Read Online Family Matters by Barbara White Daille - Free Book Online Page B

the far wall.”
    He didn’t much care for her barked order, but after a quick look at her flushed face and the damp curls corkscrewed on her forehead, he decided not to argue. Instead, he eased the carton to the floor.
    Groaning, she stood up, stretching all five feet and a couple of inches of her, rested her hands on her hips, and arched her back. The move created a bigger dip in the neckline of her raggedy sweatshirt. How far down did those freckles travel, anyway?
    Maeve MacBride came up to them, toting a canvas bag.From the top of the bag protruded a pair of knitting needles—her weapon of choice, more than likely. He contemplated bringing her up on charges. Anything to provide a distraction from his latest thought about Kerry.
    Maeve stood shaking her head. “You’ll be needing a soak in the tub tonight, Kerry Anne.”
    So much for distraction. Instantly, he envisioned Kerry in nothing but a damp towel and a cloud of corkscrew curls. “As for you… ” Maeve said abruptly, turning to him.
    He jumped. Hoping like heck she hadn’t read his thoughts, he cautiously looked her way.
    â€œNot bad,” she said, taking a small, colorful object from her bag and slipping it into his T-shirt pocket, then giving his chest a tap. “We haven’t seen a good day’s work out of you yet, but I imagine that’ll happen soon enough.”
    He ignored whatever she’d put in his pocket. Chances are when he pulled it out, it would self-destruct in his face. He was beginning to get the idea that all the MacBrides were dangerous, each in their own special way.
    â€œI don’t think you ought to get your hopes up, ma’am. Carrying one box doesn’t mean I’m going along with the plan.”
    She laughed softly—and he’d heard friendlier sounds coming from convicted felons. “You might find yourself wrong there, laddie. There’s being convinced, kicking and screaming. And then there’s being brought around gently to another way of thinking.”
    His old law school professor had told him that once, and the concept had served him well since then. Maeve MacBride climbed a few notches in his estimation—until she glanced from him to Kerry and smiled.
    He glanced from her to Kerry and frowned. His stomach thumped, twice, as if he’d swallowed that pair of weights he never had time to use.
    Pink-cheeked again, Kerry turned away.
    Chuckling, the older woman followed.
    He stood there, shaking his head.
    Maeve wasn’t thinking of hooking him up with her granddaughter, was she? He wasn’t about to get involved with a woman until he’d made partner and could consider himself secure.
    Although, he had to admit that Kerry was pretty cute.
    Well, all right, Kerry MacBride was beautiful. He’d acknowledged that to himself yesterday during their ride back to Lakeside and reinforced the observation only minutes ago. She had a sexy grin that turned him on and a sharp wit that got him going, too.
    She also had an unscrupulous uncle he’d sworn he would take down. That’s what had gotten him here in the first place and what had brought him back again. That’s what he needed to focus on.
    Not beautiful Kerry MacBride and her sexy smile, but the pending disaster that would bring everyone to ruin.
    A disaster brought on by the complete incompetence of the man who had just appeared in the game room doorway.
    Â 
    â€œO H, NO,” K ERRY GROANED under her breath.
    She refused to turn back to look at Matt, who now followed at her heels. She hadn’t yet recovered from dealing with him out in the hallway before Gran had brought her down with her sneak attack. Her cheeks were still burning from Gran’s remark to him.
    The lawyer already had a bad enough opinion of her family.
    Besides, she didn’t want him second-guessing her. She didn’t want him feeling pity for her. And, most of all, she didn’t want him thinking she