No More Secrets: A Small Town Love Story (The Pierce Brothers Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

any time you want,” she said, in a voice as husky as a jazz singer.
    She strolled in, navy riding breeches and tall boots accentuating legs that went on for days. Her long sleeve polo was untucked and her chestnut hair was pulled back in a low, sleek ponytail. Summer felt like she was looking at a Ralph Lauren Polo ad come to life.
    “You wouldn’t have let them in the house either, if you were their mother,” Phoebe joked from the stove.
    “You just come from the barn?” Carter asked, seemingly oblivious to the fact that a beautiful woman had just entered his house.
    “Yeah. I stayed after the lessons to check on Gonzo. He was favoring his front leg today and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything serious. He’s fine. Just being a baby.”
    Joey worked her way through the greetings. A kiss on the cheek for Carter and Beckett and a tight hug for Phoebe.
    “Joey, this is Summer. She’s writing the article on the farm. Joey is our on-site horse whisperer,” Carter said.
    Summer offered her hand and they shook.
    Joey’s brown eyes coolly measured. “Hi.”
    “It’s nice to meet you,” Summer said, hoping a friendly smile would disarm her.
    Joey dropped her hand and shifted her attention to Phoebe. “Thanks for having me to dinner.”
    Not a warm and fuzzy kind of girl. Summer could respect that.
    “Anytime, sweetheart. You’re always welcome to help me even out the testosterone,” Phoebe chuckled, her glasses steaming from the contents of the pot.
    Joey dumped a worn tote on the counter and Beckett dove for it. “Please tell me you brought dessert. Apple crisp?” he asked hopefully.
    “Peanut butter pie,” she corrected.
    “Are those crumbled up peanut butter cups on top?”
    “Of course.”
    “When are you going to give up spending all your time with horses so you can marry me and make me desserts every day?” Beckett sighed.
    Joey rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Keep dreaming, Mr. Mayor. I have no desire to be first lady of Blue Moon.”
    “You’re the mayor?” Summer asked, eyebrows raised. That was an interesting tidbit. Beckett had to be a year or two younger than Carter’s thirty years.
    “Mayor and an attorney. You couldn’t tell from the bullshit that spills out of his mouth?” Carter smirked.
    “Carter Pierce, you watch your damn mouth,” Phoebe warned, brandishing salad tongs.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Carter answered contritely.
    Beckett flipped him the bird and quickly ran his hand through his thick, dark hair when Phoebe set her sights on him.
    “Put that finger away before I break it, Beckett,” she ordered.
    “Yes, ma’am.” He turned back to Summer. “I am the mayor, two years into my term.”
    “It was either Beckett here,” Joey jerked a thumb in his direction. “Or Crazy Fitz from the bookstore. And Fitz wanted to make it mandatory that all residents had to build fallout shelters.” She leaned in and snagged a cucumber out of the salad.
    “For the love of — if you all are going to keep picking, we might as well eat,” Phoebe sighed.
    Dinner was an entertaining and informative peek into family life. The Pierces — and Joey — bickered and laughed their way through dessert. It was an easy dynamic, one bred from years of knowing every detail of each other’s lives.
    Summer sat back and did what she did best, observed the action. Her family dinners hadn’t had the casual familiarity the Pierces exhibited for years, and it was refreshing to watch the friendliness, the easiness.
    She tried to pay attention to everyone, but her gaze always returned to Carter. After his shower, he had changed into clean jeans and a long-sleeve tee that hugged every inch of muscle. He had a scar that split his eyebrow and traveled up, carving a path into his forehead. He looked like a warrior. Where Beckett was smooth and polite, Carter was rough around the edges.
    There was something there that intrigued her. Something miles beyond his attractive looks and her desire to tell his