A Simple Twist of Fate Read Online Free PDF

to get his hands on you.”
    The sense of winning the argument evaporated before Sophie could take a mental victory lap. She was too stuck on Leah’s throwaway comment. “Wait, what?”
    “You may be able to lie about who you are and what you’re really doing here, for now at least, but when it comes to Beck you’re transparent.”
    Sophie’s brain misfired. The comeback forming in her brain died on her lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    She knew how often she thought about Beck, but that didn’t mean she wanted anyone else to figure it out. Especially not Beck. She depended on him being clueless.
    “Join me the day after tomorrow . . . no, make it Friday, for lunch at my friend’s store,” Leah said in the ultimate conversation zigzag.
    Sophie shook her head, trying to figure out how they jumped topics. “Why?”
    “Because you strike me as someone who needs a friend.”
    Sophie tried to remember the last time she had a girls’ night out or sat around with other women and sipped wine and talked about something, anything. She’d been on this quest for her aunt for so long, starting in other towns and other residences, that real life took a backseat. Switching her priorities, if only for one meal, didn’t sound too horrible. In fact, it tempted her step out. “You’re volunteering for the role of friend?”
    “Do you know anyone else in town?”
    “Tom.”
    Leah made a face. “Who is that?”
    “My landlord.” And a friend, almost a mentor. He was older, wiser, and Sophie trusted him completely.
    Leah smiled. “Then I’m perfect. Besides that we share something in common.”
    Sophie wondered how many times Declan had gotten tripped up by that innocent look of Leah’s. “I’m afraid to ask.”
    “The Hanover boys.”
    Sophie exhaled on a loud sigh. “You’re wrong.”
    “I’m hearing lots of denial.” The chair screeched across the floor as Leah stood up. She dumped her mug in the sink and leaned over the counter to look out the window above.
    “I’m just trying to do my job,” Sophie said.
    “And I need to find Declan before he picks up a power tool and wipes out an innocent raccoon or something.”
    Sophie had to laugh at that because she could totally see it happening. “I’m thinking Beck is more likely to do that.”
    Leah spun around as she wiped her hands on her khaki shorts. “He’s handy. He just pretends not to be.”
    Sophie tried to remember if she’d ever seen Beck do hard labor at Shadow Hill. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same guy?”
    “Yeah, he hides it well. And on purpose.” Leah tapped her forehead. “I blame the big brain.”
    “It’s the mouth that drives me crazy.” That time Sophie felt the heat rush to her cheeks.
    “Interesting.”
    “I didn’t mean—”
    “You did.” Leah’s knowing look seemed to dare Sophie to deny it again. “Noon at Gossamer on Friday. That gives you more than two days to get your story straight.”
    “The art place in the center of town?”
    “My best friend, Mallory, owns it and it’s the perfect place for a girl lunch. You’ll love it and her.”
    Sophie debated taking the time away. She needed to be at the house and continue her search for the jewelry. “I really can’t.”
    The smile faded from Leah’s mouth. “Trust me, Sophie. These boys have a high tolerance for nonsense thanks to having loads of it shoveled on them by their idiot father, but they don’t like being lied to.”
    The words hit Sophie hard enough for a clunking sound to echo in her ears. She wondered if her heart and lungs had stopped working. “What does that have to do with lunch?”
    “I figure when whatever you’re doing blows up in your face you’ll need someone on your side to plead your case. I plan to be that person.”
    Sophie tried to block out the words, ignore them, but . . . “Why?”
    “Because I know what it’s like to have Hanover fever. And you, my soon-to-be friend, have a big-time