Full Circle Read Online Free Page B

pieces of himself he never planned for her to see. Again he wished he’d come stag to the damn wedding, and grudgingly admitted, inwardly, he hadn’t brought Melissa along to quench any random sexual urges but as a bulwark between him and Ellie. Which was insane, because there was no him and Ellie. Besides, enough time had passed. It was curious that she wasn’t with anyone, though. Mia made a point of telling him that each and every time she mentioned Ellie, indicating that they shared the trait of being single, like it was significant. Although that might have changed overnight.
    “I hadn’t heard,” he said, and pretended disinterest. But he was very curious about something else, now he was home again. There was never any breath of scandal, no whispers about the loss of a baby or an abortion, and he wondered how it had been hushed up. Renee was dead on when she talked about small towns and everybody knowing everything. Mia had never mentioned anything and he hadn’t dared to ask, afraid to open that Pandora’s Box. Katriana hadn’t made contact either after dropping the bombshell, probably because she’d moved away, and, smart girl, never returned. If he wasn’t in Seaside now, against his better judgment, he wouldn’t be having these unpleasant memories.
    “She’s doing the flowers for the wedding. She’s amazingly talented, and we’re lucky to have her. The whole area is lucky. Ellie’s become a respected business woman here and we are very proud of her. I don’t know where Mia would be without her.”
    Heath made some noncommittal sound and held out his glass for a refill.
    “She sounds like a paragon.” Melissa didn’t sound sincere, but then even a woman who was a stranger to her would be a threat if others saw her as more special.
    “I imagine she’s changed,” he said, artlessly, or so he hoped. “It’s been years.”
    His father shook his head. “I think she’s just matured. Still the same nice girl and it’s crazy she’s still single.”
    Heath reflected that he could make a remark about his father cornering the market on serial weddings, but decided to be charitable. Maybe let bygones be bygones, not that he would ever let his antipathy for Ellie go. He supposed he could have told Mia why he and Ellie had parted ways, and maybe he should have, considering the woman couldn’t be a positive influence, but his sister had taken Ellie’s side in the awkwardness. She wouldn’t have listened to him, and if he was completely honest, Mia needed a good friend. Ellie had never tried to take advantage of Mia, unlike Katriana who thrived on conflict and adversity. He’d never forget the gleeful anticipation on her face when she showed him the doctor’s report she’d stolen from Ellie’s room. He barely managed to control a wince now at the thought and concentrated on making more small talk, aware of Melissa’s continuing speculation.
    The conversation petered out and they turned to deciding where to go for dinner. His father called Mia at work and asked her to join them, and then orchestrated the timing. It was to be one of those family dinners his little sister touted, and Heath wondered how he’d get through it, while contrarily wishing Melissa wasn’t being included. She went off to change, and Heath wandered over to the big windows, looking out toward the ocean. If he was going to be here for any length of time he’d consider renting a sailboat, the lure of the water suddenly prevalent.
    The scent of heavy perfume and a possessive hand on his back pulled him from his reverie. How long had he stood there watching the water and thinking about— He turned to Melissa, locking down his prior thoughts. Dressed to the nines, she fluttered her lashes at him, the heavy coats of mascara likely a burden in themselves, and he stepped back.
    “I think your father and his fiancée are wonderful,” she said, those pale blue eyes as cold as ever despite her impassioned words. “And I can’t