Tangled Hearts (Passion in Paradise) by Sarah O'Rourke Read Free Book Online Page B

me…I’m here.  I understand that you’re a private person,
but I don’t want you feelin’ like you’ve got nobody to unload on.  I’m always
here if you need me.  So are all my sisters.  God knows we’ve each had our own
set of troubles.”
    Sniffling as tears
burned in her eyes, Melody squeezed Harm’s hand.  “Thank you.  Stuff with
Bradley, my ex, well, it’s been difficult.  It’s kinda sad though.  It’s not
really Brad that I miss; it’s being part of a couple, you know.  I liked
being part of a team of two with somebody.  Then, I found out that Brad was
adding players to our team without my knowledge,” she admitted with a shudder
of distaste.  “First, I caught him sleeping with the woman that I thought was
my best friend, and then, the more I looked around, the more women I learned he
was screwing.  Meanwhile, he barely touched me,” she whispered painfully. 
“Honestly, I thought he just didn’t like sex.  Turns out, he just didn’t like
sex with me .”
    “Nuh uh.  Don’t do
that,” Harmony ordered sharply.  “Do not take his crap on your shoulders. 
The problem was him and his wandering penis, Mel.   It wasn’t anything you were
responsible for, honey.”
    Melody tried to smile
bravely.  “Sometimes, that’s hard to remember.  I think I’m off love for life.”
    “Yeah, I know that
feeling from experience.  So did my sisters,” Harmony commiserated.  “But,
listen here, babe.  I found a good man when I was least expecting it.  I’m
betting you will, too.”
    Melody’s thoughts
automatically went back to the parking lot outside the coffee shop and her unwanted
savior.  “Maybe,” she mumbled, biting her lip.
    “No maybe about it. 
Look at me.  I found Jake in the middle of my own personal hell.  That man
almost had to walk through fire to convince me that we were meant to be
together.  Then, my brother-in-law, Cain Turner nearly broke my sister Faith’s
heart before he found his way back to her after he was deployed overseas.  But
they finally did.  They’re married now and have a baby girl.  And remember
Patience?”
    “Oh, yeah.  Patience
was the McKinnon handful as I remember it,” Melody reminisced, recalling the
beautiful blonde.  “She had indigo streaks in her hair the last time I saw
her.”
    “Well, she’s still a
handful, but the streaks in that crazy woman’s hair are red this week,” Harmony
returned dryly, rolling her eyes.  “She’s also married to Cain’s brother, Abel,
and they have a household of triplets.   Those two danced through the flames of
hell before they finally found a home in each other’s arms.  I guess my point
is that sometimes love is a hard earned commodity, but when you find the right
one, Melody, it’s so totally worth it,” Harmony shared quietly.
    “We’ll see,” Melody
offered with a sigh.  Frowning, she turned her brown eyes back to Harmony. 
“You didn’t mention Honor. How is that sweet young lady doin’?” she asked
gently.  Everyone in town knew the horror that Honor had faced a few years’
back.  Kidnapped after a high school football game and gang-raped in the woods,
news of Honor’s horrifying ordeal had even reached the papers in Knoxville. 
Her grandmother had been good friends with Orla McKinnon, Harmony’s aunt.  And
Melody knew from what her grandmother had shared that Honor had physically
recovered, but still remained slightly withdrawn to this day.  Still sweet as
the day is long despite her trauma, yes.  But the open, extroverted girl she’d
been before that long ago day had died in the woods.  Meeting Harmony’s eyes
now, Melody could tell something was wrong, but she didn’t want to pry.
    “She’s…. had a really
rough year.  I’m sure you heard about Tanner’s part in what happened to her all
those years ago,” Harmony noted with a shaking voice, averting her eyes from
Melody’s.
    “Hey,” Melody said
firmly, squeezing Harmony’s hand