Read Online Tempting Fate (The Blake Boys Book 9) by Rhonda Laurel - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rhonda Laurel
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relief and fear battling for control of her body. She wanted him to know, yet she hated that he knew. It wasn’t fair not to tell him. When she looked in his eyes for a moment she could see…the future. For the first time in a long while, she wanted to go out on romantic dates with a handsome man that made her pulse quicken when he entered the room. She wanted to be what she saw when she looked into his eyes.
CHAPTER FIVE
Channing went straight to the bookstore when his plane landed and bought as many books as he could find. His mind was reeling. The idea of Cassidy shouldering her illness alone made him angry. For hours he read and absorbed it all, determined to be there for her as she continued her recovery. When he got home, he went straight to the guesthouse without stopping at his parents’ to let them know he’d returned. He planted himself on the couch and didn’t come up for air until he heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he said.
“C.J., I saw your light on—I hope I’m not intruding. You missed dinner so I thought I’d bring you a plate.” Teri-Lyn put the serving tray on the table. “How was the trip to DC?”
“I had a great time.” He ran a hand over his face.
Teri-Lyn picked up the book on the top of the stack at the edge of the table. Her eyes widened. “Surviving Cancer? What’s this?”
“I just found out my friend was treated for it. She went through the diagnosis and treatment alone.” He put the book down and closed his eyes.
When his mother wrapped her comforting arms around him, he felt safe, like a little kid again. He needed that hug. He needed her strength and wisdom to help him figure out a way to help Cassidy. Every instinct in him said to go back to DC, but he’d foolishly agreed not to baby her. But damn it, he wasn’t coddling, he was concerned about her.
“Is it your friend Cassidy?” she asked.
He nodded.
“I saw her picture on your cell phone. She’s very pretty.”
“And smart. She may be smarter than me.” He grinned.
“My sons do have healthy egos.” She laughed. “She’s the reason you went back to DC?”
There was no harm in telling his mother how he felt. “I care for her. No, that’s not true. It’s more than that.”
“But?”
“Emma showed up at that engagement party I attended last month and Cassidy got the wrong impression.”
“Did she?” Teri-Lyn frowned.
“That night at the hospital was the first time I’d seen Emma in months. She wanted to start up again, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that. She came to DC on her own volition to surprise me.”
“Well, you can see why Cassidy would be skeptical if you have women hopping states to hunt you down. There’s mixed signals everywhere.”
“Now Emma’s convinced we should be together, but it’s only because I stopped chasing her.”
“I don’t know what it is about you boys that allows you to get sucked in by that Winterbourne charm. If only you’d start thinking with the right head.”
“Mama!” Heat rose to his cheeks, and he knew he was blushing.
“Now, you need to eat something if you’re going to be up all night reading.” Teri-Lyn removed the cover from the plate. “I made chicken pot pie. I’m going to pop it in the oven for a few minutes.”
“Thanks, Mama.” He kissed her on top of her head.
“Anything for my baby.” She picked up one of the books. “Do you mind if I borrow this one?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll get some silverware. I’m not leaving until I watch you eat every bite.”
* * *
Channing happily volunteered to take Morgan’s visiting niece Avery on a campus tour of a prospective college. The whole family hoped that if she didn’t attend school in Pennsylvania, she would find one that suited her in Texas. The ranch was certainly livelier with a teenager around. He’d always wanted a little sister, and he found Avery’s teenage chatter refreshing. After a big breakfast with Teri-Lyn and John
CHAPTER FIVE
Channing went straight to the bookstore when his plane landed and bought as many books as he could find. His mind was reeling. The idea of Cassidy shouldering her illness alone made him angry. For hours he read and absorbed it all, determined to be there for her as she continued her recovery. When he got home, he went straight to the guesthouse without stopping at his parents’ to let them know he’d returned. He planted himself on the couch and didn’t come up for air until he heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he said.
“C.J., I saw your light on—I hope I’m not intruding. You missed dinner so I thought I’d bring you a plate.” Teri-Lyn put the serving tray on the table. “How was the trip to DC?”
“I had a great time.” He ran a hand over his face.
Teri-Lyn picked up the book on the top of the stack at the edge of the table. Her eyes widened. “Surviving Cancer? What’s this?”
“I just found out my friend was treated for it. She went through the diagnosis and treatment alone.” He put the book down and closed his eyes.
When his mother wrapped her comforting arms around him, he felt safe, like a little kid again. He needed that hug. He needed her strength and wisdom to help him figure out a way to help Cassidy. Every instinct in him said to go back to DC, but he’d foolishly agreed not to baby her. But damn it, he wasn’t coddling, he was concerned about her.
“Is it your friend Cassidy?” she asked.
He nodded.
“I saw her picture on your cell phone. She’s very pretty.”
“And smart. She may be smarter than me.” He grinned.
“My sons do have healthy egos.” She laughed. “She’s the reason you went back to DC?”
There was no harm in telling his mother how he felt. “I care for her. No, that’s not true. It’s more than that.”
“But?”
“Emma showed up at that engagement party I attended last month and Cassidy got the wrong impression.”
“Did she?” Teri-Lyn frowned.
“That night at the hospital was the first time I’d seen Emma in months. She wanted to start up again, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that. She came to DC on her own volition to surprise me.”
“Well, you can see why Cassidy would be skeptical if you have women hopping states to hunt you down. There’s mixed signals everywhere.”
“Now Emma’s convinced we should be together, but it’s only because I stopped chasing her.”
“I don’t know what it is about you boys that allows you to get sucked in by that Winterbourne charm. If only you’d start thinking with the right head.”
“Mama!” Heat rose to his cheeks, and he knew he was blushing.
“Now, you need to eat something if you’re going to be up all night reading.” Teri-Lyn removed the cover from the plate. “I made chicken pot pie. I’m going to pop it in the oven for a few minutes.”
“Thanks, Mama.” He kissed her on top of her head.
“Anything for my baby.” She picked up one of the books. “Do you mind if I borrow this one?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll get some silverware. I’m not leaving until I watch you eat every bite.”
* * *
Channing happily volunteered to take Morgan’s visiting niece Avery on a campus tour of a prospective college. The whole family hoped that if she didn’t attend school in Pennsylvania, she would find one that suited her in Texas. The ranch was certainly livelier with a teenager around. He’d always wanted a little sister, and he found Avery’s teenage chatter refreshing. After a big breakfast with Teri-Lyn and John
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