Read Online Undeniable (A Country Roads Novel) by Shannon Richard - Free Book Online Page B

pushiest person I’ve ever met.” She took the tray of cheese and fruit to the refrigerator.
    “I think you two tie for that.”
    Grace spun around as she shut the refrigerator door, the cool air blowing around her in a gust, to find Paige standing in the kitchen doorway. Her arms were folded on top of her belly and she was looking straight at Grace.
    “No, I’m not,” Grace said, her voice going up an octave.
    “If I remember correctly you did a couple of things to push Paige and me together,” Brendan said as he leaned back against the wall. He pulled his sunglasses off and hooked one of the stems in the front of his shirt.
    “I was just trying to help out.”
    “Mmm hmm,” Paige hummed, raising her eyebrows.
    “Well, that’s what your caring, loving brother is trying to do. Tell me what happened, Grace,” Brendan said seriously.
    “Jax came over to the café this morning to talk and we might’ve kissed.”
    “Might’ve?” Brendan asked.
    “We kissed. And then he said it was a mistake.”
     “He said what ?”
    “I know, unbelievable, isn’t it?” Paige said, shaking her head. “You should go set him straight.”
    “Oh, by the time I’m done with Jax, he’s going to be a little bent up,” he said, making his way to the door.
    “Stop it, Brendan,” Grace said, stepping in front of him and pushing his shoulders back.
    Grace was much smaller than her brother. Brendan wasn’t a full foot taller than her like Jax was, but he made up for those inches Jax had on him with about thirty extra pounds of muscle.
    “All I’m going to do is tell him to stop wearing his ass as a hat.”
    “Actually you’re not, because this doesn’t concern you.”
    “ Everything about you concerns me, Grace,” he said as his eyebrows bunched together. He looked at her with so much concern it made her heart squeeze painfully.
    “Not this,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t need you to get involved with this.”
    “Grace—”
    “No,” she said, cutting him off firmly. “It’s done. Over. We’re not talking about it anymore.”
    “Sweetie,” Paige said, shaking her head, “you know that isn’t true. Everyone knows about this because of Bethelda.”
    “No, they just think they know about it. I’m sure Jax has kept quiet. So as far as you two are concerned,” Grace said, looking between her brother and Paige, “you know nothing. Got it?”
    “Grace—”
    “Got it, Brendan? Nothing.”
    “He’s an idiot,” Brendan said, grabbing Grace and pulling her into his arms. Grace pressed her face into her brother’s chest as he wrapped his arms around her. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “The word mistake should never be said in reference to anything that involves you,” he said softly. “Do you understand that?”
    Grace closed her eyes and nodded. She didn’t want to say anything for fear of losing the last bit of composure she had. Brendan’s arms loosened from around her and he looked down at her as he took a step back. He held on to her arms and studied her face for a second before he nodded. It was a small gesture, but just enough for Grace to know that he was going to do what she asked.
    *  *  *
    Jax was starving. His stomach had been rumbling for most of the day. Apparently the two protein bars and cup of coffee he bought at the Gas-N-Go that morning weren’t enough to hold him over. Nor was the wilted and slightly soggy tuna salad sandwich he’d eaten for lunch. His stomach had been pretty annoyed with what he’d tried to give it, having had the best food could provide the day before. But he wasn’t going to be having any food from Café Lula or any King women for a little while. And with that thought his stomach started to roar, both in hunger and anger.
    Jax was a moron all right, and for so many reasons. But that wasn’t going to get fixed anytime soon, so he decided to deal with the problem at hand, or at stomach. The prospect of going back to his house