Thrill Me by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

world.
    â€œI thought you might be hungry.”
    Phoebe set the food on the table, then collected napkins and flatware.
    She moved easily—as if she’d always lived in the old house. Even better, Phoebe looked content. Happiness radiated out of her brown eyes. She was relaxed. Every now and then, she glanced at the diamond ring sparkling on her left ring finger. The beautiful solitaire would soon be joined by a wedding band.
    Phoebe sat across from her and grinned. “The ranch closed. I got my commission check.”
    It took Maya a second to make the transition.
    Recently, Phoebe had sold a nearby ranch to action movie superstar Jonny Blaze. It had been Phoebe’s last real estate deal before moving in with Zane and probably the only one where she’d made any money. Until the unexpected deal with Jonny Blaze, Phoebe had specialized in starter homes—a challenge in the expensive LA real estate market.
    â€œYou’re rich,” Maya teased gently.
    â€œI am for me.” Phoebe sounded thrilled. “I have no idea what to do with the money. Zane told me to keep it in a separate account. That I earned it before the wedding, so it’s mine rather than ours.”
    Because Zane would always take care of her
, Maya thought, still amazed at how falling in love had mellowed her usually tight-ass brother.
    â€œAre you going to listen to him?” Maya asked.
    Phoebe nibbled on her bottom lip. “I think it should be ours.”
    â€œZane has the ranch. Keep the money. You’ll feel better having a nest egg.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œYou’re going to buy him something, aren’t you?”
    Phoebe laughed. “I haven’t decided. So what’s going on with you?”
    Maya told her about the videos planned for the town. “I’ll be working with Del.”
    Phoebe’s brown eyes widened. “Del, the guy you knew after high school? The one who wanted to marry you?”
    Maya shifted on her seat. If only it was that simple. “He’s the one,” she said, hoping her tone sounded light rather than guilty.
    â€œWhat’s that like?”
    â€œI don’t know. I thought it would be awkward, but he seems fine with us handling the project together.”
    â€œHow do you feel?”
    â€œConfused.” Maya pulled the tablet out of her bag. “I told you that Del and I fell crazy in love that summer.”
    â€œUh-huh. It was after high school, right?”
    Phoebe knew enough about her past that Maya didn’t have to explain about her mother or how difficult times had been before the move to Fool’s Gold.
    â€œI loved him,” Maya said, feeling the guilt forming a knot in her stomach. “But I was so scared. Scared of what getting married would mean. Scared of getting stuck.”
    â€œScared you’d turn into your mom.”
    Maya nodded. “I always knew that there wasn’t going to be a white knight on a horse riding in to rescue me. I knew I’d have to rescue myself. But with Del, I started to believe.”
    â€œLoving him wasn’t enough,” Phoebe said quietly.
    â€œIt wasn’t. The closer we got to the date when we were going to run off, the more I started to freak. I finally had an opportunity to break free. To make something of myself. Was I really going to give that up for a guy?”
    Phoebe leaned toward her. “Did you ask him about that? About going to college with you or finding some kind of compromise? Did you tell him you were scared?”
    â€œNo.” Maya swallowed. “I dumped him. I told him he was boring and this town was boring and that I didn’t want anything to do with him. Then I left.”
    The truth was, she’d run. Away from Del, away from Fool’s Gold. Part of her wondered if she was still running. Fear was a powerful motivator.
    â€œOuch. You never talked to him again?” Phoebe asked.
    â€œNot until a few days ago, when he