The Fall (ATCOM Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

over her shoulder at him from where she
stood in front of the stove, stirring something in a pot that smelled heavenly.
“Would you get the iced tea from the refrigerator, please, and fill our
glasses? Do you like tea?”
    Chest tight, he nodded.
    Mia smiled. “Thanks. Dinner will be ready soon.”
    Through lungs that wanted to seize, Brendan strode to
the fridge to do as asked. God help him, what had he done?

Chapter Five
    Mia stirred the chicken and wild rice soup, trying
to ignore the tingle of awareness that made every hair on her body stand up to
attention. What was it about Brendan that made her heart race in her chest?
She’d seen handsome, rugged men before. Dated a few, but never brought them
home. Before now, she’d never invited a man into their home. She refused to be
that kind of mother. Bringing home a different man each time she thought he was
the one. That would do nothing but traumatize and confuse her son. Something
she wouldn’t do. They had enough issues without her adding to them.
    This whole Brendan thing still had her spinning. It
had been so easy to say yes to him. Too easy. She’d been on her own since Jason
was six. Leaning on a man hadn’t been in the cards for her. Then or now. Ray
had been anything but a stellar husband. The fact he’d fooled her for as long
as he had still made her angry. Usually a good judge of character, she blamed
herself for not seeing him for what he was. He’d hid his criminal tendencies
from her exceptionally well.
    The signs were there; she’d refused to see them.
Or, didn’t want to believe the man who made love to her almost every night led
a double life. That mistake she would never make again. She’d never fall for a
man who craved danger again. Been there, done that. Not doing it again.
    Behind her she heard Brendan pouring tea into
glasses. Why was she so nervous about feeding him leftovers? The soup recipe had
been one of her mom’s. Even Jason had liked it. And soup reheated very well.
    Ridiculous. She wasn’t a teenager with a crush.
They were both adults and his purpose here wasn’t to break her sexual dry
spell.
    The front door slammed, startling her. Snapped out
of her thoughts, she put the spoon on the spoon rest and turned to see Jason
bound into the room. He looked at her then Brendan and rolled his eyes.
    “Can we sit down and talk about this?” Mia asked.
“It’s not what you think.”
    “I doubt that.”
    A chair scraped on the floor. “Have a seat,”
Brendan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. To her surprise Jason did
as told and sat without a word. “Your mom is trying to talk to you. I suggest
you listen.”
    “How about we eat first?” She turned off the stove
and carried the pot to the table where she dished out three servings.
    “I’d rather hear this first.” Jason crossed his
arms.
    Setting the pot back on the burner, she sat next to
her son. Brendan took the seat at the head of the table. How long had it been
since a man sat to dinner with them? Not since her divorce. It felt oddly
surreal. And somehow right.
    “As you know, your father is here.”
    “Yeah, he emailed me when he was released.”
    Ray had been emailing her son? For how long? And
why hadn’t Jason said anything? “Have you been talking to him for long?”
    “About a year now.”
    She straightened her shoulders, ready to accept the
fact Ray may have told Jason what she’d done. “I see. I wish you’d told me.”
    Jason shrugged.
    “I’ve never lied to you and I won’t do it now.
Brendan is staying with us because your father threatened me.”
    Jason sat up in his chair. “What? How?”
    Time to pay the piper. “You know we came down here
to pack up Aunt Ginny’s house and collect the inheritance she left me?”
    Jason nodded.
    “Well, between the sale of the house and the
inheritance, we’ll have enough to finally buy the home of our dreams.” She put
her hand over his, happy when he didn’t pull away. “Remember how we used