LITMIR.BIZ

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or whatever it was the indolent rich did with their time.

      “You weren’t dumped here.” Aaron’s protest rang hollow. By all accounts, Melanie had lived with a dozen or more different relatives and friends of her mother, rarely finishing the year in the same school. That’s how the Hollisters approached childrearing—as if it was someone else’s responsibility. But leaving her with Aaron? Oh, puleeze. That was scraping the bottom of the barrel.

      “I don’t care what you call it,” Melanie muttered. It hadn’t taken long for her to transform into a sullen teenager with a chip on her shoulder. “You didn’t want to come here, either.”

      His expression froze. “Our situations aren’t the same.”

      Skylar perked up her ears. Aaron hadn’t wanted to come back to Cooperton? That wouldn’t surprise her; he used to be contemptuous of small towns and the people in them. Unfortunately for Aaron, his job at Cooper Industries was an inherited responsibility. He was the only Cooper grandchild—his mother, Celina Cooper Morgan, hadn’t had more children after her divorce from S. S. Hollister, so Aaron was always expected to take over one day.

      That was something Skylar didn’t want for Karin. Granted, the Gibson Nibble Nook wasn’t a huge company like Cooper Industries, but her daughter would have choices that didn’t require slicing onions and flipping hamburgers. It wasn’t a legacy; they could sell the place when the time came.

      Melanie closed her geometry book with a snap. “I know you hate being here, Aaron. I heard you tell—”

      “Melanie, we don’t air our private business in front of strangers,” he interrupted.

      Strangers?

      Skylar wanted to smack him. They were far from strangers. As much as she’d like to forget sleeping with Aaron over fourteen years ago, she couldn’t. And if that wasn’t enough, he’d bragged to his buddies about nailing her. After that, every guy in school thought she was an easy target. She’d already had a bad reputation, but it hit rock bottom when Aaron opened his big mouth.

      Funny, she’d given Aaron little conscious thought in years, but now that Melanie was friends with Karin, she was getting daily reminders.

      “They’re just studying,” Skylar said, trying to stay calm.

      Fair was fair. Melanie was doing her geometry homework, not joyriding. Besides, the hamburger stand was only open for breakfast and lunch. The Nibble Nook intentionally closed at the same time the high school let out for the day; otherwise they could have a crowd of teenagers until late every afternoon. Still, she couldn’t deny that a few farmworkers and other customers often arrived near closing and lingered over their meals.

      She and Jimmie had discussed keeping the Nook open longer, but this way they’d had a better family life. It was the same decision his parents had made when they were running both the Nibble Nook and the Nibble Nook Too in Trident, where Skylar had gone to get a job when she’d learned she was pregnant. She sure couldn’t have hung around Cooperton, where people knew her; it was hard enough returning as a married woman.

      Aaron shot Skylar a cool look.

      He’d been attractive in high school with his dark brown hair and eyes. Now he was downright gorgeous. Luckily she was immune—she knew his handsome exterior concealed a jackass of major proportions. And in the four months since he’d taken over as the managing CEO of Cooper Industries, his employees were discovering what she’d learned as a stupid, reckless seventeen-year-old.

      The employees disliked Aaron intensely—he treated them as potential criminals, the company cafeteria prices had tripled and the shortened lunch break wasn’t long enough to let them drive farther than the Nibble Nook for an inexpensive meal.

      “Whether they’re studying or not isn’t the issue. And I’ll handle my own problems, if you don’t mind,” he growled.

      Then stop handling them badly, she wanted to add, except antagonizing him wouldn’t be good for Melanie or Karin. She’d tried to remember that whenever he’d “visited” the Nibble Nook over the past several weeks.

      A vision of Aaron’s face the first day he’d shown up at the Nibble Nook rose in Skylar’s mind, and she almost laughed; the Trident Hell Raisers had been there. They were a harmless group of retirees who’d formed a motorcycle club. Jimmie’s uncle Fred belonged, and they came over once a week to talk, drink coffee and try to look like tough, seasoned road warriors in a defiant “FU” to lost youth.

      So, in drove Aaron Hollister in his shiny black Mercedes and expensive suit, horrified to see his sister surrounded by a motorcycle gang. He hadn’t asked questions, just rushed Melanie away so abruptly she’d forgotten her book bag. Skylar supposed she might have been concerned if their places were reversed, but really, the Trident Hell Raisers were retired accountants, doctors and firemen. Uncle Fred had irreverently nicknamed them the Bunion and Hemorrhoids Brigade.

      Skylar could have reassured Aaron, but he was so damned obstinate and suspicious, he probably wouldn’t have believed her, anyhow. And he’d just argue that other bikers ate at the Nibble Nook, too. It was true enough, but they’d never caused trouble.

      “We did go to the library,” Karin announced. “Mellie checked out a ton of books on President Lincoln for her history paper.”

      “I didn’t ask you, young lady.”

      Skylar’s temper flared at the stuffy censure in Aaron’s voice. He had a lot of nerve.

      “Thank you, Karin,” she said, managing to keep her voice level. “Why don’t you and Melanie go get milk and apples for another snack? I moved the organic fruit to the left side of the fridge in the back storeroom.”

      The teens exchanged glances.

      “Uh, okay, Mom,” Karin agreed, apparently deciding not to attempt her usual argument in favor of chips and soda.

      Once her daughter and Melanie disappeared into the Nibble Nook, Skylar rounded on Aaron, throwing caution to the wind. “If you’re upset that Melanie is coming here to study, then say so,” she hissed. “Don’t take it out on my kid. You implied that your sister lied about going to the library—Karin was just sticking up for her friend.”

      Aaron directed his intent gaze at her. “She was impertinent.”

      “Impertinent?” Skylar rolled her eyes. “La-di-dah, aren’t we being high-and-mighty? Karin was only impertinent if you’re a seventeenth-century land baron lording it over a peasant. Give me a break. This is the twenty-first century, and I own this property. If Karin had been rude, I’d be the first to chew her out.”

      He clenched his jaw. “I didn’t accuse Melanie of lying, but she does have a history.”

      “Who told you that—other relatives who wanted an excuse to ship her back to her mother? You might check the facts before making assumptions.” Skylar marched to the stack of books and opened one to the library’s date stamp. “See? The return date is two weeks from today. That’s the standard loan period for the Cooperton Public Library.”

      “You knew that because you already looked.”

      She slammed the book onto the table. “No, I didn’t. Karin isn’t an angel, but she’s a good kid and usually tells the truth. I’m betting Melanie is the same. I’m also betting that I’ve spent more time with your sister than you have since she got to Cooperton.”

      “That’s outrageous. She lives with me.”

      “Oh?” Skylar planted her hands on her hips. “You mean you eat dinner together every night? You check her homework? You go out to movies or take her for pizza? Do you even know what pizza she likes?”

      A dull red flush crept up Aaron’s neck. “I’m hoping to spend more time with Melanie, but things have been hectic at the office. It’s critical to have a smooth transition from my grandfather’s leadership at Cooper Industries to my own. I was returning from a meeting when I saw she was here. But if

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