Under the Boardwalk (Costas Sisters Book 1) by Carly Phillips

Author:Carly Phillips [Phillips, Carly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance, contemporary
Publisher: CP Publishing
Published: 2020-07-06T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Ariana couldn’t get out of her parents’ house fast enough. Although the rational part of her knew her family could give Sam a good home, the irrational part of her—the one that hadn’t parted with the adolescent in her who was embarrassed by her odd family—worried about Sam. Thirteen was an impressionable time and, more than most, Sam needed a support system that included friends. Not people who’d laugh behind her back and set her up as the butt of cruel jokes.

To his credit, Quinn remained silent on the ride to his house. They were headed toward the beach. More than once, he looked into the rearview mirror longer than usual, and took what seemed to be an out-of-the-way route to the ocean.

Although she had a lot on her mind, she sensed he was preoccupied, too. He glanced in the mirror again and she couldn’t take it anymore. Her head pounded as she broke the quiet in the truck. “What’s wrong?”

“What makes you think something’s up?” He squeezed her hand in reassurance.

“You’re antsy. You keep checking the mirrors. And though I don’t know where your house is, I’m certain we’ve circled around a few times.”

“You’re quick, Ari.” He grinned, shaking his head. “I’m just being careful, that’s all.”

“About Damon?” Chills walked all over her skin.

He nodded. “He knows I have this house, so it’s not going to be a problem if he is having me watched, but I’d rather know about it going in.” He rolled his shoulders in a definite release of tension.

“Understandable.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “I don’t know how you live like this.”

He turned his head to the side, glancing at her. “It’s getting harder,” he admitted. “But it’s almost over. Now, what’s going on in your beautiful head? You’ve been completely overwhelmed since the whole foster-care talk back at your parents’.”

Ariana couldn’t believe how perceptive the man was. “It’s my family. Or rather Sam and my family. My parents have to give up being pickpockets and cons,” she said, stating what had been preying on her mind.

Quinn sighed, his understanding clear. “I’ll talk to them.”

“The new business, the spa. It has to be legit.” She was revealing more than he knew about her relatives.

He nodded. “I know. I’ll make sure I oversee it. Nicholas likes me,” he said, and when she turned her head his way, he shot her his most endearing grin.

This time she squeezed his hand tighter. “I like you, too, Quinn.”

“Then tell me what’s really bothering you. It’s not just concern for Sam. I can tell.”

She shut her eyes tight as he pulled into a short driveway leading to a two-car indoor garage. “How about you give me the ten-cent tour first,” she suggested, stalling.

“You got it, but then there’s no more hiding from the truth.”

“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?”

“Low blow, Ari. And being angry at me won’t change the fact that you obviously have a hell of a lot to come to terms with. You might as well start somewhere.

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