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“The cast onclue, but thanks for the clarification”
“You’re in Fool’s Gold In Rafe’s house”
That got her to look at hiured it was better than nothing
“I have a fractured leg, not a head injury I knohere I aht to dragme”
He wanted to point out that technically he hadn’t been part of the dragging team, but didn’t think that would facilitate communication
“You’re injured You should be with your family”
“And that’s you?”
“Sure We talk” He knew he stayed in contact with herthis out on me? I didn’t even know you were a cheerleader Why didn’t you tell me?”
“When was I supposed to do that?”
“We’re on the phone every couple of weeks”
“Right Those ful calls ‘Hey, sis, it’s o Love you’” Her mouth twisted “Not much of a chance to share the personal details you’re suddenly so interested in”
Clay wanted to say it wasn’t like that Except he kneas When he remembered to call Evie, the contact was brief Froless A duty call
“Tella cheerleader,” he said “I want to know”
Sheto be back on the squad anytime soon”
“I’m sorry”
“Me, too”
He didn’t kno to help or what to say “Evie, you’re my sister I care about you”
“Then get me out of here Take me anywhere that isn’t near Mom or anyone else I know I’ll recover in peace”
“You’re going to need help The fracture isn’t deep, but it’s tricky Then you’ll have physical therapy Mom wants to drive you”
“I’d rather never walk again”
Clay’s instinct was to defend May, but he knew better Her relationship with Evie had always been difficult Not just because of the uilty about her one-night stand a few months after the death of her much-loved husband Evie had been the result
Clay had been too young to understand what had happened All he kneas that one day he had a baby sister As he was the youngest brother, he’d been the closest to her A sad state of affairs, he realized, thinking about how nored her
He knew this wasn’t the ti up her aparts to Fool’s Gold She would be healing for a couple of months and everyone had decided she would be better off closer Not that she would appreciate the decision
“I’y was la at worst
“You’re just being a guy” His sister sighed “You can’t help it I miss Diane”
“My Diane?”
Evie nodded “She called me a lot and ould talk She remembered my birthday and sent presents Silly stuff, but it was nice” Her expression momentarily softened “You so didn’t deserve her”
“I know I never understood what she saw in me”
“She loved you a lot”
“I loved her, too I was very lucky to find her” He risked taking Evie’s hand again “Speaking of significant others, is there so for you?”
“No There’s no one”
The stark loneliness in those words ut twist Evie was in herin and out of love She shouldn’t be alone or cynical She shouldn’t hate her family or want to be anywhere but with them
He swore under his breath “I’m sorry,” he said “What the hell happened between us?”
Evie slowly, deliberately, pulled her hand away “You didn’t want me None of you did I was never a part of this faet all surprised and righteous now that I don’t want to have anything to do with you”
Clay wanted to tell her that she rong, only she wasn’t About any of it The four of them had been a unit and Evie the odd man out
“I love you, Evie”
She closed her eyes “I’d like to sleep now”
It wasn’t the shouting ht as he stood But it was just as destructive She’d taken hily truth
He walked to the door and paused Realizing there was nothing else he could say, he walked out
CHARLIE HONEST-TO-GOD didn’t knohere to look She’d been called out to so buildings and been present at the birth of a baby None of which had prepared her for the Fool’s Gold Firefighter calendar shoot
There were good-looking guys everywhere Twelve in total, in various states of undress, styling and u Yes, one overly plucked woman in her forties walked around with a bottle of oil and rubbed it over the exposed flesh of the models And there was a lot of exposed flesh
Charlie wasn’t sure if she should enjoy the view or make her escape Clay was supposed to join her, but he’d phoned to say he was running late and she should make herself comfortable Charlie didn’t think that was possible
A low stage stood in front of a backdrop of a barn Lights with upside-down uhts on the floor and several props including a saddled horse She couldn’t figure out the best place to stand, let alone where to look She was pulling her truck keys out of her pocket when the back door of the studio opened and Clay strolled in Charlie surged toward hier to find some small measure of comfort or even protection
“You’re here,” she said “Thank God This is a nightmare”
He grinned, then pulled her close and kissed her “Miss me?”
“Yes This is not my comfort zone”
He glanced around, then looked back at her “You’d rather be fighting a fire?”
“Of course I understand fire This is madness”
“It’s a photo shoot”
“You say that as if I’ve been to twenty”
He put his ar her mind”
“It’s the only et settled okay?”
His good humor faded “She’s here, but she’s not happy”
“She’s hurt That’s got to be upsetting”
“I think she’s ”
Charlie knew a little about the family dynamics “She’ll come around”