Read Online Opposites Distract by Judi Lynn - Free Book Online Page B

probably have to cross her legs to finish reading a chapter. When she walked out of the bathroom, she was surprised to see Brody with them.

Chapter 9
    B rody gave her a wary glance. “The kids came for me, and Ian wanted to go home to check on Tessa, so I tagged along. Can I stay, too?”
    He sounded like a kid. That made it easier for her to say yes.
    Bailey had a firm grip on his hand. She didn’t intend to let go. Harmony smiled. Brody had been whipped by a five-year-old, and who could blame him?
    Harmony shrugged and headed to the easy chair in the corner. “Just bring your library manners.”
    She shook her head. Where had that come from? A blast from the past. When she was little, she walked eight blocks to the library every Saturday morning to hear one of the librarians read to kids. Then she’d check out the three-book limit she was allowed to take home and read during the week. She’d done that for months until her brother made fun of her for being a book nerd. That wouldn’t have stopped her, but when he grabbed the top book on her pile and ripped the pages out of it, she knew she was beat. Her parents paid for the book, but told her no more .
    â€œYour brother’s embarrassed with all of your reading. Give it a rest.”
    It had pissed her off, but she was ten. If she’d had magical powers like Serifina, she’d have turned them all into toads. But she didn’t. So she started watching Saturday morning cartoons instead.
    She looked up to see Brody studying her. “A penny for your thoughts.”
    She shrugged. “Made me think of the librarian who read to us every Saturday when I was a kid.”
    His look said he knew there was more, but he didn’t push it. Instead, he settled in the chair beside hers and lifted Bailey onto his lap. Aiden, as usual, flopped on the unmade bed. Harmony grimaced. ‘I’d have made it if I’d known you were coming.”
    Brody gave it a glance. “Why?”
    â€œYou like things neat.”
    â€œThen I should make the bed.” He leaned back and got comfortable.
    Harmony decided it was safer to start reading the book.
    Aiden couldn’t stand it when she reached the part where Harry had to promise to stay in his room and not make a noise for the third time. “Why are they so mean to him?” he demanded.
    â€œDid they want Harry?” Harmony asked.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDo they like magic?”
    â€œNo, but that’s silly!” Aiden cried.
    â€œWhy do you think they hate magic so much?”
    They debated that for a few minutes, and Harmony loved how quick Aiden jumped from one idea to the next. He thought about cause and effect, motivation, and emotions. Then she glanced at the clock. “We’d better read some more.”
    When she reached the place where Harry looked at the hedge and green eyes stared back at him, Aiden could hardly stand it. “Who’s hiding in there?”
    Harmony shrugged. “I haven’t read any further than you have.” True enough, but she and Brody had watched the movie. Shame on them.
    At the end of the chapter, Aiden begged her to read a few more pages. “You can’t stop there!” he cried. “We have to know who’s sitting on Harry’s bed.”
    She looked at the clock. “We have fifteen more minutes . . .”
    â€œGo for it,” Brody said.
    She looked at him, surprised.
    â€œInquiring minds.” He smiled.
    She started the next chapter.
    Aiden squirmed with excitement when they met Dobby. He wiggled in fear when Dobby kept making noise in Harry’s room. “He’s going to get Harry in trouble.”
    â€œYup, looks that way,” Harmony said. At five thirty, she quit reading. “That’s it for the day, kiddos. Scram.”
    Aiden hesitated. “Did you ever want to write stories for kids?”
    â€œHell, no.” She pinched her lips together. Where were her manners?