Mia Like Crazy Read Online Free Page B

be appropriate because of possible conflict of interest.”
    Meridith sipped her coffee before she continued. “Anyway, my father died a year ago, and that’s when I learned there was another heir, and that Drew was my brother. I wish I’d known sooner.” Her eyes were filled with sadness, regret.
    What was I supposed to do with all this emotion? “I don’t know what to say,” I replied. “I’m really sorry for everything you’ve both been through.”
    She laid her hand on my arm and peered into my eyes with such intensity, I thought she was trying to read my soul. I wondered if I had one.
    “Mia, would you please come back with me and give it another try?” I opened my mouth to object, but Meridith hurried on. “Perhaps you could find a loophole or contest the will. I’ll pay you whatever retainer you want myself. I think he needs this as some sort of closure on his past. There’s a good heart in there, although Jack Larson tried his best to cut it out.”
    “Are you sure it’s still in there?” It struck me as darkly funny— a soulless woman and a heartless man. I was sure someone could write us into one of those country western songs.
    “Well, it’s punctured, mutilated maybe, but yes, I believe it’s still there.”
    I hadn’t had anything but my own gut feelings to rely on for the past twenty-eight years. They’d never steered me wrong before.
    Besides, there was something about Meridith, caring so intensely for a brother she barely knew, that was compelling in a way I’d never experienced…and the money. That would be the main reason, of course.
    “Okay, I’ll try,” I said.
    ~
    During the drive back to the apartment, Meridith gave instructions as though I was on my way to baby-sit an unruly child. “Drew is prone to throwing tantrums, but he rarely means them. If he likes you, he may act annoyed with you much of the time. If he starts to feel he’s making a connection, he’ll turn on you and try to scare you away. Just refuse to leave.”
    “And if he throws me out bodily?”
    “Dust yourself off and go right back in.” Meridith laughed. “Actually, it’s unlikely he’ll touch you at all. In the time I’ve known him he hasn’t wanted to touch anyone, although when my kids insist on piggyback rides, he won’t disappoint them.”
    I had to chuckle at the idea of Drew Larson being forced to give piggyback rides. I couldn’t imagine it, though. “Does he have any friends, girlfriends?”
    “He tries to be an island.” Meridith had stopped at a red light. She looked over at me and said, “You know your brown eyes are really lovely.” She was studying me intensely again, and I was sure she had more on her mind than compliments. She seemed to notice my expression. “Oh, it’s just that I always admired that exotic look—you know, growing up with blonde hair and freckles like I did.” For some reason, the exotic thing didn’t bother me when Meridith said it.
    Still, I knew she was covering for whatever she’d been thinking before. There was definitely more going on in Meridith’s brain than she was allowing out of her mouth.
    She suddenly jumped back to her original subject. “Anyway, he leaves the apartment as little as possible. I guess he believes if he’s alone, no one can hurt him and vice versa. I think you’ll be good for him, though.”
    I couldn’t fathom what kind of help—other than the legal kind—she thought someone like me could give her weird hermit brother, or anyone else, for that matter. I thought of Lauren. It still made me nervous that she actually took my advice that day.
    “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, Meridith,” I said. “I came because I need the money.”
    “Yes, but that’s not why you’re staying. I have a good feeling about you.”
    How annoying.
    For as long as I could remember, I’d worked at being opaque, carefully picking and choosing what I wanted people to know. How could this woman know anything at all about