Read Online Family Matters by Barbara White Daille - Free Book Online Page A

have said next.
    Kerry stooped down to pick up the short but wide carton near the door. Her look of chagrin as she tugged on the package told him she couldn’t handle it alone.
    Alice appeared in the doorway and eyed him.
    His gaze ping-ponged from one woman to the other. He never reneged on his word, and he’d already said he wouldn’t lift a hand to help. Looking down at Kerry, he shook his head, realizing he didn’t need to back down on his original statement. Judging by her struggle, he’d have to offer both hands.
    â€œI’ll take an end,” he told her.
    â€œNot necessary,” she said from between clenched teeth.
    â€œOf course it is. My mother raised me to be a gentleman.”
    Alice giggled.
    Smiling grimly, Kerry said, “Fine. Let’s get to it, then.”
    As she reached for a better grip on her edge of the carton, the ragged neckline of her sweatshirt dipped downward, showing off a few golden-brown freckles but stopping short of anything tempting.
    Just as well, because he wasn’t interested.
    Crouching, he reached for the other end of the package.
    They lifted it from the floor, grunting in unison as they rose.
    â€œWhat did your uncle put in here?” he demanded.
    â€œBodies, I think.” Her grimace revealed one slightly crooked tooth off to one side. Cute.
    The carton was too wide for them to walk side by side. Slowly, he backed down the hall, heading toward the game room. “You know we could get arrested for hauling cadavers around?”
    â€œWhere are you from,” she asked, “the permit police?”
    â€œNo, but I’ve got friends in the department.”
    â€œWhy do I find that hard to believe?”
    â€œThat there’s a permit department?”
    â€œNo,” she said, puffing with exertion. “That you’ve got friends.” This time, the crooked tooth flashed in a fake grin.
    â€œVery funny. Just my luck to get stuck with a comedian.”
    Breathing more heavily now, she simply rolled her eyes.
    â€œDo you want to stop and take a break?” When she shook her head, he adjusted his grip to take as much of the weight as possible from her. “What makes you think we’ll get this to fit through the doorway?”
    â€œIf it doesn’t,” she said between gasps, “I’ll make it fit.”
    He had a feeling she would, too. He laughed and eyed her over the top of the box. Again, he saw the slight flush that almost erased her freckles. He wondered if it came from anger this time.
    They’d reached the game room, and he maneuvered himself backward into the doorway.
    â€œWe’ve got to hike it up to clear the plate on the frame,” he told her.
    As they did so, his partner lost her grip on the box. It slid sideways and jammed in the doorway.
    â€œIt’s all cockeyed,” she said. He didn’t need to see her face; he could hear the breathless indignation. “It’s got to be straightened out first.”
    â€œNo kidding. I’m trying.” The weight of the carton made it awkward to juggle from one end.
    â€œKerry Anne, is that you out there?” called a woman from the room behind him. He recognized Maeve MacBride’s voice.
    â€œMind you don’t put your back out, love,” she continued.
    No concern for his back at all.
    He might’ve expected that. After all, Maeve was Brendan MacBride’s mother.
    He returned his attention to the woman out in the hall. The woman he might never see again, if he didn’t get this carton out of the doorway.
    Just as he gave an extra-hard tug, he heard an extra-loud grunt from his partner. The box shot toward him, sending him backward and almost off his feet.
    â€œEasy, lad,” said Maeve.
    Something sharp prodded his shoulder. Was she resorting to stabbing to get him out of the picture?
    Ignoring her, he helped Kerry right the carton and guided the rest of it through the doorway.
    â€œOver by