Unexpected Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

uphill both ways," Corey said.
    Jessa
and Tonya left the room chattering. Corey returned his attention to
his young daughter. Chris, leaned back in his chair, the sudden
silence ringing in his ears.
    Tonya
came back in the room and hesitated. She looked at Chris then to her
brother. "Did you need something?" Corey asked.
    "I
have something I need to talk to you about. Not now. Tonight. Nicole
too."
    "Okay.
Everything all right?"
    "Yeah,
everything is fine. I should have waited until later." She
looked at her watch. "I have to get going. I'll talk to you
after work."
    "All
right. Have a good day." Corey raised an eyebrow at Chris.
    All
the younger man could do was shrug. He had no right to spill her
secrets. He barely had the right to know them.
    "So
that's the Porter family morning chaos," Corey said. "Come
on, buttercup, you need to get washed and dressed. Maybe we'll go to
the park for a bit before Dad has to leave for work." Corey
hefted his daughter from the high chair.
    "I
can wash my own face," Chris said.
    Corey
gave him a soft swipe across the back of the head. "Wiseguy. Any
plans for the day?"
    "Drink
my coffee, go throw a load of laundry in, eat something and then
maybe have a nap before practice at two."
    "Are
you sure we didn't wake you up? We can try to tone it down."
    "I
swear that you didn't wake me. I didn't feel obligated to come
upstairs at all. I meant what I said about missing family. I'll take
this while I can. Except Tony, I don't think she likes me."
    "She's
like that at the start. She has a hard shell to keep people out. Give
her a bit to warm to you. She's used to fending for herself and being
alone."
    Corey
left the room. While Chris finished his coffee, the door opened and
slammed several times. Mrs. Briere, the Porter housekeeper, came in
while he was eating breakfast. She cleared the table while she hummed
to herself.
    "Do
you need the washing machine?" he asked.
    "I
will later, dear," she said, still humming between sentences.
"You go ahead and put your clothes in and I'll move them to the
dryer."
    She
offered to do his laundry when he first moved in, but he refused. His
rent didn't included housekeeping services. His mother taught him
better.
    "Thanks
Mrs. B. I'll go toss them in then I'll take a quick nap. But don't
worry about waking me while you go about your business."
    She
smiled at him as he put his bowl in the dishwasher. Then he went off
to get the rest of his chores done for the day.

CHAPTER 3

    Tony
cracked her knuckles as she paced.
    Her
half brother looked calm as he drank his beer. His wife rubbed his
shoulders.
    "Am
I scary?" he asked Nicole, looking up at her.
    She
kissed him. "I've never been scared of you. Even when you got
super pissed at me for interfering with your life. If not for me, we
wouldn't be here, you know that?"
    "Okay,
you and Mandy meddling did turn out good that time. But that's the
only time and there were other ways. You had me caught either way.”
    "Okay,
rehashing the past probably isn't a good way to get Tony talking
about this." Nicole kissed the back of his head.
    Tony
felt a pang of jealousy. She'd been told stories about Corey's wild
past, but they were hard to believe. She'd never encountered anyone
as dedicated to his family. Maybe Kip Turner. Either way, Tony longed
for someone to feel the same about her. Love, commitment. Family.
    "Sorry,
Tony. You wanted to say something."
    She
wanted to run. "I've been thinking about school."
    Corey
opened his mouth to reply, but Nicole put her hand on his shoulder
and squeezed. He stopped before he got a word out.
    "I
know, we've been around this circle for two years. I was talking with
Chris about it."
    "Chris?
Basement Chris?"
    "Yes,
he asked. Anyway, I still have no idea what I would study if I went
to college. I was never good at anything in school. I don't have any
interests."
    "What
about with kids? Mandy says you're great." Nicole covered
Corey's hand on the tabletop.
    "I
dunno, I can’t see myself