The Idea of You Read Online Free PDF Page B

close.”
    â€œYou and your mom or you and your grandfather?”
    â€œAll of us.” Grandpapa had written Alaina off as an unrepentant sinner the minute she’d left for Hollywood. She could only imagine what he was saying now, with the news stories of her abortion that had never happened. And he’d never much cared for Alaina’s mother, his daughter-in-law. She’d corrupted his son, led him into the drugs that had stolen his life. Alaina could still hear him railing at Mama, which happened nearly every Sunday when they’d gone to his house for dinner.
    When Alaina was eight, she’d finally asked her mother why they still went to Grandpapa’s house since he was always so mean. Mama had answered that it was a free meal, and for a decent free meal, you put up with whatever you had to.
    That had been the first time Alaina had truly understood that they were dirt-poor. She thought everyone ate SpaghettiOs and macaroni and cheese every night and shopped at the Goodwill for special occasions.
    â€œMy family is . . . complicated,” she said. “What about yours? From what Sean told me, it sounds like you’re all pretty close-knit?”
    He picked up a sports bottle and flipped the straw open for a quick sip. “I guess. We’re kind of spread out—or at least we were before Alex died. He bought an old monastery and left it to all of us to renovate into a restaurant and hotel. He gave each of us jobs so that we’d all come back to Ribbon Ridge and be together.”
    â€œThat’s nice, if you wanted to come home. If you didn’t, then I suppose it might feel manipulative.”
    â€œI think Liam feels that way. He’s Alex’s identical twin. He owns a bunch of real estate in Denver and has no interest in coming home.”
    Alaina recalled the picture in the bedroom and suddenly wondered if it had been Alex’s room. There had been a pristine, almost unlived-in quality to it—not a speck of dust anywhere. “Did everyone else come home?”
    â€œPretty much. Except Hayden—he’s not one of the sextuplets. He’s making wine in France. I think he’s supposed to come home this summer, but I’m not sure he will. He’s pretty happy there. Has a girlfriend, too.”
    â€œThat sounds amazing. Where did you come home from? You said everyone was spread out—were you near or far?”
    â€œNot too far.” He took another sip of water.
    A fluffy gray cat prowled into the room and went directly to Evan, nuzzling his leg. He leaned down and stroked the animal’s head. “Hey, Jean-Luc.”
    Jean-Luc? “As in Picard?”
    Evan flashed her a look of surprise. “Yeah. That’s weird that you’d know that.”
    She laughed. “I loved that show growing up. I used to pretend I was Dr. Crusher.”
    He finished petting Jean-Luc. “I’m going to go shower now. Do you want help with the TV?”
    She wasn’t sure if he’d heard what she said or not. Maybe he was just really desperate for a shower. “No, I brought my iPod. I’m good.”
    â€œCool.” He walked past her, and she pivoted, her eyes glued to his jaw-droppingly sculpted back.
    â€œHey, Evan?”
    He turned at the door. “Yeah?”
    â€œI don’t suppose you’d want to keep me company for dinner tonight? I was going to make some pasta—I make a mean Bolognese.” It was one of the few things she cooked—and cooked well, if she wasn’t being modest. Plus, she had everything she needed in the apartment, thanks to Sean stocking it with her shopping list.
    â€œSure. What time?”
    â€œSeven?”
    â€œSounds good.” He left, closing the door behind his magnificent ass.
    With a sigh, Alaina turned toward the treadmill. She wasn’t in the mood to work out anymore. At least not on a treadmill. A horizontal workout with Evan Archer sounded like much more