Happily Ever After by Susan May Warren

Author:Susan May Warren
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2007-04-30T22:00:00+00:00

Joe’s neck ached and his arm muscles screamed. He never knew plastering a ceiling could be so painful. Or perhaps the hurt came from the confused, even angry, glances Mona kept spiking his way from the next room. She scrubbed at the stain on the coffee bar with unequaled passion, the steam from her demeanor nearly peeling off the dark tar. Joe gritted his teeth and focused on smoothing the ceiling. Just when she was starting to warm to him again, he had to summon his defenses and stomp all over their tender friendship. He regretted his impulsive words.

“It’s as smooth as frosting on a wedding cake.”

Liza’s voice startled him. He lost his balance, dancing as the step stool wiggled, then toppled over. He landed with a thump on the floor.

“Oh! Sorry, Joe! I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Joe waved his forgiveness as he climbed to his feet .Mona had stopped her scouring, and he caught her concerned expression. He returned a half smile, and she instantly hid her worry under a guise of vigorous scrubbing.

“Anyway, nice ceiling. Can’t even tell it tried to kill me.” Liza grinned widely.

“Who’s trying to kill you, beautiful?”

Joe scowled, recognizing Brian’s syrupy voice and abrasive cologne.

Liza whirled and delight lit her face. “Brian! We haven’t seen you since Saturday! Where have you been?”She nearly skipped over to greet him.

Joe turned, glimpsed Mona’s welcoming smile as she approached, and something inside him burned.

Brian hugged Liza with one arm and caught Mona in the other. Joe was glad to see Mona didn’t relax into the embrace like Liza did.

“How are my girls?” Brian asked.

“Great,” Liza replied. “We had a mishap this morning, but Joe saved us and I think we’re back on schedule.”

“Mishap?” Joe echoed incredulously.

Mona, too, appeared less than pleased at her roommate’s choice of words. “I think mishap is a little too soft. Try ambush.”

Brian’s smile dimmed and worry creased his face.“What happened?”

Joe took a step toward the trio, his eyes fixed on Brian. “Someone poured weed killer all over their front lawn last night.”

He had to admit, if Brian was the culprit, he was the consummate actor. Surprise flooded Brian’s expression. His jaw slacked and his eyes darkened appropriately in defense of Mona’s property. “Did you report it to the police?”

Mona blinked at him. “No. I didn’t even think of it.Joe immediately started washing it away.”

Brian pinned a suspicious look on Joe. “I guess the evidence has been destroyed then, right?”

Joe’s mouth gaped, and an unnerving anger rose in him. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the putty knife. “I did the first thing I thought of. I saved the lawn.”

Brian’s green eyes were icy. “Or you saved yourself.”

Mona and Liza stared in horror at Brian.

“W-what are you talking about?” Mona stammered.

Brian’s gaze on Joe never faltered. “It just seems you’ve had a number of so-called accidents around here since he showed up.”

Mona went ashen. She looked at Joe, and written in her beautiful eyes he could see the signature of doubt. He shook his head, dumbfounded, heartsick.

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