Key to Love Read Online Free

accident, and recalling old times and tales until excitement finally took its toll.
    It was Elise who noticed her father’s weariness first. She rose. “I don’t know about these dudes, but I need some rest. It’s been an exhausting flight and a long day.” As if on cue, her brothers and Lucas stood and headed for the door.
    “Don’t leave yet,” Anton said to her as the men silently filed out. “How long can you stay?”
    “However long you need me.” She decided this was no time to tell the truth. Paul Winston had begrudgingly allowed her two weeks of vacation days with an underlying inference to get back earlier if possible.
    “It’s not just me.” Wincing, Anton struggled with a pillow behind his back. “It’s Lucas.”
    “Lucas?” She moved to help him, meticulously fluffing and positioning his pillow until he was comfortable.
    “He came back over two weeks ago, claiming he’s going to settle here for good. His brother died a few months ago in a car accident and left some loose ends behind. Now rumor has it that it might not have been an accident, maybe a drug bust gone bad or maybe someone had a vendetta. He was a state trooper.”
    “I didn’t know Lucas had a brother.”
    “Not many people did. Mike Fisher was raised in a foster home in upstate New York. It’s too complicated to sort out now, and it’s not my place to say, but Lucas is chasing lots of ghosts. Work with him, will you, Lizzie? I promised him I would, but I can’t now, not with this dad-burned busted leg.”
    Elise watched her father’s grizzled face become agitated, more upset because he could not fulfill a promise than because he was worried about his health.
    “I’ll see what I can do.” She hoped her voice sounded more reassuring than she felt. Lucas Fisher had never been the type of person who wanted anyone to meddle in his affairs. She pecked her father on the cheek again and stifled a yawn. “I’ll stop by tomorrow. We’ll talk. You can fill me in. You need to rest, Dad.”
    “Look who’s talking,” the old man muttered. His voice held more amusement than chastisement.
    Outside in the hall, the three men, their heads bent, were huddled near a wall, speaking in hushed whispers. As soon as she approached, they fell silent and looked up at her with guilty expressions.
    “We can transfer my things to Fritz’s car,” she suggested, at a loss for something to say. “Thomas, you’re coming back to the house for a few minutes, right?”
    He nodded, looking anything but pleased. “Elise, we need to talk.”
    She glanced at Fritz, who looked like he was about to squirm out of his clothes. Through a careful breath, she said, “So what’s up? Somebody fill me in.”
    “She hasn’t eaten,” Lucas interrupted in a voice so calm it unnerved her. He pushed himself upright from where he had been leaning against the wall and uncrossed his arms. His expression was brooding but controlled, his eyes a cloudy gray. He glanced at her, then looked over at Fritz. “Why don’t you pick up some pizzas? Lizzie and I will meet you at home. Thomas can take his car, too.”
    “Good idea,” Fritz agreed, visibly relieved.
    “I can go with Thomas,” she offered. “It’s been a long day, for you, too, Lucas. You have to be exhausted.”
    Three pair of eyes darted cautiously back and forth among each other.
    “We need to talk,” Lucas said in a low voice, coming to stand beside her. “Just you and me.” She could feel the heat of his body so close to hers. “I’ll drive you home.”
    “Okay.” She nodded, wondering what could be so important it couldn’t wait a while longer.
    Minutes later, seated inside the car in a half empty parking lot, she waited for him to start the engine. The scent of warm tar from freshly laid blacktop filtered in through the open windows. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, she leveled a glance his way. He sat still, his hands gripping the steering wheel.
    “All right, Lucas, spit