Read Online A Family Circle 1 - A Very Convenient Marriage by Dallas Schulze - Free Book Online Page A

Sam forced back the questions he wanted to ask. "Old habits are hard to break."
    "Even bad ones." Keefe grinned and some of the tension seemed to leave his eyes. "You always did act like the nineteen months between us were nineteen years, especially after Dad died."
    "I was the oldest. Someone had to keep the rest of you in line."
    "You're lucky Gage and Cole and I didn't get together and beat some sense into you."
    "I wasn't that bad," Sam protested.
    "Worse." Keefe pulled a cigarette pack out of his pocket and tapped it until the end of one came loose. As he lit it, he caught Sam's frown and grinned tiredly. "like I said, even bad habits are hard to break."
    "I thought you quit when you and Dana got married."
    The humor instantly disappeared from Keefe's eyes and the lines around his mouth deepened, making Sam regret mentioning Keefe's ex-wife. "Yeah. Well, you may recall that we haven't been married for a while now so if I want to rot my lungs, there's no one around to nag me. Unless I have breakfast with my big brother, of course."
    "Sorry." Sam shook his head. "I didn't drive all the way up here to harass you."
    "Could have fooled me." But there was no anger in Keefe's response. "Why did you ask me to meet you? Thanksgiving is only a couple of weeks away. I'd be seeing youthen."
    Sam shifted uncomfortably in the vinyl booth. He'd driven three hours from L.A., leaving before dawn. And Keefe had driven down from his ranch in the Sierra Nevadas. There was so much to say, but now that he was here, he didn't know where to start.
    The waitress's arrival with their food gave Sam a moment more to think. When she was gone, he watched Keefe stub out his half-smoked cigarette.
    "Have you talked to Mom?" Sam asked finally.
    Keefe picked up his knife and fork before glancing across the table at his older brother, his dark eyes shrewd.
    "I know you're married, if that's what you're pussyfooting around mentioning."
    "A couple of weeks ago." Sam cut a piece off his steak and stared at it.
    "Mom says nobody's met her." Keefe chewed and swallowed. "I don't think she was real thrilled about the way you did things—not having any of the family at the wedding and all."
    "We were in a hurry," Sam muttered as he reached for his coffee cup.
    "She pregnant?"
    Sam choked on the coffee.
    Keefe waited calmly until he'd stopped coughing. "Is that a yes or a no?"
    "No!" Sam gasped the word out, reaching for a glass of water. "God, no."
    Keefe's brows rose at Sam's adamant response. "That's the usual reason people get married in a hurry."
    "Well, it wasn't our reason," Sam said shortly. He sliced another piece off his steak and chewed it without tasting.
    "Okay." Keefe reached for his coffee. "You plan on telling me what the reason was?"
    "How's Mary?"
    Keefe looked surprised by the abrupt change of topic, but he went along with it.
    "About the same, as far as I know. I haven't talked to Cole in a while, but I asked Mom and she said there was no change. She still needs surgery and Cole still doesn't have the money for it. I've got my place listed, but there aren't many people buying ranches these days." His expression was grim. "I guess it's a good thing they're not going to be doing the surgery right away. Gives us a Utile time to come up with the money."
    "Take it off the market."
    "I might as well, for all the good it's doing to have it listed."
    "You don't need to sell it."
    Sam gave up the pretense of eating and looked across the table at his brother. He'd made the long drive to see Keefe because he wanted to tell him the truth. He might be able to convince everyone else that his marriage to Nikki was a real one, but he knew Keefe would never believe it. Of his three brothers, he was closest to Keefe. They'd fought the most when they were young, but they'd still ended up friends.
    "I don't have to sell the ranch?" Keefe said slowly. "If you're saying that, then it must mean you've found a way to come up with the money Cole needs." Sam could see