Read Online Her Irresistible Troublemaker (A Town Named Eden Book 3) by Sonia Parin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sonia Parin
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you a text message. As for the when… today. About three hours ago, I decided to get on a flight to Melbourne. I’d already packed my bags, I just needed a destination, and here I am.”
So she hadn’t come to Melbourne on business. She hadn’t even been in Melbourne when she’d sent those text messages… But she was here now and…
Lexie took a step and then remembered she had to close the front door. “Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?” She closed the door and turned to stare at Maggie who hadn’t moved from the couch where she’d…
Slumped?
Her sister didn’t slump. Yet prim and proper, posture conscience Maggie looked as if she’d crash-landed on her living room couch.
She had a bad case of pillow hair. Lexie couldn’t see a lick of make-up on her face. As for what she wore…
A T-shirt with a coffee stain on it and yoga pants?
“Something’s happened to you.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it. Not yet.”
Lexie’s lips parted. “Okay.” It wasn’t, but she forced herself to push the word out.
“Your cat looks hungry.”
“I don’t have a cat.” Ulysses strode out of her bedroom, his tail flicking in the air as he made a beeline toward her. “Oh, yeah… him. This is Ulysses. He sort of wanders around the place.”
“Is that why you have a dish in the corner with his name on it?”
“He’s a regular visitor.” She gave an uneasy shrug. “Um… how did you…”
“Your neighbor let me in. I think he was worried I might lurk in the corridor and scare people away. Is he your boyfriend?”
Once, Lexie had dreamed of having a normal relationship with Maggie, the type of sibling sharing and caring supportive relationship she’d read about in books or had enjoyed watching on films. It had been wishful thinking. There were only four years separating them. Yet they’d never shared intimate secrets or dreams, gone shopping together, or… well, they’d never even argued. Maggie didn’t have time for such trivialities.
Their parents had hit the jackpot with Maggie, her every step geared toward accumulating a lifetime’s worth of kudos in as short a time as possible. Lexie knew and understood that version of Maggie. But this person… slumped on her couch…? Asking about her neighbor?
“You’ve done something to your hair.”
Ava had pulled strings to get her in to see her hairdresser for an emergency tidy up, saying that even a fake date deserved some effort. The fact Maggie had noticed made her head spin.
“Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”
“Your neighbor has a key to your place.”
“We decided to swap keys the day after he locked himself out.” She dug her fingers through her hair. “You live in Sydney. It wouldn’t make sense for you to have a key,” she added because she’d sensed something in Maggie’s tone, something that suggested she’d taken offence.
“I could live around the corner, and I still wouldn’t have a key to your place.”
Okay. She seemed to be going somewhere with her train of thought. In fact, it seemed to be running parallel with her own thinking. Which was in itself scary because they were practically strangers.
“We’re related, we’re sisters, but...” Maggie continued.
“Should I call someone? You’re acting funny.” In a disturbed sort of way.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“Give me a minute. I’m… surprised by your visit.” Whatever had brought Maggie to her doorstep… It didn’t matter. She didn’t want to talk about it… because she wasn’t ready or because she didn’t know how to talk about it? Lexie shook her head. “I’ll put the kettle on.” She’d never before offered to do that, for anyone. Then again, this was the first time someone had landed on her doorstep looking like they’d been shoved through a wringer and pulled out the other end by a pair of pliers. Lexie couldn’t see any visible bruises—
“If you don’t mind, I’ll give
So she hadn’t come to Melbourne on business. She hadn’t even been in Melbourne when she’d sent those text messages… But she was here now and…
Lexie took a step and then remembered she had to close the front door. “Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?” She closed the door and turned to stare at Maggie who hadn’t moved from the couch where she’d…
Slumped?
Her sister didn’t slump. Yet prim and proper, posture conscience Maggie looked as if she’d crash-landed on her living room couch.
She had a bad case of pillow hair. Lexie couldn’t see a lick of make-up on her face. As for what she wore…
A T-shirt with a coffee stain on it and yoga pants?
“Something’s happened to you.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about it. Not yet.”
Lexie’s lips parted. “Okay.” It wasn’t, but she forced herself to push the word out.
“Your cat looks hungry.”
“I don’t have a cat.” Ulysses strode out of her bedroom, his tail flicking in the air as he made a beeline toward her. “Oh, yeah… him. This is Ulysses. He sort of wanders around the place.”
“Is that why you have a dish in the corner with his name on it?”
“He’s a regular visitor.” She gave an uneasy shrug. “Um… how did you…”
“Your neighbor let me in. I think he was worried I might lurk in the corridor and scare people away. Is he your boyfriend?”
Once, Lexie had dreamed of having a normal relationship with Maggie, the type of sibling sharing and caring supportive relationship she’d read about in books or had enjoyed watching on films. It had been wishful thinking. There were only four years separating them. Yet they’d never shared intimate secrets or dreams, gone shopping together, or… well, they’d never even argued. Maggie didn’t have time for such trivialities.
Their parents had hit the jackpot with Maggie, her every step geared toward accumulating a lifetime’s worth of kudos in as short a time as possible. Lexie knew and understood that version of Maggie. But this person… slumped on her couch…? Asking about her neighbor?
“You’ve done something to your hair.”
Ava had pulled strings to get her in to see her hairdresser for an emergency tidy up, saying that even a fake date deserved some effort. The fact Maggie had noticed made her head spin.
“Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”
“Your neighbor has a key to your place.”
“We decided to swap keys the day after he locked himself out.” She dug her fingers through her hair. “You live in Sydney. It wouldn’t make sense for you to have a key,” she added because she’d sensed something in Maggie’s tone, something that suggested she’d taken offence.
“I could live around the corner, and I still wouldn’t have a key to your place.”
Okay. She seemed to be going somewhere with her train of thought. In fact, it seemed to be running parallel with her own thinking. Which was in itself scary because they were practically strangers.
“We’re related, we’re sisters, but...” Maggie continued.
“Should I call someone? You’re acting funny.” In a disturbed sort of way.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“Give me a minute. I’m… surprised by your visit.” Whatever had brought Maggie to her doorstep… It didn’t matter. She didn’t want to talk about it… because she wasn’t ready or because she didn’t know how to talk about it? Lexie shook her head. “I’ll put the kettle on.” She’d never before offered to do that, for anyone. Then again, this was the first time someone had landed on her doorstep looking like they’d been shoved through a wringer and pulled out the other end by a pair of pliers. Lexie couldn’t see any visible bruises—
“If you don’t mind, I’ll give
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