Read Online Town Square, The by Ava Miles - Free Book Online Page B

his mistakes. It was unjust. “Why don’t you stay here?” he heard himself say. “You already have a house. Give yourself some time to figure out a long–term plan.”
    She laid her palms flat on the table and then patted it, like she was trying to play the piano, searching for the right notes. “You surprise me. Just a few days ago, I tried to ruin your reputation in your hometown.”
    Like he could forget. The memory of her in that black slip kept running through his mind. “And yourself. Since you brought it up, would you really have gone through with it?”
    Her hands flexed, and she lowered her eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m more like my father than I thought.” Her scoff didn’t quite come off. It was more like a soft sob.
    He took her hand when she patted the table again. “Maybe it will help you forgive him.”
    “Forgive him?” she said, her voice breaking. “He killed seven babies and lied about it.”
    When she tried to yank her hand free, he held firm. “He didn’t intentionally kill those babies, and while that doesn’t bring them back, it does make a difference. I won’t excuse his lies about the faulty batch of formula, but I’m a bit more cynical after living in New York. The lies change as often as the headlines out there.”
    “Whereas the people out here are pretty much what you see is what you get.”
    “Yes,” he responded. “Another reason I’m glad to be home.”
    Her fingers pressed against her temples like she had a headache. “I should go find Maybelline and get out of your way. We’ve encroached for too long as it is.” She stood, leaving her coffee untouched. “Thank you for letting me go through…”
    “You’re welcome.” My God, how could she drag out pleasantries when her whole world had been destroyed? “If you want to keep working for me until you figure out your next steps, you’re welcome to do so.” He still needed a secretary, right?
    Her mouth parted in shock.
    “It might keep the talk down,” he reasoned. “People are already wondering what’s going on between us. Two days to fix a water leak after a late–night visit to your attic? Well, folks around here aren’t stupid, and we’re pushing the limit, even with your sister acting as chaperone.”
    “A water leak?” she asked. “I hadn’t realized you’d created…a cover story. Thank you, Arthur.”
    Well, he’d done it to protect himself, and maybe her a little, too. He didn’t like thinking about that. But if she thanked him one more time, looking like a white bed sheet, he was going to lose his temper.
    She wandered to the front of the house and went out the door without putting on her coat. Grinding his teeth, he grabbed her navy wool coat and rushed after her. The wind was brisk and had already loosened more strands of red hair from her bun. She was weaving in place like she was lost.
    “For God’s sake, get into the house where it’s warm. I’ll go find your sister.”
    Why her sister loved walking outside in the winter still baffled him, but he’d learned that the Wentworth sisters marched to the beat of their own drum.
    After depositing her inside, he grabbed his own coat and headed out to find her equally feckless sister.
    The Wentworth sisters were more trouble than they were worth. Hah. Terrible pun, he realized.
    And if he didn’t feel a little guilty—and dammit, still attracted to Harriet—he would have never suggested they stick around Dare Valley.
    They weren’t done complicating his life.

Chapter 9
    T he chik–chik–cha–chik–chik–chika–chik–cha–chik–Ding–ziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip of Arthur’s typewriter greeted Harriet when she arrived in the office the next morning. As usual, he’d started working before she arrived. People had commented that he was still keeping city hours, but deep down she knew he was a man who liked his work.
    Like her father had.
    The very thought made her unbearably sad and angry, so she firmed her shoulders and walked