For the Love of Pete Read Online Free PDF Page B

make any coffee."
    "Not a problem," he said, circling an arm around her shoulders and turning her in the direction of his truck. "Since I got such an early start, there's plenty of time for us to go into town and have breakfast together. I'll even treat."
    "I am not going into town with you," she said, sounding horrified by the suggestion.
    "Why not?"
    "Because I'm not. It's a terrible idea. What on earth is wrong with you?"
    Pete couldn't imagine why she found the idea so abhorrent. He concluded, though, that asking wasn't likely to get him a straight answer. "Then I'd say we're at an impasse," he said with a shrug. "Everyone knows it's vitally important to have coffee for the men on a job site. It's like an unwritten rule."
    Her scowl deepened, but she whirled around and headed for the house. "Fine. I'll make your damn coffee, but then I'm leaving."
    He beamed at her. "Works for me," he said.
    Inside, though, he opened the refrigerator and took out eggs, bacon and butter. "Might as well have breakfast while we're at it."
    Her color was definitely better this morning, but she still had that sad, haunted look in her eyes, and she was too damned thin. Whatever was bothering her had evi-
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    dently ruined her appetite. He was no gourmet chef, as he'd heard her sister Maggie was, but he could handle breakfast.
    "What makes you think I wasn't planning on meeting my sisters for breakfast in town?" she inquired testily.
    "For one thing, you didn't mention it," he said reasonably. He leveled a look straight into her eyes. "Were you?"
    Her gaze wavered before she finally sighed. "No."
    "Then have a seat. I'll whip something up in no time. We can catch up."
    "Pete, I don't want to catch up with you," she said with evident frustration. "I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to see you."
    He shook his head. "Is that anything to say to an old friend?"
    "You are not my friend."
    He met her gaze. "I was. I could be again."
    "I don't think so." Her anxious gaze settled on the cof-feemaker as if she could will it to brew the coffee faster. "As soon as this is ready, I'm out of here. In fact, since it pretty much does the work all on its own, I'll go now. Help yourself when it's ready. Enjoy your breakfast."
    When she reached for her coat, Pete put his hand on hers. She jerked away.
    "Stop it," she ordered fiercely. "I don't want you touching me."
    He winced at the evidence of her aversion. Okay, so he understood it, but that didn't mean it didn't cut right through him.
    "Jo, come on," he pleaded. "We obviously need to talk. We need to settle a few things."
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    She glowered at him. "We needed to talk seven years ago, but I didn't see you beating down the door to do it."
    Another direct hit, he thought wearily. She was getting good at it. "I was twenty years old and stupid. I should have talked to you, but you'd already left town."
    "And what? The phones didn't work?"
    "I was embarrassed and ashamed."
    She gave him a disbelieving look.
    "Okay, I was a coward," he admitted. "I came by and talked to your grandmother. That was hard enough. I didn't have the guts to face you. I figured she'd tell you everything. I convinced myself it would be easier for you to hear it from her."
    "Of course you did," Jo accused bitterly. "And believe me, it was so much easier having my grandmother be the one to share the news that was going to break my heart," she added in a voice rich with sarcasm. "She tried hard to be nonchalant. So did I, but we were both lousy at it."
    Pete winced at the image she'd painted. "I'm sorry," he said. "It was a rotten thing to do to you and to her."
    "Yes, it was," she said, not giving an inch. "Now if we've rehashed the past sufficiently, do you mind if I take off?"
    He made one last try to keep her there. "Sure you don't want to stay? I make a terrific omelet."
    "So do a lot of people. It's not that hard." She gave him a withering look. "I trust I won't find you here when I get back."
    His own