[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

carefully steering clear of the animosity she couldn t voice.  It s
so weird because I feel like I m coparenting with someone I don t
even know. I haven t spent that much time around her since we
were kids.
Since the episode at her grandparents house, Isabel had
kept a marked distance between herself and Reid. She flashed on
Reid as a child who followed Jimmy everywhere, and she pushed
aside a kernel of resentment. She already had enough to deal with,
and it wouldn t do any good to rehash her childhood antagonism
toward Reid. When she did, she only succeeded in getting those
old feelings twisted up with her new anger over Jimmy s death.
 Aside from socializing with her during a few family holidays,
the most I know of who she s become as an adult is what Jimmy
told me.
 Which is?
 She s very committed to her job and family.
 That s good. Anna paused as the waiter approached
and they both ordered coffee.  Isn t it? she asked when Isabel
remained silent.
 I guess.
 What are you not telling me?
 Nothing. Isabel s mind flickered briefly to the feeling
of being in Reid s arms and her skin, surprisingly soft beneath
Isabel s lips as she kissed her cheek.
Caught off guard by the direction of her thoughts and needing
to focus on the task at hand, Isabel flipped open the first of the
three portfolios.  Jack and Erica Simms. They re in pretty good
shape and they re easy to work with.
For the next thirty minutes she went through each of the three
folders and outlined the contents. Anna took notes and promised to
call the people in question later that day to discuss their accounts.
By the end of lunch Isabel was confident her clients were in good
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ERIN DUTTON
hands and was ready to head back to Nashville and deal with
the situation there. She just hoped Reid would let that kiss go
unaddressed, because Isabel still didn t understand the reaction
the brief contact stirred in her.
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FULLY INVOLVED
CHAPTER SIX
aturday afternoon, Reid pulled into Saint Catherine s
Slot and parked her motorcycle next to Isabel s car. She
stripped off her leather jacket and laid it over the seat. Though it
was a beautifully sunny day, she had needed the jacket while she
rode. As she neared the stand of bleachers occupied by the home
team s cheering section, she waved in response to greetings from
the parents of several of Chase s teammates.
 Eddie, get in the net. Guys, take some shots, but take it easy
on him, please.
Reid grinned at the warning from Chase s coach. She had
been to enough practices to know that without his warning they
would pummel the young goalie, all firing shots at once.
Isabel stood to one side of the cluster of parents, her arms
folded across her chest as she watched the boys warm up. She
merely glanced in Reid s direction before she resumed tracking
Chase across the field.
 Hey, Reid called as she approached.
Isabel lifted her chin in greeting. They stood side by side for
a moment, both watching Chase as he practiced dribbling the ball
against one of his friends. He faked a move right, then cut left
when the other boy went for the ball.
 He s a natural. Reid smiled proudly and looked at Isabel
for confirmation.
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ERIN DUTTON
Isabel didn t respond and her attention didn t leave the field.
 Okay, well, enjoy the game. Irritated, Reid turned away.
She didn t need to stand there and be ignored.
Realizing Reid was angry at her distraction, Isabel put a
restraining hand on her arm. She was still of two minds where Reid
was concerned torn between anger and a growing awareness
of Reid s very physical presence that still confused her. But she
couldn t deny how much Reid cared for Chase, often putting his
needs ahead of her own. Just that morning Reid had come home
from a twenty-four-hour shift and, instead of going to bed, had
helped Chase warm up for today s game.
 Will you watch with me? I don t really know anyone else
here.
Wordlessly, Reid returned to Isabel s side. As the game
began, they stood, shoulders almost touching, and cheered Chase
on, often smiling at each other when he made a quick move around
an opponent.
Well into the first half Chase dribbled down the field and was
challenged by a shorter, wiry boy. Chase lunged to the left and,
expecting the other boy to go for his fake, he flicked his right foot
to push the ball around his opponent. The boy saw it coming and
jabbed his own foot forward to swipe the ball from Chase. Before [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]