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

have crushed her, and it did in some ways. She physically ached every time she thought of him, but she didn’t want to curl up and die herself, the way she had after losing her parents and again after Peter’s betrayal and the loss of the baby.

She had her family, friends, and a thriving business. She would survive and her heart would heal. In time.

In time ... but not today, she thought as she drove toward Houston Hobby Airport to pick up her aunt. The bright autumn day offered a relief from the scorching summer heat. As she neared Houston, the coastal plains and urban sprawl gave way to upscale shopping centers and triple-decker overpasses.

She reached the airport and pulled through the passenger pickup area. A smile broke over her when she spotted her aunt waiting by the curb. The Incomparable Vivian Young looked every inch the New York actor with her black pantsuit and regal stance. A dramatic streak of silver swirled through the flame-bright hair she wore in a neat twist up the back.

Pulling to a stop at the curb, Allison stepped out. “Aunt Viv!”

The imperial head turned and the aloof expression vanished into a bright smile. “Allison!” They came together in a tight hug. “Oh heavens, it’s good to see you.”

Alli stepped back, laughing. “I didn’t realize how much Rory has grown up to look like you. Except she’s taller. A lot taller.”

“Like your father,” Vivian said.

“And not nearly so ... sophisticated.”

“Now the artlessness is all Aurora. I’d say she was a disgrace to the family if she weren’t such a delightful child.”

“Not quite a child anymore.” Allison grabbed the larger of the two bags and headed for the trunk of the luxury sedan. “She’s married with a child of her own now.”

“True. And I can’t wait to see this grandniece of mine.”

“Oh, Lauren’s adorable. She already has all of us eating out of her hand.” Allison stowed the luggage and closed the trunk. “Do you want to drive?” she asked, since the car belonged to her aunt.

“Heavens, no. I’ve been riding in cabs so long, I’ve probably forgotten how.”

Allison slipped behind the wheel and headed back onto the crowded, multi-lane freeway. “Rory’s so excited you were able to come down for the wedding,” Alli said, moving with ease through the bumper-to-bumper traffic. “It feels like ages since we’ve seen you.”

“It has been ages. And I would have come for the first wedding, if she’d given me more notice.”

“It was rather rushed.” Allison smiled. “The minute Chance found out she was pregnant, he hauled her before a judge to say ‘I do.’ ”

“So Aurora married a Chancellor.” Vivian shook her head. “Talk about a mismatched pair.”

“Yes, but it works for them. They’re very happy together.”

“And what about you? Adrian mentioned a while back that you were seeing someone.”

“That didn’t work out.” Alli tightened her grip on the steering wheel, determined to keep the mood light. “I can’t wait for you to see the inn. We’re vacant this weekend, because of the wedding, but business has been booming.”

For the rest of the drive, Alli filled her aunt in on everything but her relationship with Scott. Through it all, she managed to keep her tone bright. Her life sounded so perfect, no one would ever guess how empty she felt. That would change, though. In time. She just needed time. And work. When she stayed busy, she could almost push Scott from her mind.

“Do you want to swing by the cottage and drop off your bags, or go straight to the inn?” she asked when they reached the causeway that connected Galveston to the mainland.

“The cottage first,” Vivian answered. Her expression turned melancholy as they began the ascent onto the high, long arch of pavement supported by tall pillars. A variety of ships, from pleasure boats and deep-sea fishers to large ocean-going vessels skimmed the sun-speckled water. “I’ve missed this. There’s no place on earth quite like Galveston.”

The causeway brought them down onto Galveston’s main thoroughfare. Traffic slowed as they reached the Historic District, where palm trees and oaks shaded stately mansions from a bygone age. “I’ve always thought of this town as a charming old diva,” Vivian said. “Full of stories from the past.”

“Yes, she is.” Allison smiled at the description.

“I’ve been missing it a lot lately.”

“Oh?”

“I’m thinking about moving back, retiring from Broadway.”

“You are?” Alli nearly ran a red light in her surprise.

“Now that Hello, Dolly! has closed, it’s become blatantly clear I’ve joined the ranks of ‘character actors.’ ” The blasé tone didn’t hide the twinge of hurt ego beneath. “The good starring roles are going to younger women.”

“That’s absurd. You’re still young, and as beautiful as ever.”

“Well, I don’t feel young. I gave up a lot for the stage and I’ve had a good career, but lately I’ve started wondering if I’d be happier with more in my life than that. You know what they say, ‘Life is that thing that happens while you’re busy doing something else.’ I mean, look at you, all grown up into a beautiful woman. And Aurora married and a mother. I’ve let too many things pass me by. I can’t help but wonder how different things would have been if I’d had a little less ambition ... and a little less pride. Mark my word, work makes a cold bedfellow when you get to be my age.”

Work. The word struck home as Alli turned off the main road toward the cottage. As she grew older, work would be all she had left, since she was right back to wanting nothing to do with relationships, marriage, or falling in love. Yet here was Aunt Viv telling her not to make that mistake. Coincidence or intended lecture? “How much did Adrian tell you?”

“What?” Vivian asked.

“How much did Adrian tell you about Scott?”

Her aunt stared at her blankly. “I have not a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Oh.” Allison felt her cheeks heat. “Never mind. It’s just... from what you said, it sounded