Riverstar (3) Read Online Free PDF

Bella’s.”
    “Like movie friends?” asked Alder, smacking his hand against his forehead. “Please say it’s who I think it is.”
    “Genevieve and, yes, Stefan Spencer.”
    “No way. Stefan Spencer is coming to our house. He’s only the coolest cat on the planet.” He looked over at Drake. “Dad, he’s the one in that badass motorcycle movie we watched the other night.”
    “I know who he is,” said Drake drily. “And that movie was God awful, not badass.”
    Alder threw up his arms, a look of utter amazement on his face. “Sometimes I don’t even know who you are.”
    Drake chuckled and pointed at the door. “Get your homework done and then you can tell him how much you liked his movie.”
    After Alder left, Drake put his arm around Annie. “You feeling any better?”
    She rested her head against his shoulder. “I threw up again after you left but I had an apple with peanut butter and that’s staying down. For the moment, anyway.”
    Ben looked over at Annie with a concerned look on his face. “Have you had the flu?”
    She shook her head. “More of the nine-month variety.”
    His face went from concern to delight. “What? Really?” He jumped from the stool and went to where they stood on the other side of the counter. “You guys, that’s awesome.” He shook Drake’s hand and hugged Annie. But when he turned back toward Bella she saw the sting of envy pass over his handsome features. He wanted a family of his own. They’d talked of it that night, holding hands under the covers. “I want nothing more than to share my life with a woman I love and have a few children. I’m a simple guy, Bella, with simple dreams.”
    “Me too,” she’d whispered into the dark.
    Now, Drake motioned toward the back of the house. “Sweetheart, I want you to take a nap before tonight.”
    “My husband’s so bossy,” said Annie to Ben.
    “Don’t I know it,” said Bella.
    She expected Annie to protest about the nap but instead she nodded, following Drake out of the kitchen with a guilty glance back in their direction. “See you all later.”
    She was alone with Ben. Great. Now what?
    “You’re teaching him blackjack and poker?” It came out sounding like an accusation.
    He raised one eyebrow, looking at her. “You have a problem with that?”
    No. I don’t. I think it’s the coolest thing ever. And so are you.
    She shrugged, pushing her popcorn bowl away. “What do you care what I think?”
    His eyes skirted sideways. “I didn’t mean to imply I did.”
    “Fine.”
    “Fine.”
    Her cheeks flamed. There was the blasted lump at the back of her throat again. “I’m his aunt now. I take that very seriously. Regardless of what you think of me.”
    “Bella.” He said it quietly, almost under his breath.
    She stared at the counter, fighting tears. “What? You have a few more digs? I’m too irresponsible to be a good aunt? I’m just a bitter single woman with no hope of having a child of my own and isn’t that a blessing in disguise? Why don’t you bring up Graham again? Anyone who had an affair with a married man doesn’t get to have an opinion about what her nephew should or shouldn’t do? Or how about telling me I’m just a stupid, frivolous makeup artist too chicken to do anything important with my life. Those are good ones.”
    He put up his hands. “Bella. Stop. I would never say those things to you. You’ve got me confused with someone else.”
    “Do I now? Aren’t I just a heartbreak waiting to happen? Isn’t that what you said?” The tears slid from her eyes onto her hot cheeks. She jumped from the stool, her foot catching in the bottom rung and causing her to lurch forward.
    He stood, catching her in his arms. “Stop, just stop.” He brought her close, leaning down, his mouth capturing hers, kissing her hard, pressing into her, tugging at her bottom lip with his own, his tongue flicking like a teasing flame. It took her breath away, this kiss that went on and on so the world