Anything for Her Family by Sharon De Vita

Author:Sharon De Vita [Vita, Sharon De]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2002-07-02T05:00:00+00:00

By the time their coffee was served, Natalie was almost certain she had her emotions and her nerves under control. Talk had turned from Jared’s ex-wife Kathryn to the boys’ antics the past few weeks, bringing some much needed relief to her jangling nerves.

Discussing the boys’ recent adventures was a subject she felt safe talking about.

“It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away,” Jared said, slowly stirring sugar into his coffee.

“I know. This fall seems to have flown by.” Smiling, she poured cream into her own, then took a sip, sighing in pleasure at the flavor.

“Will you be needing some time off to spend the holiday with your family? Jake and Rebecca will be home, and I’m sure they’d be glad to pitch in and help with the boys.”

Natalie glanced across the table at him, not certain how to answer.

Jared smiled at her, oblivious to her sudden discomfort. “Do you realize, Natalie, that even after all this time I don’t know if you have parents, brothers, sisters?”

She glanced up, then away. “My mom died when I was six. My father raised me and my brother.” She forced herself to look at him. “My brother was killed in a car accident when he was seventeen.” She took a sip of her coffee, smiling wanly, the pain still strong after all these years. “It was devastating to lose him.”

Cocking his head, Jared studied her. “Were you close?” he asked quietly.

She nodded. “Very. We were only two years apart, and after my mom died, we were sort of comrades-in-arms.” She lifted her head to smile. “Then, just about two and a half years ago, my father passed away from a heart attack.” A heart attack caused by the stress of Raymond’s actions. Her nerves began to thrum and she shrugged. “So that’s it. It’s just me.” Her throat was so dry, she took another sip of her wine, then reached for her water, preferring something cool to soothe her throat. “So no, I won’t be needing time off to spend with family.”

“I’m sorry, Nat.” Smiling gently, Jared reached across the table and took her hand in his. “It must have been very difficult to have lost so many people you loved.”

Something in his tone of voice caused her to look at him curiously. Tilting her head, she studied him over the rim of her cup. “You sound like you have some experience with loss?” Even in the candlelight, she could see that he paled, and it startled her. “Jared?” She touched his arm, alarmed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” Her voice was tinged with regret.

“No. No.” He blew out another breath and tried to smile, but simply couldn’t manage it. “You’re not prying.” He stared into his coffee cup for a long, silent moment. “I have three brothers, Nat.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. I thought Jake and Josh were your only brothers,” she said, knowing she couldn’t let on that she knew all about his family from the articles she’d read before she’d arrived.

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