Shield My Heart (Heaven Hill Book 9) by Laramie Briscoe Read Free Book Online Page B

it was a self-preservation technique. If she didn’t want to answer questions, the easiest thing to do was avoid the people who would ask them. It was a shitty way to be, and she knew it, but right now peace of mind was the most important thing to her.
    There hadn’t been any other time she could remember when she kept this kind of information from her family, but she wasn’t yet sure how she and Dalton were going to deal with the pregnancy. How could she answer questions about their future? She knew that would be the first question, and she had no answers to give them. How did she keep her family from going after Dalton? How did she keep herself from breaking down and spilling all of her secrets? Easy. She had no answers and no desire to lie—so she’d stayed away.
    She’d almost declined the invitation but knew if she did; it would only raise more red flags. Besides, she missed her family, and she needed the comradery and love they gave without reservation.
    Parking her car in her parents’ driveway, she got out, squaring her shoulders before slowly climbing the steps of the front porch. Her gaze saw cars already parked. Drew and Charity’s car was parked next to hers, and it looked like Tatum was also there, which meant she was the last to show. So much for making a good impression and hoping they wouldn’t ask questions. She’d left herself wide open for an inquisition, but she hoped that the gods would smile down on her tonight. Gripping the knob, she turned it, opening the door and immediately inhaling the smell of home. It wrapped around her in a hug she hadn’t realized she’d needed.
    Walking further inside, she could hear the laughing and booming voices of her siblings. Stopping just beyond the doorway, she could see them but they couldn’t see her. It sounded like Tatum was giving Drew and Charity a hard time about showing affection in front of her. Tatum acted like she hated it, but Mandy had a feeling she kind of loved that her brother wasn’t afraid to show how much he loved his wife.
    “You two are worse than Mom and Dad. Always touching and kissing. It’s enough to make somebody sick. I see this enough at school. Do I really have to see it at home too? People always kissin’ in the hallways and stuff.” Mandy could almost hear the eye roll from where she stood. “Like they don’t know they should keep it out of the public eye.”
    Mandy felt a cramp in her stomach. Dear Lord, she wanted to be those people so badly. Not even to put a claim on Dalton, but to know he was by her side, to know he unconditionally loved her. She wasn’t sure she’d ever stop wanting it. Drew’s deep voice laughed.
    “You just wait, Bug. One day, you’re gonna have it.” He pulled on her curl. “When you have it with the right person, you’re not gonna care where the hell you are. You’ll totally believe in PDA,” he wrapped his arms around Charity’s waist, leaning her over and kissing her on the neck, causing her to giggle.
    “Hey!” her dad’s voice boomed. “Let’s not even joke about that. It’s bad enough she’s old enough to date. Between her and Mandy, I’m gonna start losing my hair.” In his mind, Mandy would always be the teenager who came into the clubhouse with her mom and brother.
    “Speaking of, where is she?” Charity asked, glancing at her phone to check the time. “I let her go early because I knew we were having dinner tonight. Something’s been up with her lately. I’m worried.”
    All she wanted to do was crawl into a hole and sleep for a year, but she knew if she didn’t put on a brave face, everyone at this table would see right through her. At the same time, she knew she had to make an entrance before they all started speculating on what was going on with her and asking Charity why she was worried.
    Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she sent off a quick text to Dalton, asking the question she now wondered all the time.
    Where are you?
    Plastering a smile on her