Read Online Key to Love by Judy Ann Davis - Free Book Online Page B

bizarre guy. I don’t think I would have stayed as long as I have if it weren’t for him.”
    He was about to ask how special when the door opened and Fritz Springer sauntered in. “Anybody home?” he called out.
    “Over here,” Lucas said. So, now the second big brother was making his rounds and checking up on the little sister. Earlier, Thomas had phoned him with some silly questions regarding the paperwork he was finalizing for the real estate transaction. It was an excuse, Lucas darned well knew, to learn whether Elise was comfortable with his presence at the house. If there was one thing he knew about the Springer brothers, it was they had a deep sense of loyalty to each other and an overprotective nature where their little sister was concerned.
    Crossing the room, Fritz grabbed the back of his Elise’s neck and shook her gently. “Hey, good-looking, who are you trying to schmooze in those funeral director’s duds?”
    “Morrison.”
    Lucas shot off the chair like a cork from a champagne bottle. “Morrison? Why that idiot? You didn’t say you were talking with Jack Morrison.”
    Elise’s pizza stopped midway to her mouth.
    “Lucas, enough,” Fritz said sharply turning to him. There was no denying his anger. “Just because Dad and you have a total dislike for the man, doesn’t mean we all have to share your views. He was only doing his job. Some of us have to do business in this town, as you’ll soon find out.”
    The two men exchanged murderous looks.
    “No, but if the swine has his life insurance with your company, I hope to God someone gets to collect. Sooner rather than later wouldn’t bother me either.”
    Fritz snorted. “Glad to see you don’t hold any grudges.” Setting aside his differences with the natural ease of a sales person, he asked in a calmer tone, “Got anything to drink that wasn’t here when this place was built?”
    “There’s some Coke and Dew in the refrigerator in the showroom. I just bought it. Get me a can, too.” Lucas looked at Elise. “What’ll you have?”
    “Just a sip of Fritz’s,” she said and swiveled toward the showroom. She watched Fritz disappear and turned back to Lucas. “All right, give up the goods. What’s the problem with Morrison?”
    Lucas ran a hand through his unruly hair. “When Mike was killed, your Dad initially appealed to Morrison to try to keep Todd here, instead of sending him back to New Castle. When he got no results, he went over his head. He later found out Morrison had recommended Todd be returned, even though he denied it.”
    “Why would he do that?”
    “I don’t know.” Lucas shrugged.
    Fritz had strolled back, handing a can of Coke to Lucas and popping the top of his can. He had obviously overheard their conversation. He grinned. “Probably because he still remembers how Lucas used to beat the pants off him in sandlot baseball. Or was it the time you two tangled at the field over a call and Jack ended up on the ground eating dirt?”
    “So what?” Elise pursed her lips. “I still get angry when I think how Mary Jo beat me out as homecoming queen.”
    “Mary Jo was your best friend,” Fritz said.
    “I know, but I still hated to lose.”
    Fritz laid a hand on her shoulder. “Give it up, Liz, you didn’t have a chance in hell. You had beauty and brains. Mary Jo... Well, she had beauty and a body.” He whistled under his breath and made an hourglass figure with his hands. “There was no way in hell your classmates would vote for someone who took advanced calculus and could outrun the high school’s quarterback. If it’s any consolation, you’d beat Mary Jo out now with a hand tied behind your back.”
    “Is she married?” Lucas asked.
    “Yeah, to Ted Meyer. He’s a city cop now. Hey, I have to go. Insurance does not sell itself. How about I stop by tonight and whip something up for dinner?”
    Both Elise and Lucas grinned openly at each other. Elise gave two thumbs up and uttered gleefully, “Make it