Read Online Her Heart's Desire (Sunflower Series Book 1) by Linda Joyce - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Linda Joyce
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the fondness their
friends and neighbors had shown. Craig’s heart swelled with
pride.
Amelia stepped onto the wide back deck and
started to hand him a platter at the same time as Zoë rounded the
corner of the house with a man in tow Craig didn’t recognize.
Amelia’s hand moved. Craig grabbed for the platter, catching it
before it hit the deck. “Hey! Watch it.” But Amelia appeared to be
in a transfixed state, showing no signs of hearing him. Her gaze
remained locked on the newcomer. And Zoë.
“Welcome, Karl.”
The softness in Amelia’s voice and the too
bright smile reinforced the knot in his gut. Amelia had a genuine
interest in this man? This guy had to be the newbie in town. Had
Zoë invited him? Who crashed a cookout like this? His parents, had
they been there, would’ve insisted the newcomer be welcomed.
“I hope you don’t mind, I asked Karl to meet
us here,” Zoë said. She led Karl by the hand onto the deck. “I
thought this would be a good way for him to get acquainted with
some folks he hasn’t met.”
“And some he’ll never meet,” Craig grumbled.
To the untrained ear, Zoë words were innocent enough, but he was
certain she had purposefully arranged the encounter. Maybe it was
her way for him to give Karl the once-over. Since his sister seemed
bent on dating the guy, and since their surprise party next
Saturday depended on Karl’s discretion, he should be thankful for
Zoë’s fast thinking. But something about it pecked in his gut the
way a woodpecker hammered away at tree. However, the best defense
was a good offense, so he’d be polite, but with both ears and eyes
on the guy.
“Karl, welcome. I’d shake your hand, but…”
Craig lifted up the platter in one hand and the spatula in the
other.
Karl grinned as Zoë and Amelia flanked
him.
“Hey, Karl,” Lucas said, coming through the
back door from the house with a platter of cooked ribs. He set it
on the table. “I didn’t know you were coming. Grab a rib.” Lucas
cupped Amelia’s elbow. “Amelia, we need a bottle opener in here,
and if you want me to carve the ham, I need the carving knife.”
Amelia appeared flustered, but when Lucas
guided her into the house, she went.
“Karl, this is Craig, Lia’s brother.” Zoë
made introductions.
Craig caught a quick flash of worry in the
man’s eyes. He leaned in for a private word. “So Zoë has recruited
you for our plan?”
Karl nodded. “I won’t let you down.”
“Good to hear. Grab a drink from the cooler
over there or the keg. Make yourself at home.” He hoped to put Karl
at ease, making it easier to study the guy.
“Should we offer to help Lia?” Karl
asked.
“She’ll be back in a few minutes,” Zoë said
reassuringly as she reached for Karl’s hand, guiding him down the
deck. They crossed the yard with Gentleman Jack running, and then
scurrying back, as if to urge them to hurry along. Zoë headed in
the direction of the creek.
She was taking the guy there? She giggled at
something Karl said and gave him a little flirty shove. A knot
formed in Craig’s gut, twisting like water wrung from a towel.
Friendship and family loyalty played
tug-of-war. Did Amelia have a true interest in this guy? How hurt
would she be when she discovered Zoë’s interest? He’d read all of
Zoë’s signs. Big eyes, coy grins, a slight tilt of her head, and
that friendly shove. He was well aware of them. She’d been his
first serious crush back in high school, but no one knew. He hadn’t
even shared that information with Lucas. It would’ve been too
weird, him dating his sister’s best friend. That would be as
ridiculous as Lucas dating Amelia.
Craig set the platter on a table. One by one,
he tossed hamburger patties onto a grill and turned the
country-style ribs on the second one. Sizzling from the heat, the
barbecue with its tangy aroma made him miss his dad. He could never
replace their father in Amelia’s life, but he’d be the best big
brother she would ever
friends and neighbors had shown. Craig’s heart swelled with
pride.
Amelia stepped onto the wide back deck and
started to hand him a platter at the same time as Zoë rounded the
corner of the house with a man in tow Craig didn’t recognize.
Amelia’s hand moved. Craig grabbed for the platter, catching it
before it hit the deck. “Hey! Watch it.” But Amelia appeared to be
in a transfixed state, showing no signs of hearing him. Her gaze
remained locked on the newcomer. And Zoë.
“Welcome, Karl.”
The softness in Amelia’s voice and the too
bright smile reinforced the knot in his gut. Amelia had a genuine
interest in this man? This guy had to be the newbie in town. Had
Zoë invited him? Who crashed a cookout like this? His parents, had
they been there, would’ve insisted the newcomer be welcomed.
“I hope you don’t mind, I asked Karl to meet
us here,” Zoë said. She led Karl by the hand onto the deck. “I
thought this would be a good way for him to get acquainted with
some folks he hasn’t met.”
“And some he’ll never meet,” Craig grumbled.
To the untrained ear, Zoë words were innocent enough, but he was
certain she had purposefully arranged the encounter. Maybe it was
her way for him to give Karl the once-over. Since his sister seemed
bent on dating the guy, and since their surprise party next
Saturday depended on Karl’s discretion, he should be thankful for
Zoë’s fast thinking. But something about it pecked in his gut the
way a woodpecker hammered away at tree. However, the best defense
was a good offense, so he’d be polite, but with both ears and eyes
on the guy.
“Karl, welcome. I’d shake your hand, but…”
Craig lifted up the platter in one hand and the spatula in the
other.
Karl grinned as Zoë and Amelia flanked
him.
“Hey, Karl,” Lucas said, coming through the
back door from the house with a platter of cooked ribs. He set it
on the table. “I didn’t know you were coming. Grab a rib.” Lucas
cupped Amelia’s elbow. “Amelia, we need a bottle opener in here,
and if you want me to carve the ham, I need the carving knife.”
Amelia appeared flustered, but when Lucas
guided her into the house, she went.
“Karl, this is Craig, Lia’s brother.” Zoë
made introductions.
Craig caught a quick flash of worry in the
man’s eyes. He leaned in for a private word. “So Zoë has recruited
you for our plan?”
Karl nodded. “I won’t let you down.”
“Good to hear. Grab a drink from the cooler
over there or the keg. Make yourself at home.” He hoped to put Karl
at ease, making it easier to study the guy.
“Should we offer to help Lia?” Karl
asked.
“She’ll be back in a few minutes,” Zoë said
reassuringly as she reached for Karl’s hand, guiding him down the
deck. They crossed the yard with Gentleman Jack running, and then
scurrying back, as if to urge them to hurry along. Zoë headed in
the direction of the creek.
She was taking the guy there? She giggled at
something Karl said and gave him a little flirty shove. A knot
formed in Craig’s gut, twisting like water wrung from a towel.
Friendship and family loyalty played
tug-of-war. Did Amelia have a true interest in this guy? How hurt
would she be when she discovered Zoë’s interest? He’d read all of
Zoë’s signs. Big eyes, coy grins, a slight tilt of her head, and
that friendly shove. He was well aware of them. She’d been his
first serious crush back in high school, but no one knew. He hadn’t
even shared that information with Lucas. It would’ve been too
weird, him dating his sister’s best friend. That would be as
ridiculous as Lucas dating Amelia.
Craig set the platter on a table. One by one,
he tossed hamburger patties onto a grill and turned the
country-style ribs on the second one. Sizzling from the heat, the
barbecue with its tangy aroma made him miss his dad. He could never
replace their father in Amelia’s life, but he’d be the best big
brother she would ever
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