Read Honest Betrayal for Free Online Page B

her lip. “You’re getting angry.”
    “I’m not getting angry.” Stephen’s tone dropped. “What’s wrong with safe?”
    “It’s just that you don’t exert any effort in your life from your job to your social life. You don’t take risks.”
    “And you do?” He sniffed. “Byron didn’t seem very risky to me. You couldn’t choose any safer than him.”
    “I’m different.”
    “Why?”
    She stood and grabbed her handbag. “Never mind. I’d better go.”
    “You think your feelings are more fragile because you have a lame leg?”
    She walked to the door.
    He followed, “I’m right, aren’t I?”
    She swung the door open. “No, what you are is a jerk.”
    “Why?” He slammed the door closed. “Because I don’t let you use your leg as an excuse?”
    “Because you refuse to believe that it is.” Her voice broke. “You don’t understand—”
    “Oh I understand big sister, more than you give me credit for. You think I didn’t hear the taunts? Hell, I got them too.  Sometimes I was embarrassed of you. For you. You were the kid people tripped in the hall, the freak, the outcast.”
    His words caused a tender wound to bleed a little as the memories came forth in her mind. “I’m sorry my existence was such a burden to you,” she said in a cool tone. “However, you weren’t the only one. Mom and Dad weren’t too thrilled with me either.” She opened the door again.
    Stephen grabbed her arm. “Wait a minute.”
    Brenna snatched her arm away. “No. I’m ready to go.”
    He grabbed her from behind and held her. “Stop.”
    She struggled against him. “Let me go.”
    “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice deep with regret.
    “I don’t care.”
    “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    “So what? Let me go.”
    “Not until you believe me.”
    Brenna stopped struggling, feeling the weight of his strength; the weight of his remorse. “You’re going to make me cry.”
    “Then cry. There’s no shame in it. I don’t think you let yourself cry enough.”
    She let her gaze fall.
    He kissed the back of her head. “I didn’t mean it, Brennie,” he said using her childhood name. “I—”
    “Yes, you did,” she said, steeling herself against his gentleness for fear that he would know how much it hurt. “I don’t blame you. I was embarrassed of myself.”
    He released her. “I want you to sit down so that we can start again.”
    She opened the door. He closed it. She scowled up at him; he smiled. “You’re not very smart if you actually think you’ll win this.”
    “The day you were born I knew you’d be a pest.”
    He jerked his head towards the couch. “I suggest you take a seat over there.”
    Brenna met his eyes then spun away. “You’re just like him,” she said disgusted.
    “Who?”
    She folded her arms and sat. “Nobody.”
    Stephen sat beside her. “Brenna, I was angry and my words were foolish.”
    “It’s okay.” She moved restlessly tired of the topic, the past was over. She was a success now and knew what she was talking about. “I’m not sorry about what I said about Fiona.” She shook her head. “I don’t think she’s good enough for you.”
    The corner of his mouth quirked in a cynical grin. “She’s pretty, sweet and smart, but she’s not good enough for me? However, that Amazon woman with the weird name is?”
    Brenna took a deep breath, trying to be patient. “Yes, I’m a matchmaker.”
    “Your computer is a matchmaker.”
    That was true, but only partially. A large part of her success also depended on her intuition, a skill she’d developed over the years. At times she didn’t even need the expertly designed computer program, but it made her clients feel comfortable. “I know about these things. Take a risk. You’re feeling lonely that’s all. Don’t fall into the same trap just because Fiona is there.”
    Stephen lowered his head a moment then met her gaze. “I love her.”
    Brenna hesitated then said, “I think you’re afraid not to.