Read Online When Love Happens by Darcy Burke - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Darcy Burke
Ads: Link
Sara. They worried our relationship would negatively impact the renovation project if we broke up.” He cracked a smile. “Good thing wedidn’t.”
Sean gave a single nod. “Hmm.”
“I’d say Kyle and Maggie’s relationship was a bigger bombshell. The family was predisposed to dislike her because she’d been Alex’s therapist. And, well, one could argue that she ought to have recognized the depth of his depression and seen the signs that he was contemplating suicide. But she didn’t, and to be honest, it kind of fucked her up for a while.She and Kyle are really good for each other. It might sound strange, but I think they believe Alex brought them together.”
“That’s really nice,” Sean said. Damn, but this family had certainly endured its share of drama this year. “How do you navigate all these people? Or do you come from a large family too?”
“Sort of, but I’m actually kind of a loner. Or at least I was . My parents were divorcedand had new families, so I was the odd kid out. Settling in with the Archers has been quite an adjustment for me.”
“I can imagine. I’m an only child. And what family I do have is on the other side of the world in England.” He had a few cousins but nothing that came close to the Archer family.
Dylan chuckled. “Total culture shock for you then. Especially with the introduction you’ve had.” Heleaned forward and clapped Sean on the shoulder. “You have my condolences.”
“Thanks, but who knows if I’ll need them. I may be on my way out.”
Dylan dropped his hand to his side. “Is that what you want?”
“I’m not sure it matters what I want.”
Dylan’s answering nod carried a hint of pity. “Come on, I’ll show you what we did here.”
It didn’t matter what he wanted? God, how that pissed him off.Like he was absolutely unimportant. Mistake or not, this marriage was between two people, and if one of them wanted to fight for it . . . But did he? He would’ve said no two days ago, but now, after being with Tori again, he wasn’t sure. Yes, she was different, but he saw little flashes of the woman he’d fallen for. If there was any chance that woman was still in her, he’d be a fool to let herget away.
But he couldn’t force her, and right now she demonstrated zero interest. He shook himself as he followed Dylan into the large commercial kitchen. He hadn’t come here to rekindle his marriage. He’d come here to contract a television show that he desperately needed. Schmoozing Tori had been a necessity—one that had failed miserably. It was time to move on to plan B and find another wayto make the show happen. That meant getting other Archers on board, and he’d do whatever it took.
T ORI SWALLOWED AS she looked at her sister. Shock mingled with hurt in Sara’s eyes. Tori heard the exterior door of the sanctuary swing shut and knew they were alone.
“Well, this explains a lot,” Sara said.
Tori hadn’t expected that reaction. “It does?”
“Your odd behavior, particularly how youwere at Derek and Chloe’s wedding. It’s like you can’t stand being around the rest of us because we’re couples.”
Yikes. Had she been that transparent? “It’s not that. I just . . . ” She didn’t know how to explain how she felt, because she wasn’t sure. Yeah, she supposed it had been hard to be around everyone, them being in love and all, but it was more than that. It was the sense of happinessafter Alex. She wasn’t sure she could indulge that emotion. Not yet. And she didn’t want to broach that with Sara. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“I think you’re sorry I found out,” Sara said softly. “Why did you keep it a secret?”
Tori crossed her arms over her chest. “Why did you keep Dylan a secret?”
Sara’s brows pitched together, and ire joined the emotion in her gaze. “Really? You’re goingto try to deflect? You know why I kept my relationship with Dylan a secret at first. But I also wasn’t married to
Sean gave a single nod. “Hmm.”
“I’d say Kyle and Maggie’s relationship was a bigger bombshell. The family was predisposed to dislike her because she’d been Alex’s therapist. And, well, one could argue that she ought to have recognized the depth of his depression and seen the signs that he was contemplating suicide. But she didn’t, and to be honest, it kind of fucked her up for a while.She and Kyle are really good for each other. It might sound strange, but I think they believe Alex brought them together.”
“That’s really nice,” Sean said. Damn, but this family had certainly endured its share of drama this year. “How do you navigate all these people? Or do you come from a large family too?”
“Sort of, but I’m actually kind of a loner. Or at least I was . My parents were divorcedand had new families, so I was the odd kid out. Settling in with the Archers has been quite an adjustment for me.”
“I can imagine. I’m an only child. And what family I do have is on the other side of the world in England.” He had a few cousins but nothing that came close to the Archer family.
Dylan chuckled. “Total culture shock for you then. Especially with the introduction you’ve had.” Heleaned forward and clapped Sean on the shoulder. “You have my condolences.”
“Thanks, but who knows if I’ll need them. I may be on my way out.”
Dylan dropped his hand to his side. “Is that what you want?”
“I’m not sure it matters what I want.”
Dylan’s answering nod carried a hint of pity. “Come on, I’ll show you what we did here.”
It didn’t matter what he wanted? God, how that pissed him off.Like he was absolutely unimportant. Mistake or not, this marriage was between two people, and if one of them wanted to fight for it . . . But did he? He would’ve said no two days ago, but now, after being with Tori again, he wasn’t sure. Yes, she was different, but he saw little flashes of the woman he’d fallen for. If there was any chance that woman was still in her, he’d be a fool to let herget away.
But he couldn’t force her, and right now she demonstrated zero interest. He shook himself as he followed Dylan into the large commercial kitchen. He hadn’t come here to rekindle his marriage. He’d come here to contract a television show that he desperately needed. Schmoozing Tori had been a necessity—one that had failed miserably. It was time to move on to plan B and find another wayto make the show happen. That meant getting other Archers on board, and he’d do whatever it took.
T ORI SWALLOWED AS she looked at her sister. Shock mingled with hurt in Sara’s eyes. Tori heard the exterior door of the sanctuary swing shut and knew they were alone.
“Well, this explains a lot,” Sara said.
Tori hadn’t expected that reaction. “It does?”
“Your odd behavior, particularly how youwere at Derek and Chloe’s wedding. It’s like you can’t stand being around the rest of us because we’re couples.”
Yikes. Had she been that transparent? “It’s not that. I just . . . ” She didn’t know how to explain how she felt, because she wasn’t sure. Yeah, she supposed it had been hard to be around everyone, them being in love and all, but it was more than that. It was the sense of happinessafter Alex. She wasn’t sure she could indulge that emotion. Not yet. And she didn’t want to broach that with Sara. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“I think you’re sorry I found out,” Sara said softly. “Why did you keep it a secret?”
Tori crossed her arms over her chest. “Why did you keep Dylan a secret?”
Sara’s brows pitched together, and ire joined the emotion in her gaze. “Really? You’re goingto try to deflect? You know why I kept my relationship with Dylan a secret at first. But I also wasn’t married to
Similar Books
