Lost and Found by Bernadette Marie Read Free Book Online Page B

refrigerator, and handed it to him.
    “ Thanks. Are you having
one?”
    “ I have one out here. I was
just watching a movie.” She walked out into the living room to
fetch her beer, and he followed.
    “ You have another beer out.
You’re either having a fun evening, or…” He stopped and looked
around. “Is that your shower? I caught you at a bad
time?”
    That was when the shower turned off,
and the door opened slightly letting the steam out.
    “ Darcy, do you have a clean
towel I can use?”
    “ Under the sink,” she said
as she looked at Ed whose eyes had grown wide.
    “ I did
interrupt.”
    She saw the pulse in his temple beat,
and she shook her head. “No. No.”
    A moment later, the door opened and
Christian walked out of the bathroom, only a towel wrapped around
his waist.
    “ Hey, bro.”
    “ Don’t hey bro me. What’s
going on here?”
    Darcy stepped forward. “Nothing is
going on here. He…”
    “ Chill out,” Christian
reached for the clothes he’d left on the chair. “God, you’re such a
freak about things.”
    “ You’re standing in her
apartment in a damn towel. What am I supposed to think?”
    “ And what does it matter?”
Christian stepped up to his brother. “She’s a grown woman, and
you’re only her boss. Would it matter if I were here for any other
reason?”
    Darcy watched the two of them as they
went at each other with their words.
    “ Christian, don’t push
me.”
    “ I didn’t do anything.
Christ, my shower is broken. John can’t fix it until
tomorrow.”
    Ed nodded. “Oh.”
    “ Besides, you owe her an
apology for the way you just accused her without asking her calmly
if something was going on. You came in here acting all bossy like
you always do when you’re not in control of a
situation.”
    Christian headed back toward the
bathroom.
    Ed tucked his free hand into his front
pocket and rocked back on his heels. “Hey, I’m sorry about
that.”
    “ It’s okay.”
    “ You had said he wasn’t
wearing clothes when he texted you and now…”
    She scrunched her face up, and then
she remembered. “Oh. No…he…”
    “ It’s okay. He’s right.
It’s none of my business.”
    Christian walked out of the bathroom
dressed. “Thanks for the use of your shower. Sorry the ass here
accused you, but I really appreciate it.”
    “ My pleasure. I opened a
beer for you.”
    Christian walked up to her and kissed
her on the cheek.
    “ Oh, thanks, but I have to
run. I have a hot date. Give it to Mr. Uptight. He could use
it.”
    And with that, Christian disappeared
out the door and up the stairs.
    Darcy stood there for a moment before
she turned back toward Ed.
    He took a long pull from his beer.
“How about some dinner?”
    “ Did you really think I was
up to something with Christian?”
    Ed let out a long breath and let his
shoulders drop. “I’m sorry. It shouldn’t be any of my business,
even if you had been up to something.”
    “ That’s right. My private
life isn’t part of my job description, is it? I mean, you all seem
to have taken me in, and you have no idea what that means to me.
But if you’re trying to be all big brother on me, I don’t need
that.”
    Ed nodded. “I was out of
line.”
    Darcy crossed her arms over her chest.
He was out of line. And she was mad that he’d assume she’d fall
into bed with someone she’d just met. That certainly wasn’t her
style, and she was fairly sure, after having met most of his
family, that wasn’t his style either. So why were they standing
there with tension in the air.
    One thing her mother had taught her,
in an awkward situation, a meal usually pulled things together. A
smile formed on her lips. Perhaps that’s why her mother was such a
large lady. Food had cured many things in her life, and at this
moment, perhaps it would clear the air.
    She started toward the kitchen with Ed
right behind her.
    “ Why are you smiling?” he
asked as he set his beer on the table.
    “ I was just thinking about
my