Read Online Face-Off by Nancy Warren - Free Book Online Page B

grill a steak on the barbecue.
    All three McBrides were built on a larger scale than Sierra was used to. Not only were they physically imposing but all of them shared a kind of energy that drew your attention and held it.
    Samantha, Jarrad’s younger sister, the closest to him in age, greeted Sierra with friendliness, but there was suspicion in her gaze. The woman was gorgeous, with long, dark hair, striking features and a tall, athletic body that Sierra would kill for.
    While she made Caesar salad, she grilled Sierra more thoroughly than Jarrad was grilling the steaks. Everything from her family to her job to her dating history was fairgame. Finally, Jarrad said, “Hey, Sam, play nice. Sierra’s not a hostile witness. She’s my new girlfriend.”
    Samantha smashed garlic with gusto. “You have such appalling taste in women that I want to make sure she’s for real.”
    Sierra and Jarrad exchanged glances. There was so much warmth in his gaze that she felt she’d melt if she looked at him too long. “Oh, she’s for real all right,” he said. “And the best thing that ever happened to me.”
    â€œI like her,” Taylor said. Taylor was the youngest. He had so much restless energy that he never stayed still. But she’d liked him immediately. He had a frank way of looking at a person, and a smile that could thaw ice. “It’s about time somebody in our family got serious. Mom’s going to have a fit if we all stay single much longer.”
    â€œAh, we only just started dating,” Sierra pointed out. She was pretty sure she wanted to marry Jarrad, but not because his family pushed him into it.
    â€œSam?” Taylor said. There was a jokiness about the way he spoke. As a teacher she could usually spot a youngest. They were often the class clown.
    â€œDon’t look at me,” Samantha said. “I like being single.” She said it in a way that sounded like a challenge, and Sierra had to wonder what that was about.
    â€œWell, I’m the baby of the family. I’m way too young to get married,” Taylor said. “Gotta get to the NHL first. Then I’ll hook up with a movie star.”
    â€œYou are so full of it,” Samantha said. Then she turned to Sierra. “It’s a good thing you’re an elementary school teacher. Hanging around with these two will remind you of your students.”
    Sierra smiled and sipped her wine. Yes, she thought, as they continued to squabble, Jarrad’s family had definitely accepted her.
    She glanced up to find Jarrad looking at her. I love you, he mouthed.
    She smiled at him in a way that would let him know she’d show him exactly how much she loved him back.
    Later.

In the Sin Bin

1
    â€œC AN YOU NEVER ADMIT to being wrong?” Millicent Parker demanded of Samantha McBride.
    Sam smiled the smile of a lawyer who knows she’s about to settle out of court. “Not when I’m being paid a lot of money to be right.”
    Opposing counsel shook her head and unclipped her pen. “Okay. My client wants to stay out of court. He’s given me a certain amount of leeway. Let’s get this deal done. You’re asking way too much for a wrongful dismissal suit and you know it. Your client’s position was made redundant and he was given a fair exit package.”
    â€œHe’s fifty-nine years old and showing early signs of dementia. We both know that’s why he was made redundant. He’ll never find another job and you know it.”
    Millicent sighed. “All right, what’s your bottom line?”
    Sam settled her computer closer and did what she did best. Argued her position.
    Samantha had been blessed—or cursed depending on how you looked at it—with no ability to see the so-called gray areas of an argument. Something was right or it was wrong. For her there was no middle ground. It made hera fierce lawyer, but sometimes in her personal