Full Circle Read Online Free Page A

vacation time to spend it here? Damn his sister.
    He and his father talked about his rental for a few minutes, and Heath agreed it was a good car, although he preferred his GM product at home in Chicago. Melissa prattled and preened, splitting her attention between the two older adults while Heath wondered how Ellie was doing. Mia had kept him up-to-date on the girl he’d left, the one who’d ruined his outlook on women forever. It was as if he sensed her close by now that he was back in town, and the draw was unmistakable if ridiculous. It had to be pure curiosity. Did she really look the same? The little portrait on the business page of her website showed the same woman he remembered all those years ago, although her features had matured. Her smile was unchanged, the golden brown hair a little shorter, and her whiskey brown eyes framed with a thicket of black lashes. Not that he checked the site for any particular reason. More in preparation for seeing her at this momentous occasion he’d agreed to attend. Damn it. He was feeling unsettled and Heath Granger never felt that way.
    “Mia will be by later. She’s working today, and with the dearth of employment in the area she didn’t like to ask for time off until the actual wedding.”
    “She doesn’t live here?” Heath knew that, just as he knew where his sister lived, but saw his question as a perfect way to learn more about Ellie. He obviously enjoyed torturing himself.
    “No. She lives right downtown. Above Ellie Scott’s flower shop, Bodacious Blooms . You remember Ellie.”
    “Of course. How could I forget Mia’s best friend? They tagged along after me constantly.” He’d been careful not to let anyone know of his sexual interest in Ellie when she grew into that lovely teenage vixen, although Mia had figured it out in short order. He’d been concerned about how others would view their disparate ages, oddly protective of the girl.  He nearly snorted out loud now at the thought. There had been no call to worry about her. He owed Katriana Miller for sharing Ellie’s unscrupulous plan for him and discovering her faked innocence in the process. Pretending to seduce her and taking her right to edge of plausible denial had been savagely rewarding yet had torn something in his chest. Not to mention the worst case of unrequited arousal he’d ever experienced. Her awkward lovemaking and neediness had been so convincing he’d nearly given in before reminding himself of the consummate actress she’d turned out to be.
    “They are still best friends. Ellie allowed Mia to move into that nice little apartment when she bought her parent’s house.”
    “The floral industry must do well,” Heath said drily, his parent confirming Mia’s contention that Ellie was a great businessperson. Melissa gave him a look evocative of the shrewd woman who hid behind her pretty exterior and he reminded himself not to give anything away.
    “Oh, I think Ellie invested that money wisely, and she does a steady business. People always seem to want flowers.” His father crossed to the bar to make more drinks and Heath found himself staring at the man’s back. How had Ellie come up with that kind of money? He debated how much more he could ask when Renee inadvertently came to his aid.
    “I understand her grandmother got that settlement long after her accident, and left it to Ellie.” The older woman laughed ruefully. “No secrets in a small town.”
    His dad only stared into the depths of the Scotch. Heath knew he was thinking about the accident that took Heath’s mother after the divorce. It didn’t hurt in the same way anymore, but being reminded made Heath grit his teeth, thinking about the other women his father dated and those he married afterward, so disloyal to his mom’s memory, divorced or not. He felt Renee’s eyes on him and looked to see a wealth of sympathy and understanding reflected there.
    Melissa was staring at him speculatively, and he knew he was revealing