Return to Emmett's Mill by Kimberly Van Meter

Author:Kimberly Van Meter [Meter, Kimberly Van]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Emmet's Mill, Category
ISBN: 9780373714698
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-01-07T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

JOSH AND CHRISTOPHER entered his parents’ house and were immediately greeted by a hearty Halvorsen welcome. His brothers and nephew flanked his parents at the large oak table, his mother looking frightfully outnumbered by the various men in the room, and there was enough food covering every square inch to feed a squadron.

“You’re late, Boo,” his mother called out, using his childhood nickname and causing him to grimace. “Don’t give me that look. Come, sit down. We almost didn’t wait.”Josh bent down to kiss his mother’s cheek before taking his place. “How you doing, Ma?”

“Can’t complain. How’s the Simmons job coming along?” she asked, reaching for the bowl of peas to hand to him. “I heard a tree went through the wall?”

His father scooped a large bite of mashed potatoes. “Heck of a thing, considering what Gerald’s going through with Missy and all.”

“Yeah, he’s taking it pretty hard,” Josh said, accepting the bowl and giving himself a healthy portion before handing it to Chris. “Natalie’s running herself ragged trying to keep his head above water, and for some reason Tasha and Nora aren’t getting along.”

“That’s a shame,” clucked his mother, shooting a quick glance at Sammy. “You’re real close with Nora, what’s going on?”

Sammy grimaced. “Aww, Ma, why you asking me that? If I tell you what Nora’s been filling my ear with, Josh is bound to throw his mashed potatoes at me and then it’ll feel weird when I go to ask Tasha out.”

Sammy acted as if he were poised to duck, but that damnable smirk wasn’t far from his expression, telling everyone he was pulling Josh’s leg. Because of that, Josh reined the impulse to growl and kept his expression purposefully neutral. Except, the thought of Sammy going out with Tasha rubbed him in a million different wrong ways and he was a terrible actor. “Stick to your brainless bimbos,” Josh advised. “Tasha’s way out of your league and definitely not your type.”

“Josh,” his mother admonished. “That’s no way to talk about your brother’s friends. I happen to think Nora is a solid woman with a good head on her shoulders.”

Sammy piped in. “Yeah!”

“I wasn’t talking about Nora. She’s too smart to throw her lot in with Sammy, which is probably why they’ve managed to stay friends for so long.”

His father chuckled but otherwise remained silent on the issue of Sammy’s predilection for less-than-brainy beauties. It was a running joke in the Halvorsen family; with their crew nothing was sacred, it seemed. Sammy valued two things in a woman, a sizable rack and the good sense not to press for a commitment. Even though his behavior was less than heroic, Sammy never failed to enjoy a steady stream of women running after him, just itching to be the next casual fling of Sammy Halvorsen. Frankly, Josh didn’t get it. Maybe that was his problem. He invested too much of himself in others.

Dean looked to Christopher, who appeared more out of place among the Halvorsen men than a weed at Versailles, and gestured.

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