Read With Your Heart: a small town romance by L.B. Dunbar

Author:L.B. Dunbar [Dunbar, L.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: L.B. Dunbar Writes, Ltd.
Published: 2020-09-02T23:00:00+00:00

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When I get to the bar, the family party is in full swing, complete with laughter and smiles. I feel like an intruder, which is just what I told Tricia I didn’t want to do. But the second she sees me, her beaming smile lights up her face—fuck—and I just feel like a new man. Who doesn’t want a woman to smile at him like that?

As I near the table, Jess calls out my name, and I’m relieved as I see Tricia fighting with herself. Does she come to me? Do I go to her? Jess moves over a bit and drags another chair to the table.

“Leon, meet my girl. This is Emily.”

“Emily Post of Chicago,” Tom bellows, and I miss the joke as the rest of them laugh.

“Nice to meet you, Leon. I’ve heard a bit about you.” Emily’s a pretty blonde with fresh blue eyes. Her posture says classy while her expression reads soft.

“That could be . . . interesting,” I tease, looking from Jess to Tricia and wondering who spoke about me.

“It’s all good. I hear you’re another Chicago native,” she remarks, and for a second, I still. Then I take in her clothes and know this woman has never been anywhere near where I grew up. “Where did you live?”

Crap.

“West side,” I say, keeping it vague, and her head tips. “What about you?”

“Gold coast.”

I whistle, and my shoulders sag in relief. Yep, nowhere near where I lived.

“I went to college in the city. How about you?” Emily asks, and I know she’s only being friendly. Tricia’s hand comes to my thigh, and she answers for me.

“Leon’s really good with cars. He works at Dixon’s.”

“Oh.” Emily sits up straighter. “I need to bring my car in for a tune-up and new tires.”

Without looking at Tricia, I cover her hand and squeeze it in gratitude, but it hits me. Tricia’s never going to want to tell them how I learned the trade skill I have or where I’ve spent the past few years because of my “schooling.”

I fall back in my seat, keeping quiet as this family chatters and teases one another. Tom is the ringleader and the jokester, keeping it light among them. His wife, Karyn, sits next to him. Their sister Pam is a petite blonde who keeps her attention on the man next to her. His name is Ethan, and he’s somehow related to the rest of them. Then there’s Jess and Emily, who can’t stop touching each other. Then again, Tricia’s hand has not left my thigh, and my hand has not uncovered hers. The time passes, and I’m feeling good, having one more beer than I should on a work night, and then the door flies open.

Trent fucking Walker.

We don’t need a scene, but I’m prepared to make one if he comes near us. He hasn’t been back to Tricia’s house, or at least, not that I’m aware of, since the night Tricia screamed.

“Tricia,” he states, and our table goes silent.

“I’m warning you,” says the bald bartender who owns the place, addressing Trent.

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