Read For the Love of Pete for Free Online Page B

thing that might have done it, she merely shrugged.
    "It's your money," she told Ashley. "1 suppose I can put up with him for however long this takes. I don't
    43 I
    SHERRYL WOODS43
    know how much thinking I'll get done with all that clatter going on, though."
    "Just as well," Melanie said. "You're probably thinking too much. Forget about what happened in Boston. Forget about everything and relax."
    Jo bit back a laugh. As if she could relax when she was brushing up against the past every time she turned around! "Sure. I'll try."
    "Maybe I should stop by and tell Pete he needs to clear everything with you," Ashley suggested, her expression thoughtful. "That way you can decide when it's most convenient for him to be there. He's an accommodating guy."
    "No," Jo said hurriedly. The last thing she wanted was to have her very perceptive big sister watching the interaction between her and Pete. "I'm sure we can devise some sort of schedule that works for both of us. I have no idea why I'm making such a big thing out of this. It's silly, really."
    "Are you sure? The last thing I want to do is add more stress to your life," Ashley told her.
    Too late for that, Jo thought. She plastered a smile on her face. "Not to worry," she assured Ashley. "I'm sorry I got you all worked up over this. It's not a big deal. Really." She stood up. "Now I've got to run."
    "Run where?" Maggie asked. "You haven't even touched your coffee cake."
    Somewhere, anywhere, Jo thought desperately. She grabbed up the slab of cake and wrapped it in a napkin. "Errands," she said succinctly. "I'll take this with me."
    "I'll come with you," Melanie offered, pushing back her chair and standing. "I have some errands of my own."
    44 44FOR THE LOVE OF PETE
    Jo frowned at her. "I don't need a babysitter."
    Melanie immediately sat back down. "Sorry."
    Relenting, Jo crossed the room and gave her a hug. "I need to do things for myself, okay? It's not that I don't appreciate the offer."
    "I know," Melanie said, regarding her with sympathetic understanding. "We're hovering."
    "You're hovering," Jo confirmed.
    "Okay, then, go off on your own, baby sister," Ashley said. "If you need us, all you have to do is call."
    Jo grinned. "I have all your numbers on speed dial on my cell phone."
    She hurried away before they remembered that down here in the boonies, her cell phone was virtually useless.
    Pleased with herself, she noted that it was her second fast escape of the morning. At this rate, she was going to wind up being the family expert at quick getaways. Of course, unless she turned to bank robbery, it probably was a wasted talent.
    45
    As he worked, Pete thought about how skittish Jo was around him. He couldn't honestly blame her, but it was more distressing than he cared to admit. Once they'd been as close as any two people could be. They'd sat out in the backyard swing right here at Rose Cottage with the moon overhead and the Chesapeake Bay lapping at the shore, and talked for hours on end. A fierce attraction had burned between them, but more than that, they'd been comfortable together, in tune with each other. They'd shared their hopes and dreams.
    Jo had been the first person he'd told about his desire to build homes right here in Virginia's Northern Neck region. His uncle?his mother's brother?had taught him the construction trade, taught him all about being a craftsman who took pride in his materials and his work.
    46
    FOR THE LOVE OF PETE
    For as long as he could remember, Pete had wanted to follow in his Uncle Jeb's footsteps. Maybe that was only because Jeb was the only male role model in his life, but he didn't think so. If he'd had to explain it, he would have said it was because his uncle had shared with Pete his lifelong passion for crafting something strong and solid.
    "I think it's because you want to build homes that will endure," Jo had said to him one night, picking up on an emotion Pete hadn't been able to express. "To make up for not having had one yourself.