you’re playing right into his hand.”
    “No, I’m not! He’s going to jail. He’s out of our lives forever.”
    “Is he? Is he really? If that’s the case, then go out with Shane.”
    “I… I can’t.”
    “You can! You just won’t. There’s a huge difference.”
    She and Julia had had this fight many times before, but Julia had never framed the argument in such stark terms. The general wins . The thought of that made Katie feel sicker than the idea of actually going on a date with a man did. “Fine. I’ll go out with him. Will that make you happy?”
    “I don’t believe you’ll actually do it.”
    She was closer to Julia than anyone in the world, but no one could make her madder than Julia could. Glaring at her sister, Katie got up from the bed, opened the door and went across the hall to bang on Shane’s door.
    He opened it, looking surprised to see her and curious about the racket.
    Katie forced herself to look him in the eye and say the words, knowing Julia was watching and listening. “What you asked me earlier… Do you still want to do that?”
    “Um, yeah?”
    “Tonight at seven?”
    “Is good.”
    “All right.” Katie turned and went back into her room, slamming the door behind her. “Satisfied?”
    “Extremely satisfied.” Julia smiled victoriously. “And if you play your cards right, you will be, too.”

    Leaving Julia gloating in their room, Katie went to find her mother, who was still on the porch with her parents and Charlie as well as Laura and Owen, who held a sleeping Holden. Before she allowed the ferry to leave without her, Katie needed to make sure it was okay with them if she stayed for a while.
    “Hey, honey,” Sarah said when she saw Katie approach