Read Online Never More by Dana Marie Bell - Free Book Online Page A

faces behind his back. Apparently the big guy was a wee bit overprotective when it came to his siblings.
    Robin seemed amused by Matthew’s posturing. Amanda watched the two of them dance around each other, somehow convinced that, despite his size, Robin could wipe the floor with the big guy and not even break a sweat.
    “So.” The youngest Exton, Melissa, plopped gracelessly down on the sofa next to Amanda. “How do you know our sis?”
    Amanda blinked. “I didn’t, not at first. Ruby and I are BFFs. When I came to visit I didn’t realize Michaela was here and getting married.”
    Melissa tilted her head. She had the same dark hair and eyes as her sister, but where Michaela’s face was an interesting mix of planes and angles, Melissa’s had a soft roundness to it that made her adorable. Both women were on the short side of tiny, and both were curvy, but Melissa packed a little more bounce in her step than her big sister. “How did you wind up helping with the wedding party?”
    Amanda was still trying to understand that herself. “I’m not sure, honestly. Ruby volunteered me, since I’m a party planner back east. I just found myself saying yes, and here I am.”
    “Huh.” Melissa turned around and held a rubber band behind her. “Do me a favor? Braid me?”
    “Sure.” Amanda took the rubber band and began loosely braiding Melissa’s long, dark hair.
    “I love my hair, but I’m getting tired of it.” Melissa touched her hair, but because her back was to Amanda she couldn’t tell what Melissa was thinking.
    “Have you ever thought of highlights?”
    Melissa nodded so enthusiastically she practically ripped the braid out of Amanda’s hands. “Yeah. I want blue ones though.”
    Martin, the second oldest, shook his head. “You are not smurfing your hair, kiddo.”
    “Why not?” Melissa’s tone was weary, like she’d had this argument before.
    Martin cocked his hip and tilted his head. “Darling, you’d look much better in warm tones.”
    Amanda chuckled as she tied off the braid. “Your hair is thick and gorgeous. If you’re going to do a fun color, why not go for something like a deep burgundy, or like an amethyst color?”
    Melissa gagged. “Ugh. Purple .”
    Amanda tilted her head, studying Melissa’s skin tone. “You could do dark teal, then.”
    Melissa hummed. “That could work.”
    Amanda tugged on the bottom of Melissa’s braid. “You could do it just on the bottom half, or do a big highlight around your face.”
    She nodded slowly. “A nice, edgy haircut—”
    Michaela was there so quickly Amanda didn’t even see her move. “Cut your hair and die.” She sniffed. “I love your hair, Mellie.”
    “Bangs, crazy woman. Edgy bangs.” Melissa glanced toward Martin, who had dropped his pose and was quietly talking to Leo and Ruby. He had an odd, stunned expression on his face. “What’s up with Marty?”
    “I don’t know.” Michaela glanced toward her brother.
    “The last time I saw that look, he told us he’d seen fairies.”
    Amanda laughed. “Fairies?”
    Michaela had gone dead still, her eyes going right to Robin. “Yeah, fairies.” She laughed weakly and stood, heading for her fiancé. “I’ll be right back.”
    “Huh?” Amanda watched her go. “What’s up with her?”
    “I don’t know.” Melissa leaned in and whispered quietly, “She’s been acting odd since we got here.”
    “Odd how?” Amanda didn’t question why Melissa seemed comfortable talking to her. All of the Extons seemed extraordinarily trusting. They’d accepted Amanda and the Dunne family with ease, as if being Michaela’s friends automatically made them all family.
    Okay. Maybe not Matthew. He was still glaring daggers at Robin, who’d put his arms around Michaela while they whispered to each other.
    “It’s like she’s hiding something from us, and that’s not like her.” Melissa seemed worried. “Normally she tells us everything, but ever since she met her dream man she’s