Read Online Cup of Sugar by Karla Doyle - Free Book Online Page A

again. Zeus stayed at Conn’s side, but his tail thumped steadily against the floor. Didn’t take dogs long to assess people, and they usually got it right.
    “There’s my other girl,” Meredith said as she rounded the corner. She passed two bottles of wine to Conn, then pulled her other daughter into a hug. “Sara, I see you met Conn and Zeus—they’re here with Nia.”
    “You’re shitting me.” Sara dragged her eyes up and down Conn’s body some more. “You are so not my sister’s type.”
    Interesting.
    “For heaven’s sake, Sara, some couth would be lovely.” Meredith directed her deeper into the house, releasing her with an affectionate pat on the bum. “Go keep your father company.”
    “I take it he’s hiding in his chair, trying to avoid kitchen detail?” Sara stopped halfway to Peter’s not-so-secret location. She planted her hands on her curvy hips and raised one dark eyebrow at Conn. “You’re really Nia’s boyfriend?”
    “Conn’s my neighbor,” Nia piped up before he had a chance to answer.
    “Well, that explains it.” Sara looked beyond him to the open side of the kitchen, and Nia. “I guess you are her type.”
    Conn turned. Nia had paused mid-chop to stare at her sister—and it wasn’t with fondness. He’d thought Nia’s comment about scaring her sister away was cute and said with affection. Show him siblings that hadn’t irritated the shit out of one another as kids. Hell, he and his brother Curtis had pounded on each other regularly and still wound up friends. And typical of little brothers everywhere, Conn had made it his mission to antagonize his older sister while they shared a roof, but they were close now. As close as possible with an ocean separating them.
    Fifteen feet separated the sisters in front of him. From the expression on Nia’s face, she’d prefer an ocean.
    Zeus must’ve picked up on it too, because he moseyed into the kitchen, despite having been told that area was off-limits. Good dog. Good idea too.
    Conn followed, giving Zeus the hand signal for “down” before placing that hand on Nia’s lower back and making small, gentle circles. Not a huge display of affection. More of a subtle, silent show of support. One she obviously appreciated, because she relaxed against his touch.
    “Thank you,” she said after Sara walked away. “You’re really good at the ‘white knight’ thing, aren’t you?”
    “Not so much.” He let his arm fall from her back and he took a step to one side, putting space between them.
    Twice in the course of ten minutes she’d accused him of playing the hero. Okay, accused wasn’t right—there’d been zero negativity in her tone, either time. But she’d touched a nerve, regardless. Heroes came with promises of happy endings. Conn didn’t fit in that category.
    “Did I say something to piss you off?” Her question snapped him from his brooding.
    The soft voice, the way she looked up at him through thick, fluttering eyelashes. Like a woman with expectations. Hell, she’d told him as much in the truck last night, when she said she wanted a man to sweep her off her feet. Shit.
    “Sorry.” He shook his head, pasted on the best smile he could muster. “Just thinking about something I have to do next week.”
    “Okay.”
    Nia didn’t get involved with neighbors and Conn didn’t get involved with women who wanted guarantees. Simple stuff. Too bad he didn’t have an ounce of simple in him while looking into Nia’s eyes.
    “Here, let me finish that.” Meredith materialized at Nia’s side, deftly relieving her of the chopping board and giant mixing bowl before Nia could protest. “That poor dog has been cooped up in a truck, a motel room, and now this house. It’s a beautiful day and we have lots of space for him to run. Take him out.” She motioned back and forth between them with one finger. “Both of you. The fresh air will be good for those grumpy faces.”
    Never argue with the matriarch. Conn knew that