Read Online The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson - Free Book Online Page A

refrigerator door, staring hard at the empty shelves. Two bachelors true to the stereotype. They didn’t shop for more than the bare essentials. And they certainly didn’t cook. So they didn’t eat well.
    He grabbed a carton of yogurt out of the door, pulled a plastic utensil from the spoon drawer, and beat the yogurt into submission before shoveling it into his mouth. It disappeared sooner than he was ready to make his trek down the stairs, but the longer he waited, the more time Marie had to fester in her anger. If Reece had taught him anything, it was that a woman could make a mosquito of a grudge into a mammoth if left to her own devices.
    Hoping something had magically appeared in the three seconds it took to finish off his snack, he peered back into the fridge. Still empty except for one more yogurt.
    Maybe Marie was hungry too.
    It never hurt to take a peace offering.
    He thumped down the stairwell and stopped at the four-paneled white door at the bottom. The last time he’d knocked on a woman’s door, her apartment had been as empty as his bank account.
    But Marie wasn’t Reece. And he had to get close to her for Jack’s sake. No matter what it cost him, he’d make sure it didn’t cost Jack everything.
    He rapped his knuckle on the door twice and waited.
    Nothing.
    Hope curled his toes. Maybe she’d decided to leave.
    He knocked with his whole fist just to make sure.
    â€œWho is it?”
    His hopes fell at her clear voice, and he leaned a shoulder into the door frame. “Seth.”
    â€œPlease, go away.” She clipped her words despite the soft volume.
    â€œI thought you might be hungry. I brought you something to eat.”
    When she opened the door, her dark hair was pleasantly disheveled, a gentle wave sticking out above her ear. But the bags under her eyes weren’t as sweet.
    Probably for the best.
    Thinking of her as a pretty woman was bound to throw him off his mission.
    Hugging the door between them, she chewed on her lip as she eyed the carton in his hand. He held it out to her, and she whipped it open like she hadn’t eaten in a month, filling her mouth with giant spoonfuls of the pink yogurt. For a wisp of a thing she could sure put it away.
    Her spoon scraped the sides and bottom, and after one final lick, she handed back the container and spoon. “Thank you.”
    The door was nearly shut before he pressed a flat hand against it. “Hey, wait.”
    Her eyes glowed in the afternoon sunlight from the windows at the top of the stairs. Long lashes framed their innocence as she asked a question without speaking.
    â€œListen, I’m sorry about what I said earlier. Jack is really interested in the quilts, and his is the opinion that counts here.”
    She blinked twice as her brows furrowed. Uncertainty splashed across her face. “All right.”
    He’d apologized and the best she could give him was “All right”?
    She moved to close the door again, but this time he gave it a solid push, and she scurried into the depths of the room, putting the corner of the bed between them. Eyes wide and wary, she drew tight fists to her stomach like she was planning to slug him.
    He might deserve it, but he’d bet money she didn’t have the gumption.
    One of her fists cocked under her chin as he took another step in.
    Maybe he was wrong.
    He shuffled back to the door, holding up his empty hand in submission. One after the other, her hands dropped to her sides, still curled tightly.
    â€œJack wants us to get started picking out antiques and stuff like you said.”
    She glanced around the room like she was looking forsomeone else to join them. When she came up empty, she said, “I’ll just stay here.”
    â€œCome on. Jack is running errands, and if he comes back and we haven’t been to the antique store . . .”
    â€œWhat? What will he do?”
    Seth tapped the empty carton in his hand with