LEAD ME ON by Julie Ortolon (find a book to read TXT) 📕

lent a sense of intimacy. “Can you get away later, though, after Chloe leaves? I’d like to go someplace quiet where we can talk.”

A wary look in his eyes made the words sound slightly ominous, but she brushed the notion aside. “I’m sure I can manage something.”

“Good.” He nodded. “For now, though, I need to get my niece packed and ready to go. Chloe, you done eating?”

“All done.” The girl wiped her mouth, and jumped up. He mussed her hair as they headed out of the dining room.

Allison watched them go, marveling at the kind heart that lay hidden beneath Scott’s cynical facade. What a wonderful husband and father he would make ... if she ever had the courage to take that sort of risk. If he was even thinking along those lines. Nerves fluttered in her belly, but she stilled them with a deep breath. Think about the here and now.

Allison stayed busy the rest of the morning with guests browsing through the shop before checking out. The steady traffic kept her from going with Scott and Chloe to see the baby, but in a way, she was glad. The last two days had held enough emotional upheaval. Seeing Scott hold baby Lauren might be more than she could handle.

So even when she found herself alone in the shop with nothing to do, she grabbed a feather duster and busied herself cleaning displays. In all, she was quite pleased with how calm she felt, and even more pleased with her family’s acceptance of the man she’d decided to let into her life.

Things were going to be fine, she told herself. Just fine.

“Hello?” someone called.

Allison turned at the sound of the voice and saw a tall, elegant woman standing in the central hall wearing a bright purple pantsuit and lethal-looking high heels. The woman’s stance reminded her of Chloe’s pampered-rich-girl act the day she’d first arrived.

Smiling, Allison stepped into the hall and offered her hand in greeting. “Hello. You must be Chloe’s mother, Diane. I’m Allison.”

The woman raised a brow as she took in Allison’s simple sundress, worn sandals, and scant makeup, then dismissed her with a dramatic wave of the hand. “Sorry if I’m late. You would not believe the morning I’ve had. First the limo service I hired to pick me up at Houston Hobby apparently lost the order. If you can imagine. Lost it! I had to rent a car on the spot. Of course, they couldn’t have anything sporty or even nice. I’d have settled for some boring luxury car, but no, all they had was a ‘compact.’ I’ve decided they call them compacts because they aren’t any bigger than a makeup case, for heaven’s sake. Uncomfortable seats, no acceleration, and the road noise ... Gawd, it’s so loud, you can barely hear the radio. Well, no matter, I’m here, I’m famished, and I plan to drag my reclusive brother away from the computer long enough for him to take me and Chloe out for lunch. I trust he’s around.”

“Mom!” Chloe gave a happy shriek from the stairs, then bounded forward to launch herself into her mother’s arms.

“Ooo, baby, I missed you,” Diane cooed in a childish voice against her daughter’s hair. “Are you all packed and ready to go?”

“Yep. Did you meet Alli? She’s really neat.” Chloe turned to Allison with her head against her mother’s. The nearly identical features looked completely different; Chloe with her ball cap and baggy clothes, Diane with her sleek hair and expertly applied makeup. “This is my mom.”

“So I gathered.” Allison marveled at the reunion. Two weeks ago, Chloe had run away from this woman, now she welcomed her with a child’s unconditional love.

“Come up and see my room.” Chloe tugged on her mother’s hand. “I’ll tell you all about the sunken ship in the cove and the ghosts and everything.”

“Chloe, can’t we just get your things and go? My head is splitting and I already know about the ship and the ghosts. Or have you forgotten, we used to own this place? Of course, back then, it was a dilapidated dump.” She glanced around. “This is a vast improvement.”

Allison went very still, certain she’d heard wrong. “What did you say?”

“A vast improvement. You’ve really fixed the place up.”

“No,” Alli whispered, “about owning the house.”

Chloe’s face went stiff, while Diane trailed a hand through the air. “Surely Scott told you our father, John LeRoche, owned the house until a year ago.”

“Mo-om!” Chloe glared at her.

“But how can that be?” Ice formed in Allison’s stomach. “His name is Lawrence, not LeRoche.”

“Oh, that’s just a name he took to piss off John. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you all this since he’s been here, what, three weeks?”

“Mother!” Chloe grabbed Diane’s arm. “We told you not to say anything.”

“What?” Diane blinked, then tapped her forehead with her manicured nails. “Oh yes. I remember now. Scott didn’t want anyone here to know for some reason. Sorry, I forgot.” She smiled and shrugged. “Where is he, by the way?”

“I’ll go get him,” Allison offered in an even voice, then headed for the steps on wooden legs. Behind her, she could hear Chloe berating her mother, but the words couldn’t compete with the buzzing in her head.

Anger and pain mounted with every step. She watched with detachment as her fist lifted and rapped on the door to his room. He opened it and smiled at her, that wonderful lopsided smile that she’d grown to love. Actually love! What a fool she’d been to trust fate again.

A lump rose in her throat, and she wondered frantically if it was a mistake. Maybe she’d misunderstood Diane. “May I come in?”

“Absolutely.” He glanced into the hall, to be sure they were alone, then slipped a hand about her arm and started to draw her toward him.

“No!” She held up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t touch me.” She moved all the way into the sitting area to get away from him. Her breath felt trapped in her