Surrounded by Woods

Author:Mandy Harbin [Harbin, Mandy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B005F6E7Z8
Publisher: Amira Press
Published: 2011-07-27T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Oh, shit. Mikaela’s eyes shot to Josh. First Thomas and now Josh. It was easier crafting half-truths for Thomas. “Joel is a CPA.” That wasn’t a lie, though. Joel was a CPA. He just wasn’t her fiancé anymore. Mikaela hid her smile from her very lawyer-type response.

Josh grunted and took another bite.

“He’s a very lucky man,” Thomas offered.

“Yes, he is.” Lucky she didn’t castrate him, though his luck could still run out. And thinking of luck, why did hers have to run out now? Today had been really wonderful. All the guys had been helpful, funny, talkative. Even with all of them around, she still couldn’t keep her eyes off Josh, so when he easily jumped into the conversations or started new ones, her insides melted. Such a great day. She hoped it wouldn’t have to end on a topic she wanted to avoid.

“Why don’t you wear an engagement ring?” Rob asked.

What was with the inquisition? Did they think she wanted to talk about her miserable ex? She flushed and looked down at her hand, then cleared her throat. “I—”

“Don’t answer that, Mikaela,” Thomas said. “It’s none of our business.”

“I just think it’s odd she doesn’t have a ring on her finger,” Rob pressed.

Hopefully, her response would be the end of this line of questioning. “It’s all right, Thomas.” She looked at Rob. “The ring that was given to me was a family heirloom and had to be sized.” Thank God that was the truth. Now she wouldn’t have to go through the process of returning it. Had Joel bought her a brand new one, she’d be keeping it from the bastard, but since it’d been in his family for generations, she had no right to keep it.

Rob nodded and smirked at his dad, as if to emphasize that the question had been logical.

Enough about her. “So, does anyone have a girlfriend?” Why did she look at Josh first? You know why.

She was met with a bunch of shaking heads and grunts before Thomas spoke up.

“They don’t get out much. The land keeps us fairly busy.”

Surely they could find the time for relationships, but she was pleased to know that Josh was not involved with anyone. When she set her empty wineglass on the table, Toby picked up the bottle and poured her another. She smiled at him and then looked back at Thomas. “What about you?”

“Me?” He chuckled. “Their mother died several years ago. I have no desire for another mate.”

Mate? That was a bit primitive, but she laughed with him.

The rest of the evening went as smoothly as before the uncomfortable topic of Joel reared its ugly head, and not wanting to press her luck further, she excused herself as soon as the opportunity came.

She wanted a night of relaxation and sleep after having such a hectic night last night. That bar had been seedy, but it was the only place open at that time of night, and she’d had to get away. Tonight, though, she wanted peace.

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