Read Online The One That I Want by Marilyn Brant - Free Book Online Page A

laughed.
    Her oldest brother Derek strode into the room, grilling utensils in hand. “The dogs-n-brats are ready on the patio.” Then, turning to Shar, “Behave yourself, Sis. We want these two to come to other family holidays, you know.” He leaned in and pecked Nia on the cheek. “Happy Fourth, sweetie. Don’t listen to my sister. I got stories about her that I’ll tell ya later.”
    “Hey!” Shar said, fist on her hip.
    I found myself giggling at this scene like a teenager, charmed by the warmth and fun of the Michaelsen clan. My friends didn’t know how lucky they were to still be able to have family gatherings like this, and to enjoy the company of one another so much when they did. Not everyone had that gift in their lives.
    But I appreciated the way they extended their hospitality to include Analise and me, even if tonight’s memories would only serve as a reminder tomorrow of how alone we were at other times.
    Out in the backyard, I handed a plate to my daughter, who piled it with food and was then quickly whisked away by James to a private “fort” he’d set up using old lawn chairs and ratty blankets he’d unearthed from their garage.
    “Looks…interesting,” I overheard my daughter say.
    Analise sent me a backward glance as James tugged her along, but it was only a half worried look. The other half was pure curiosity.
    I gave her a smile that I hoped would convey, “I’ll be right here,” and I pointed to the patio with my index finger.
    She nodded and let herself get dragged away.
    I exhaled in relief. I knew she was having fun in spite of herself. The young Michaelsens—much like their parents, their uncles, and their crazy aunt—had a way of getting a person’s mind off any other concerns when in their presence.
    Chance wandered over to me and motioned toward my plate and the square of Greek dessert I’d slid onto it already.
    “The galaktoboureko is one of my favorites,” he confided. “But don’t tell that to my personal training clients at the gym. I’ve been warding them off of sugar.”
    I laughed. “Some sweets are fine in moderation, though, right?”
    He raised a light-brown eyebrow, dubious.
    “No?” I asked.
    “Let’s just say that a number of my clients are unfamiliar with the correct definition of ‘moderate.’”
    I laughed at that, too. “They’re so fortunate to have you guiding them, Chance.”
    He inclined his head in thanks, but I meant the compliment sincerely. The guy came across as a bit firm and unyielding at first meeting, and he wasn’t one for a lot of idle chatter, but there were very few people who were as softhearted and thoughtful deep down as he was.
    After Adam’s accident, and even though Chance only knew me as his sister’s friend, he made a point to quietly check in on me whenever he saw me in downtown Mirabelle Harbor. Twice he scraped the ice and snow off my car when it was parked outside of the coffee shop—he didn’t even know I’d seen him do it. And if he ever spotted me carrying anything heavier than one small bag of groceries, he’d insist on reducing my load by lugging the rest to wherever I was heading.
    “I’ve got it,” I’d tell him. Or, “You don’t have to lift that. I can carry it.”
    Mostly, he’d just ignore me and do it anyway. Other times, he’d grin and say, “Look, Julia, it’s my job to keep my muscles toned. You’re the one helping me out here.” And that would be the end of that.
    Tonight, as we enjoyed the mid-summer sunshine and the array of delectable party foods, I watched Chance devour a piece of Nia’s custard pastry, but he was looking at her as if she were the dessert for the evening. As if he’d rather devour her than any dish on the planet, no matter how scrumptious.
    And when he was going back for seconds and exchanging a few words with Derek, I caught Nia gazing at him in much the same way. Whatever the differences that had initially kept them apart faded into nothingness in the heat