LITMIR.BIZ

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greeted her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

      Setha Melendez sounded equally cheerful on the other end of the phone. That was to be expected, of course. Still, Avra felt the need to interrupt some of the cheer when Setha kept going on and on about the fun they were going to have when she came to stay at Sam’s place.

      “What the hell are you talking about?”

      “Well, I… Well, it’s all set for you to come and stay here for the shower party.”

      “Setha…who told you that?” Avra didn’t need the answer. She already had it.

      “Well, Sam said it was pretty much a done deal. Humph,” Setha grunted, understanding the problem all too well. “Sorry.”

      “Don’t worry about it. Just don’t expect me out there.”

      “Uh-uh. No way, Av,” the bride snapped. “I’m sorry Sam didn’t tell you, but you can’t back out now.”

      “Why the devil do you need me there?” Avra massaged the curls that tapered at her neck while pacing the short distance between the settee and the phone table. “You’ve got tons of friends—have one or all of ’em stay out there with you. Sam would love that.” She grimaced over the thought.

      “Don’t bank on it,” Setha muttered.

      Avra stopped pacing. “Honey, what are you up to?’

      “I’m hoping you can take Sam’s mind off whatever’s got him so edgy.”

      Avra had to laugh and it felt good to relieve a bit of the tension she struggled with that morning. “Honey, he’s edgy over me, as usual.”

      “Avra, I honestly have no clue how he feels about you. I’m not so quick to say his feelings are bad, though.”

      There was another quick flash in Avra’s mind about the kiss. The way he felt next to her—the way his mouth felt on hers, his tongue… She shook her head and quietly told herself to forget it.

      “Besides, we can talk about the contract while you’re here.” Setha made the comment regarding the contract detailing the advertising renegotiations between the Ross Review and Machine Melendez airily enough but couldn’t completely dismiss the urgency from her voice. “You can review it once more to be sure we’re all on the same page with it all before the shooting for the ads starts in its entirety.”

      “Crap,” Avra huffed, knocking a fist against the folds of the peach robe that draped past her ankles. “I don’t have a problem with waiting, hashing out everything at the final meeting.”

      Setha huffed then, too. “Look, Avra…”

      Avra felt her brow creasing. The tone of Setha’s voice was fueled by more than the usual brother/sister agitations.

      “There’s something different—Sam’s…always been protective, but this… It’s more than normal.”

      “His baby sister’s gettin’ married, hon. That’s a big deal,” Avra softly pointed out.

      “Yeah…I just hoped he’d loosen up with Carson Arroyo out of the picture. I’ve tried to get him to talk about whatever’s goin’ on but he just clams up. It’s just him and me out here and I’m ’bout fed up with his mood.”

      “Right…” Avra rubbed the creases in her brow then, understanding the woman’s frustration. “Honey, um…you know you are a grown woman. You could always stay with Khouri. You guys are about to get married.”

      “I know it’s stupid and old-fashioned.” Setha’s laughter came out brief across the phone line. “I just felt like it’s the least I could do since I really did just spring all this on them. They didn’t even know I was seeing anyone for Pete’s sake.”

      Avra strolled back to sit on the arm of a chair near the phone table. “Did they give you a hard time about it?”

      “Oh, no! Not even—which is a real surprise. They all like Khouri. They’re happy for me but I think they’re afraid they’ll lose me once I become a wife.”

      “Well…they’re not altogether wrong about that.” Avra had settled into big-sister mode, always eager to offer an ear to listen.

      “This is different, though.” Setha’s voice had gone softer. “I virtually closed myself off to them when I was investigating all that stuff about Carson Arroyo. Staying with Sam’s the least I can do to make myself more available to them—for a little while longer anyway.”

      “So go stay with Mr. Dan.” Avra referred to Setha’s father and a sudden smile curved her mouth. “You’d get no argument from me about coming to stay over then.”

      “Sorry, girl, even big, bad Danilo Melendez wasn’t willing to fight with Sam when he roared about me staying here with him.”

      Avra felt herself losing the battle.

      “So? Will you come?”

      Avra broke into a frustrated dance-jerk on the settee and rolled her eyes. “I’ll be there.” She managed to keep her voice level. Silently she acknowledged the part she’d played in riling Sam with talk of Carson

      Arroyo’s motives. She couldn’t help smiling over the sound of Setha giggling and yay-ing on the other end of the line.

      “I’ll be there today after work.”

      “Oh, thanks, Av. We’re gonna have so much fun.”

      “Right. Fun.”

      “Oh…stop that and don’t worry,” Setha ordered and broke the connection seconds after.

      The phone resumed its ring half a beat later. Avra laughed when she answered.

      “Don’t worry, I won’t change my mind.”

      “I hope not,” Sam said. “Aside from yes, that would be my second-favorite answer from you.”

      “Keep dreaming. What do you want?” She rolled her eyes, attempting to ward off her reaction to the sound of his deep laughter rumbling across the landline. “What is it, Sam?” she insisted.

      “Just calling to see if you want me to send a car to the Review after work.”

      “Ah…” Avra stood from the settee. “Is this about Setha’s shower? The particulars of which you didn’t feel the need to share with me?”

      Again, Sam chuckled. “Sorry ’bout that. Must’ve slipped my mind.”

      “Humph. I can see how easily that could happen.”

      Sam’s laughter was a bit more resonant in response to her dig. “Anyway, the ranch is pretty far out. I figured you might be too worn-out to make the drive after a full day.”

      “Gee, Sam, I must say you continue to amaze me. I wouldn’t have thought you capable enough to come up with such a thoughtful plan.”

      “I told you yesterday that I’m working to change your opinion of me.”

      She’d been doing such a fine job of maintaining her stony demeanor, Avra thought. She coughed in reply to his mention of his office visit and a flashback to the kiss filled her mind for the second time that morning.

      “I’ll be fine, Sam. I’ll drive my own car.”

      “Mmm…in case you need to make an escape.”

      “Something like that.”

      “I would never force you, Av,” he said once silence held the line for a lengthy span.

      She refused to ask whether he was referring to the ride he’d offered.

      “So I guess that means you won’t force me on this trip to Kemah, right?”

      “I’m not totally rehabilitated yet.” Laughter carried on his gravelly, deep words. “You can’t

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