Read Online Red Red Rose by Stephanie Hoffman McManus - Free Book Online Page B

from stress, and
any decent man would know how to relieve that stress. Also, your friend told me
you were single the other day. Remember?”
     “Well,
I think after the last one, I’ll swear off men for a while.”
    “That
bad, huh?”
    “You
could say that–” I was about to fill him in on my humiliation at walking in on
Nathan, pants around his ankles, in the act right in the middle of his living
room, when the door to the shop was pushed open and another familiar face
walked in. My face broke out in a smile when his eyes landed on me.
    “Hey
beautiful,” he greeted affectionately, walking toward us. I rounded the counter
and cut him off, wrapping my arms around his middle.
    “James.
It’s good to have you home.” His smile lasted only a second longer before it
faded as we were both reminded of the reason he was back. I pulled away and
turned to introduce him to Shaw, but he wasn’t where I left him. I caught his
back just as he slipped out the door. There was a ten dollar bill on the
counter. I frowned, but then brushed aside his hasty exit.
    “Can
I get you something? A hot coffee? Hot chocolate? Hot tea?”
    A
soft chuckle fell from his lips. “A plain cup of coffee is fine.” It had to be
a tough guy thing, but maybe there was something to be said for a plain cup of
coffee. James was almost as easy on the eyes as Shaw, though slightly leaner
and fair haired like Em. For a brief moment in time after Em introduced us, I
had a little crush on him. And by little I meant huge, but then Em squashed my
dreams of making us sisters. James was as committed to his military career as
her father had been. While she and I both held immense respect for that
commitment, we also knew it wasn’t the life for me, and she knew her brother
well enough to know that he wasn’t anywhere near being ready to settle down.
According to her, his flings never lasted longer than his leave.
    “Reggie,
this is Em’s brother, James. Can you get him a large black coffee on the house?”
    “Sure
thing. Nice to meet you,” he gave James one of those guy chin lift things
before getting his coffee. James answered with his own, and then faced me
again.
    “You
don’t have to do that Nora. I can pay for my coffee.”
    “Not
here. Em’s family, which makes you family. You’re money is no good here.” Once
Reggie brought James his coffee, I made sure he could handle the counter and I
led James over to one of the small couches against the wall.
    He
commented on how happy he was that it looked like business was going well, but then
shifted the conversation to his sister. Even though his parents had been giving
him regular updates, he wanted to hear everything from me, mostly about the
guys she saw. It wasn’t a conversation any guy wanted to have about his sister
and it certainly wasn’t one I wanted to have about my best friend to her big
brother, but I told him as much as I could, ending with last night and the
maybe prowler snooping around the house.
    That
didn’t sit well with him. He insisted on going to collect his things from his
parents’ and moving into Em’s room temporarily. My objections that he should be
with his mom and dad were dismissed. He argued that they would take his side on
this, which was true because they were the ones who raised him to watch out for
his little sister, and as her best friend, big brother protection extended to
me.
    Once
it was settled that I would have a house guest, he finished his coffee and took
off. I gave him my spare key and informed him I wouldn’t be home until after
eight, but he could let himself in. On his way out, he passed Will and Cassie
on their way in.
    “Damn,
where do you find these superhero looking sex mandroids?” Reggie grumbled once
James was out of the shop.
    I
laughed.
    “What
sex mandroids?” Cassie asked enthusiastically as she and Will approached the
counter.
    “Did
you see the one who just walked out?” Reggie asked her.
    “Mmhmm,”
Cassie grinned and I