I Speak...Love (A Different Road #3) Read Online Free Page A

do. Our business can be stressful, but it would have been nice to have had a say in the matter. I don’t even know how much money River sank into the project either. Has it been profitable or are we taking a loss on it? Knowing River and how he dotes on Kate, it wouldn’t matter to him one way or the other. Truthfully, I would never have been against it. I think it’s a great idea all around. It’s especially good for Kate. Between the yoga studio and her new boyfriend, she hasn’t been this happy since before our parents died. It just would have been nice to be treated as an equal partner for once. I look back at Maddy and guessing by the look in her eyes, she’s ready to bolt.
    “No, Maddy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound like that. It’s just so early; the only people here this early in the morning are River and Josh. Come in,” I say, motioning my hand to the chairs in front of my desk.
    “Are you sure? I don’t want to interrupt,” she says, pointing her thumb over her shoulder toward the door.
    “I’m positive, please, have a seat,” I insist.
    She eyes me cautiously, looks at my hand, then follows its path to one of the overstuffed, dark, leather chairs in front of my desk.
    “I’m all sweaty from yoga. I don’t want to ruin your . . .” she starts to say.
    “Maddy, you can sit,” I interrupt, then take a seat on the corner of my desk. She looks at the chair, reaches behind her, then runs her hands over her ass and sits down on her hands. My mouth instantly goes dry, and I swallow a hard lump of air, trying not to think about her hands on her cute little, toned ass. “So, how was class?” I ask, loosening the constricting tie around my neck.
    “Great! I love Kate’s classes. She’s an excellent teacher. You should come some time,” she says, adjusting her weight from side to side on her hands.
    “I, uh, I don’t know. That’s kind of River and Kate’s thing. I wouldn’t know the first thing about it,” I say, then look down at my Italian leather shoes.
    “Well, I’m still learning the basics myself. If you ever want to give it a try, I’m there Monday through Friday at six in the morning in the beginner class.”
    “Maddy? Where did you go?” I hear my sister singsong from down the hallway.
    “I’ll let you get back to work,” Maddy says, then stands.
    I stand, then catch a glimpse of my sister walking down the hallway. She sees Maddy in my office with me, then she ducks out of sight against the wall just outside my door.
    “It was nice seeing you,” I tell her truthfully.
    “You too,” she says with another sweet smile.
    She turns and starts walking toward the door, and I honestly don’t want her to go. No, let her go. You’ll only break her. Everyone, especially Maddy, needs to stay as far away from me as they can possibly get.
    “Maybe I will catch one of Kate’s classes some time,” I find myself saying.
    Why the hell did you say that?
    “That would be nice,” she says, turning around. “Hey, I have a client today that’s not that far from here. I always overcook for them and they don’t want extra. Would it be alright if I stopped back around later and dropped off some lunch for you?” she asks, turning around to face me again.
    Her innocent smile and twinkling eyes hit me dead center in the chest like a ton of bricks.
    No! If you know what’s good for you . . . you’ll stay far away from me. Like an atomic bomb, I destroy the lives of everyone in my path. I’m toxic and nothing but a failure, and you’ll only end up hurt or worse dead.
    “That would be nice,” I find myself mimicking her words instead.
    I ball my hands into fists when I find my mouth saying the exact opposite of what my gut is telling me to do. This can’t happen. Don’t even let it start.
    “Great! Is one o’clock too late?” she asks.
    “One will work out fine,” I answer.
    “I’ll see you later then,” she says with a bright smile, then she walks out the door.