Read Online A Family Affair: The Wish: Truth in Lies, Book 9 by Mary Campisi - Free Book Online Page B

become the more beautiful, desirable one. She’d found a husband who adored her and now she had a baby boy and another child on the way. Gina had everything and Natalie’s parents, especially her mother, would not rest until their daughter was back in the number one position, probably by way of marriage and a few babies.
    What did Natalie care about a race and winning a popularity contest run by her parents? She only wanted a life with Robert, a family she could share with him. “I’m happy for Gina and Ben, and I wish you could be, too.” She gentled her voice, met her mother’s gaze. “There’s someone for everyone. Don’t give up on me. I’ll find my special someone.”
    Her mother snorted. “Where? At the salon? Is he going to come in for a facial or a manicure?” She laughed, the laugh turned to a cackle. “I don’t think so. You have to consider your options and your opportunities before you get too old.” Her voice turned sharp, pierced Natalie’s brain. “Someone has to take care of you because the Lord knows you’ll never make enough to take care of yourself.”
    And that meant Natalie couldn’t take care of her parents—as expected. “Why do you say that? I’ve actually got an idea for a business and if it takes off, it could be great.” She and Robert talked of Natalie opening a salon with him cosigning a loan for her. He said there was always more risk when you owned your own company, but the reward was huge.
    The laugh that slid across the table and grabbed Natalie was loud and cruel. “You always were a dreamer. Let’s get back to this list. The sooner we find someone for you, the sooner your father and I won’t have to worry about being thrown out in the streets or stuck in some old folks’ home when we can’t take care of ourselves.” She reached across the table, patted Natalie’s hand, and said, “You’re a good daughter and you’ll do the right thing.” A pinched smile and a hand squeeze followed. “I know you will.”

5
    “ B aby Girl , tell me what’s wrong.”
    Rex MacGregor hefted himself into the chair across from Bree’s desk—the desk that used to be his, in the office that used to be his, at the company that was still his but would one day be hers. Not that he’d come right out and said it, but when the owner of a business had one child and that child worked in a high-level position in the company, didn’t it go without saying who would own it at some point? Maybe not tomorrow or next year, but it was coming, and Bree wanted to be ready for it. That’s why she’d gone to Chicago: to expand and grow relationships and knowledge. Ahem. She fanned herself, pushed back memories of gray eyes and dimples, a tanned, toned body, and way too much class. Oh, she’d “expanded” a relationship—right into bed with a stranger. And the only knowledge she’d gained was that she was a fool and a careless one at that.
    “Bree?”
    She looked up, forced a smile. “Huh? Oh. Nothing’s wrong, Daddy. I’m just preoccupied is all. Lots to think about with the new cabinet line we’re introducing. I’m waiting on the catalog mockup so I can give it a final look; make sure we didn’t forget anything. Funny, how I’m getting really good at picking out tiny details I never saw before.” That made her father smile, a big, wide smile that said he was pleased. His next words told her as much.
    “I’m real proud of you, Bree. What with the way you handled this business considering these past few years.” He paused, stumbled over the rest of his words. “But you pushed on and you’ve done your mother and me proud.”
    “Thank you, Daddy.” He rubbed his jaw like he did when he had something on his mind that didn’t set well, and he had to talk about it. Her father liked her mother to handle the uncomfortable conversations; he preferred to be in charge of the fun stuff, the rewards and smile-makers. But Mama hadn’t let him get away with that for very long before she