The Accidental Encore Read Online Free Page B

don’t
go.”
    “I’m sorry, Leah. I’ll see you Thursday.”
    She sniffed at Craig and bolted for the door.
    ***
    “I can’t believe how rude you were.” Leah picked up her
plate and scraped her practically uneaten dinner into the trash.
    “Me?” Craig asked. “She hit me.” He pointed down to his leg.
“I’m injured because of her.”
    “You both said the light was green. What if it was?”
    Craig scoffed. “That never happens.”
    “Doesn’t mean it didn’t, and it doesn’t mean you should have
yelled at her. I like Ms. Allie.”
    “Yeah, well, she needs to learn how to drive.”
    “And you need to learn how to be nice. What if she doesn’t
come back?”
    Craig took a deep breath. He was the adult in this
relationship. He needed to start acting like one. “How long have you been
taking lessons from Allie?”
    Leah pouted. “Three years.”
    “Okay,” he said. “Do you really think she’s going to give up
on you after three years simply because I yelled at her?” And for damn good
reason.
    “No.”
    “Okay, then. She’ll be back.” And he sure as hell wouldn’t
ask her to stay for dinner. He sat down and finished eating with the
accompaniment of Leah’s piano music from the den. He dragged his computer back
to the table and tried to focus on work. He wanted to get the windows in before
he started on the plumbing and HVAC. He needed to demo the wall between the
living room and den before the electrician got started. He was in the mood for
demo work.
    When the phone rang, Leah stopped playing. From the excited
sound of her voice, Craig knew Mark was making his nightly call. He had just
loaded the last dish into the dishwasher when Leah carried the phone to him and
announced that Mark wanted to speak to him.
    “I’m going to take a shower,” she said before taking the
stairs two at a time.
    “Hey,” Craig said. He cradled the receiver between his chin
and shoulder and closed his laptop so he could sponge off the table. “How’s the
honeymoon?”
    “Good. Great. How is everything at home?”
    “Perfect. Course you know Leah likes me better than you.”
    “I don’t think that’s true now that you yelled at Allie.”
    “Jesus, your kid’s got a big mouth.”
    “The biggest. So she’s the car you hit?”
    “No, I’m the car she hit. She may be easy on the eyes
and a competent piano teacher, but she can’t drive worth a damn.”
    Mark chuckled. “I wondered if you’d make a move.”
    “Thanks for the warning, by the way. As it stands, none was
needed. What a tight ass.”
    “Listen, Craig, Allie may look like your standard male
fantasy, but she strikes me as being pretty vulnerable. Lose your edge or I’m
going to have to look for a new teacher, and I really don’t want to have to do
that.”
    “You may have to when Carolyn gets a load of her.”
    “Carolyn’s not the jealous type. And she’s got nothing to
worry about.”
    Craig knew that saying women weren’t jealous was like saying
the sky wasn’t blue. But leave it to his baby brother to see the sunny side of
life. “Whatever you say.”
    “You know, since the wedding’s over and all the craziness
has died down, I’ve had some time to think. Things are going to be different
when I get back.”
    “What do you mean different?”
    “I mean I’m going to be married. I am married, and I
know you’re not going to feel comfortable coming over the way you always do.”
    The stab of hurt was quick and lethal. “Are you trying to
tell me to stay away?”
    “No, not at all.” He blew out a breath. “I’m screwing this
up badly. What I’m trying to say is that we want you around, Carolyn and I. We
don’t want you to feel left out or replaced.”
    “Look, Mark, I know what you’re trying to do and I
appreciate it, but you’re right. Things have changed. It’s time for me to get
my own life.”
    “Craig…”
    “No, I’m okay with this. I’m looking forward to not feeling
so chained to you and