Ready To Burn (Due South Book 3) by Tracey Alvarez Read Free Book Online Page A

driveway.
    “You’re not going to hug me, are you, Stubby?” Her old nickname popped into his head and slipped off his tongue.
    That gave her pause. She slapped a hand on her hip and studied him. “Nope.”
    Piper moved closer—way closer—grabbed either side of his face with both hands, and planted a solid, smacking kiss on his lips. She pulled back and smiled a Cheshire-cat grin, hazel eyes sparking. “A hello-my-hawt-brother-in-law kiss, instead.”
    “Don’t you know never to tell a woman not to do something?” West dragged Piper close for a kiss a lot friendlier than a hello one.
    Before Del could suggest they take it upstairs, Piper stepped out of West’s arms and jabbed a finger at his stomach. “Have you been eating a pie?”
    West held up his hands. “Blame your new brother-in-law. He insisted on having a Russell’s pie on the way home. I tried to tell him—”
    “Yeah, right. What am I, stupid?” She slapped West on the ass, and they grinned goofily at each other.
    Del shifted his sports bag from hand to hand, cleared his throat and glanced at the house. “Nice place you got here.”
    “Not fancy, like your bachelor pad in LA, I bet,” Piper said. “But we’ve got a killer view.”
    His old Venice apartment looked out over an alley dumpster, that often doubled as a sex-club for stray cats.
    “Can’t argue,” he said mildly.
    Not gonna mention he’d give up this postcard sunset and endless green in an instant for his old life in LA before everything turned to garbage.
    He tagged along into the house, West lugging his suitcase and Piper his sports bag, since they both seemed determined to play happy hosts.
    West directed Del through a door inside the ground floor’s hallway. A contrast wall painted a deep purple dominated the big bedroom/living area, with contrasting feminine touches of a frilly comforter and some of those little pillows women seemed to love cluttering up the beds. On the opposite side of the room, an open door revealed a white tile floor and the corner of a shower cubicle—thank God he wouldn’t have to go upstairs to the main house when he wanted the bathroom.
    Piper placed his sports bag on a two-seater couch angled toward sliding glass doors and the view beyond. “Hope it’s not too girly. We had it repainted after Ben moved back to his place. He broke his ankle earlier in the year and stayed with West awhile—and oh, I’m babbling.” She touched her fingers to her lips.
    “It’s kind of you to offer me your spare room on such short notice.” Look at him, being all affable and polite.
    She tilted her head, small wrinkles appearing on her brow. “You’re family. Of course you’re staying with us—long as you want.”
    “Or for as long as he can stomach your cooking.” West hauled his suitcase over to a large chest of drawers.
    “He’s such a funny guy.” Piper rolled her eyes at Del. “I’m going to go check on dinner—homemade pizza. I was gonna throw on a frozen pizza, but I didn’t want you to go all Gordon Ramsey on me.”
    “Oven on one-eighty, babe?” said West.
    Piper strode out the door, saying, “Leave Del to try out the shower. Dinner’s in twenty.”
    Del pretended to continue his examination of the bathroom as Piper’s footsteps faded along the hallway. Hoped West would get the hint and follow.
    His brother huffed out a sigh. Nope. West never was great at picking up signals.
    “You okay? With being back here, Dad, Shaye, and all of it?”
    Like Del could admit the truth to anyone. He hadn’t been okay in a long time. “I don’t require hand-holding and a group hug, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    Anything less than sarcasm and West would suspect.
    West folded his arms and leaned against the door frame. “Always were a proud little bugger—too damn stubborn to ask for help when you needed it.”
    “I don’t need help.”
    “Maybe not. But there’s stuff you’re not telling me about why you took a leave of absence to