Read Online Her Fill-In Fiancé by Stacy Connelly - Free Book Online

self.
    â€œDad’s showing him around.” Returning to the original subject, she said, “So, about the party, what do you have planned so far?”
    Drew and Sam exchanged a look Sophia recognized all too well. “We told you,” Sam said as if she hadn’t been paying attention. “We want to have a party.”
    â€œBut where’s this party being held? Who’s handling the food? Is there entertainment? Who have you invited?” The more questions she asked, hoping to spark some kind of response, the more blank her brothers’ stares became.
    Finally, Sam said, “We were just gonna invite a bunch of people to the house.”
    â€œWhat? And have Mom cook for everyone?”
    â€œWell…”
    â€œSam! You can’t expect the guest of honor at a surprise party to do all of the cooking!”
    â€œSee?” Drew interjected. “I told you that wouldn’t work.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? It always works! When have we ever showed up at home and Mom didn’t have food for us to eat?” He pointed a fork her way. “Your boyfriend dropped in unannounced, and Mom fed him, didn’t she?”
    â€œYeah, but Jake did do most of the cooking, manning the grill.”
    Sam’s eyes lit at Drew’s reminder. “Hey, that’s an idea. The guests can cook their own food and—”
    â€œNo! You can’t do that! Honestly, Sam, haven’t you ever been to a party that didn’t involve beer in a cooler and food served on paper plates?”
    His teasing grin faded slightly. “Sorry, sis, I guess it’s like you’ve always said. We’re just too small-town for your tastes.”
    â€œI never said that.”
    â€œMaybe not,” Nick cut in, his first effort to join the conversation. “But actions speak louder than words, right? And you split the moment you graduated high school.”
    Sophia sucked in a quick breath, surprised how much her brothers’ words could hurt. “That’s not fair.”
    An argument rose up inside in defense against the anger and bitterness in her oldest brother’s expression, but then she thought of Maddie, of all the little girl had lost, and the words withered and died. She couldn’t know her decision to leave Clearville would inspire Carol to do the same, but it had, and no matter how many times she tried to explain her reasons to Nick, he refused to see her leaving as anything other than deserting her family—just like Carol deserted him and Maddie five years ago.
    The warmth of a hand curving around the back of her neck first made Sophia jump, but she instantly relaxed, her body recognizing Jake’s touch almost before her mind registered his voice. “Hey, sweetheart, sorry I’m late.”
    He couldn’t be late since he hadn’t been invited, but she turned with a smile anyway. Playing along, she insisted, but the awareness rushing through her warned Sophia it was more than that.
    His hand on her neck flexed ever so subtly in response to whatever he saw in her face. Heat rising to her cheeks, she quickly refocused on the menu and said, “Not to worry. You’re right in time.”
    Jake grabbed a free chair from a nearby table and wedged himself in between Sophia and Sam. Her brother frowned, forced to give up territory he’d already claimed. “Didn’t know you were on the parents’ anniversary planning committee, Jake.”
    â€œI’m here to help Sophia…any way I can.” His wordsmight have been directed at Sam, but there was no question that Jake had his gaze locked on her eldest brother.
    â€œFrom the sound of things, we can use all the help we can get. Don’t you think, Nick?” Drew said.
    His attempt, Sophia knew, to smooth things over, but it would take more than that to work on Nick’s sharp edges. She and Nick had rarely, if ever, seen eye to eye. Their constant discord might have