Hoping for Love Read Online Free Page A

her.”
    “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
    Grace snickered at his indignation as she followed him into the spacious house.
    He led her into the kitchen and flipped on a light. Peeking into the fridge, he withdrew a beer and offered her one.
    “No, thanks.” She’d already had two, which was far more than she normally consumed since the surgery, but tonight hadn’t been an average night. “Just some water, please.”
    “Coming right up.”
    When he pressed the glass to the icemaker on the door of the fridge, Grace cast a nervous glance around. “You’re going to wake them up.”
    “Nah, they’re heavy sleepers. We used to count on that when we were kids and wanted to sneak out.”
    “Is that so?”
    They spun at the sound of a woman’s voice. Grace assumed she was his mother.
    “That was Mac,” Evan said quickly. “I never snuck out. Not once.”
    “Tell your story to someone who believes you.” To Grace, she said, “Hi there, I’m Linda McCarthy.”
    Embarrassed to have been caught, Grace shook her outstretched hand. “Grace Ryan.”
    “Nice to meet you.”
    “Grace needed a place to crash tonight, so I offered her Janey’s old room. Hope that’s okay.”
    “Of course it is. Can I get you something to eat?”
    “No, thank you. I had something earlier. And thanks for letting me impose.”
    “No problem at all,” Linda said with a warm smile.
    “What’re you still doing up, Mom?” Evan asked.
    “Couldn’t sleep.”
    “Everything okay?” he asked, seeming concerned all of a sudden.
    Linda shrugged. “Dad wasn’t doing too great earlier. By the time I got him settled, I was wide awake.”
    Evan put down his beer and went to his mother. “What do you mean?”
    “He was agitated.” To Grace, she said, “My husband suffered a head injury earlier this summer. He’s much better but still has some rough spots.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll pray for his speedy recovery.”
    Linda squeezed her arm. “Thank you.”
    “You should’ve called me—or Mac or Grant. You don’t have to handle him on your own when he gets like that.”
    “You’re all busy with your own lives. Besides, I took care of it. Nothing to worry about.” She went up on tiptoes to kiss the son who towered over her. Grace would put him at six two at the very least. “I’m going up to bed. I’ll see you in the morning. Grace, honey, make yourself at home.”
    “Thank you so much, Mrs. McCarthy.”
    “Please call me Linda.” She waved to them on her way out of the kitchen.
    Evan stared after her for a long time.
    “Are you okay?” Grace asked.
    “Yeah,” he said, making an effort to shake off whatever had upset him.
    “Do you want to talk about it?” After all, he’d listened to her troubles earlier. It seemed the least she could to do to return the favor.
    “It’s…um, well, my dad.” He gestured for her to follow him to the spacious deck off the kitchen. The Salt Pond sparkled with lights from hundreds of boats on moorings.
    Evan took off his sweatshirt and handed it to her.
    Grateful for the warmth, Grace zipped it on and was immediately cocooned in his appealing scent. “What’s going on with your dad?” she asked when she was settled in the chair next to his.
    “He’s this larger-than-life presence, you know? But ever since the head injury, he’s cranky and withdrawn and sometimes nasty and not at all himself.”
    “That happens with head injuries.”
    “We’ve heard that over and over and over. Of course, no one can tell us how long it’ll be before he’s himself again—if ever.”
    He looked and sounded so dejected that Grace felt her heart go out to him before she could remember that she’d intended to keep her distance. “It’s apt to be a while. Don’t give up yet, and try to be as patient as you can with him.”
    “We’re trying, but it’s not easy sometimes. I never remember my parents arguing, and now that’s all they seem to