Echoes by Kristen Heitzmann

Author:Kristen Heitzmann [Heitzmann, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2007-08-31T20:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

How could seeing her for three minutes so totally dominate everything? He kept thinking of things he could have said, questions he didn't ask. He kept seeing the look in her eyes when he'd invited her over. Right. She'd love to come be insulted again. He turned as Becca handed him a piece of cake.

"Here you go, gloomy-face."

"Thanks, Bec." He took the cake. "Where's Ryan?"

"He told me to find out what's wrong with you."

"That's funny, Ryan worrying about me."

"It's the new improved Ryan."

"Right." Since Sofie had gotten the sparring partners to talk, it seemed Becca hadn't been as through as she'd claimed. He had taken her at her word and tried to get Ryan to save what dignity he had. Instead Ryan had made a complete fool of himself and earned another chance. Go figure.

Not as good at fixing lives and relationships as he was busting up families that didn't work. "Say, Bec. What was it Sofie said to you that day Ryan hijacked the cherry picker?"

She tipped her head to the side, thinking. "Only that Ryan was original, and I'd have a great story to tell. I figured at least life wouldn't be boring."

Matt smiled. Sofie had seen the outrageous behavior as clever. Maybe she valued that kind of thing, or else she guessed Becca might. He would have sympathized with her righteous anger and demanded Ryan leave. Sofie had seen the alternate route.

"So what's eating you, Matt?"

Ryan joined them but didn't enter the conversation.

"Nothing. I ran into someone."

"In your car?"

"No, Becca. Not literally." Though it felt like it. "Just saw someone who . . ." he'd ruined his chances with. "It's no big deal."

"It was Sofie Michelli." Her eyes drilled into him.

He crossed his arms. "Why would you think that?"

"Am I right?"

"Who's Sofie Michelli?" Ryan looked from one to the other.

"I said hi to her in the store—that's all."

"You should have invited her."

"Who is she?" Ryan butted like a fly against their interchange.

"I did." Matt shrugged. "She had something else going."

Becca cocked her head. "Oh yeah?"

"She's opening a dance studio."

"Really? Cool." Becca hooked her arm through Ryan's. "We'll take something. Salsa, maybe."

Right. Malibu Barbie and Ken dancing salsa.

"You should too, Matt. Help her get going. It's not easy starting a business."

"I know how to dance. Learned in charm school." It had been all but required to move in the circles he had navigated for a while.

"Bet you didn't learn it all."

"No, just enough." He turned. "Hey, Domino, have enough steak?"

His square-built buddy had never met a cut of beef he didn't love. Running into him was like hitting a brick wall in their pickup football games, but if you could topple him, he fell flat on his back, and you didn't want to be under him when he landed.

Sybil slid past Domino and curled her fingers into the crook of Matt's arm. "Hi."

"Want some cake?" He held out the plate he hadn't touched.

"Can I eat it too?"

Becca tugged Ryan away. Smart. He gently extricated his arm. "Excuse me.

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