Read Online Home Matters (A Ripple Effect Romance Novella, Book 1) by Julie N. Ford - Free Book Online

much money on expensive furnishings—furnishings Olivia doubted the Calhouns were even going to like—they’d have plenty of budget to fix every item on the couple’s “deal breaker” list. Second, every time she tried to unburden herself of the aforementioned concerns, the only person who might actually understand (Pete) had walked away without so much as a word, caustic or otherwise.
    “What are you doing?” he wanted to know.
    A guilty look took hold of Olivia’s face. Technically, this was Pete’s job site, which made him in charge of who did what and when. “Nothing.” She shook her head and offered him a sheepish smile. “I mean, would you believe that I’m done shooting for the day and thought I might help out around here?”
    His eyes tracked to the roller then back to her face. “Yeah, well, just so long as you stay away from my power tools,” he said, his voice scolding, indifferent.
    She’d convinced herself that his shift in attitude was nothing more than a side effect of his aversive nature, and thus had mostly written off his surly mood as par for the course. But his lack of emotion, coupled with the sharp edge to his words, suddenly had her considering that he might be genuinely miffed with her over matters unrelated to his temperament. Nevertheless, his sour disposition was grating on her last nerve.
    “Trust me, I don’t want anything to do with your tools.”
    Sean’s saucered gaze alternated between Olivia’s and Pete’s piqued expressions before landing on Pete. “Dude, you two need to just get on with it and make out or something.” He smirked as he disappeared behind the plastic.
    Pete watched Sean move away before stepping through the barrier. “Yes, you made that perfectly clear the other night after I kissed you,” he said in a harsh whisper. “You practically trampled me getting to William.”
    So this was about the other night. She’d thought he was just messing with her, but evidently that kiss had meant something more—to Pete at least. But what was she supposed to have done differently? She and William had a date. And it wasn’t like she’d been flirting with Pete, nor had she given him any indication she wanted him to kiss her. Had she? What did it matter? She was with William now.
    Nevertheless, a tiny voice in her heart whispered for her to beg his forgiveness. Another advised that maybe it was better Pete stayed mad at her. That way they could both avoid any future unwarranted kissing incidents.
    “I never asked you to kiss me,” she defiantly asserted.
    Pete’s nostrils flared. “Well, you didn’t exactly pull away either,” he spat out the words. “Falling for that shallow party-boy. I really thought you , of all people, were more original than that.”
    Now he’d flat out insulted her character, not to mention, intelligence. A string of colorfully offensive nouns lined up, poised to leap from her lips when another thought occurred and told her insult arsenal to stand down. In all honesty, William wasn’t the deepest of thinkers, and he enjoyed his scotch, but he was also kind and attentive. So what did it matter if he didn’t have much of interest to say when he was unbelievably easy on the eyes, and… Olivia heaved an inward groan. Could Pete be right? Was her attraction to William purely superficial, an affection born out of a media frenzy, driven by a society obsessed with physical attraction?
    More confused now than ever before, she felt the fight draining out of her, a sieve missing its plug. How could she justify her feelings for William with all this doubt clouding her mind? Was it fair to stay mad at Pete when, after reliving their kiss through his eyes, it appeared she was the one who needed to apologize? And how did one apologize for stomping all over one man’s affection while in the process of racing into the arms of another?
    For lack of any semblance of an appropriate response, she looked back to the wall she’d been painting and