Read Online Finding Peace (Love's Compass #1) by Melanie D. Snitker - Free Book Online

said, “Did you enjoy some of your patient’s medication before coming over here tonight?”
    Her laughter was immediate. “I try to limit that activity to Thursday afternoons.” She gave him one of those looks that only an older sister can dish out.
    Tuck knew it well. She was joking with him, but what she was about to say was serious, and she expected her brother to pay attention.
    “Look, Tuck. Laurie’s tough, she’s pretty, she’s great with kids – Gideon in particular. Not to mention there is some obvious chemistry between you two. She’s perfect for you.”
    Feeling the heat climbing up his neck, he placed a hand there to cover it up. “Would you keep your voice down, please?” He looked behind them. The subject of their discussion was in the living room having an animated conversation with Grams. “You can’t play matchmaker, Lexi.”
    “As if you hadn’t noticed her.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “It’s about time you started dating again.”
    Feeling the pinpricks of a headache behind his eyes, Tuck took a deep breath. Yes, he had noticed Laurie. How couldn’t he? But the idea of dating someone and getting close to her petrified him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “You can’t let what happened with Jana set the stage for the rest of your life. I don’t even think she would want that for you.”
    “Enough, Lexi.”
    “You’re right. Two years is long enough to beat yourself up.”
    “You have no idea what I went through.”
    “So you have no feelings at all for Laurie?”
    He used her elbow to urge her further away from the living room. “I didn’t say that.”
    “The way I see it, you can either take the chance or spend the rest of your life alone. Change your business cards to Bachelor Kentucky Chandler. Get Rogue a few brothers and become the neighborhood dog man.”
    “You’re annoying. And bossy.”
    “And you know I’m right.”
    “You have to let me handle this my way. Stay out of it.”
    A huge grin lit up her face. “Does that mean you’re going to pursue her?”
    He cringed. “She’s a woman. You make it sound like she’s some kind of criminal I need to catch.”
    “Fine! Are you going to try and win her heart, Prince Charming? You already practically saved her after the break-in. I would say you should be ahead of the competition right now.”
    Lexi had always liked to boss him around when they were kids, but this was a new level for her.
    “I barely know her, Lexi. Relationships with cops get messy.”
    “That’s fear talking.”
    “Maybe. But I think I have a reason to feel that way. I can’t go through something like that again.”
    “Laurie isn’t Jana.”
    Her words were like a punch to the gut. Tuck watched Laurie smile at Patty, pushing some of her copper hair behind her ear. No, she wasn’t Jana. Praise God for that. In a lot of ways, she was the polar opposite of his ex-fiancée. He turned his gaze to his sister.
    “Stay out of it, Lexi. Please. If anything is supposed to happen between us, it’s going to develop naturally.”
    She seemed to ponder his words for a moment. “You’re right. I just don’t want to see you miss an opportunity like this. You deserve to find someone to spend the rest of your life with.”
    He couldn’t deny the truth of that. Laurie was amazing, and even though he didn’t know her well, he could already tell that she had a kind heart and a strong personality. Those amazing eyes weren’t exactly hurting, either. He put his arm around his sister’s shoulders and rested his chin on her head. “Tell you what. I’ll try my best to not push her away and to get to know her better. And you pray that I can manage at least the first half of what I just said. Deal?”
    Lexi looked up at her little brother. “Yes, it’s a deal.”
    His cell phone rang and he pulled it off his belt. “It’s Lance. One sec.” He answered the phone. “Hey, man, what’s up?”
    “There was another forced entry. The