Read It Had to Be Love (An It Had to Be Novel) for Free Online Page B

unannounced later, so be good!”
    As they left, he called out, “What makes that different from any other day?”
    His answer was the extra loud slam of his screen door.
    He waited a few minutes to be sure they’d really left, then changed into sweats and headed out to the living room. He wasn’t going to lie around in bed all day like a damn invalid. He switched his big screen TV to ESPN for background noise and then picked up a book.
    He tried to read but his mind kept going back to what Meg had said about him making Tara nervous. Maybe if he could help her understand he’d never hurt her, and that maybe he could help her, then he’d have a chance with her?
    But Ben was interested in her so that was a stupid thought. Must be the pain meds clouding his thinking. And making him really tired. But his face felt a ton better. He turned off the TV, closed his eyes, and laid his head on the back of the couch. Maybe he’d rest for just a few minutes.
    He awoke to the sound of knocking on his screen door. That was his first clue it wasn’t one of his pushy relatives who always just let themselves in. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and called out, “Come in.”
    His face ached again. Must be time for more medicine.
    The door creaked open and Tara tentatively stepped inside with three Styrofoam boxes in her hands. “Hi. I brought you some dinner. Gloria sent extra pie along too.”
    He glanced at his phone on the coffee table. How the hell was it five thirty? His brother had drugged him up good. “Thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
    “It was no . . .” Tara’s eyes widened when she spotted the cherry wood built-in bookcases he’d just finished. Dropping her big purse and the boxes onto the coffee table, she crossed the room and danced her fingers lightly across the fragile spines of his antique books. “Wow! Are some of these first editions?”
    He stood and moved near her, careful to keep some distance. “A few. But mostly they’re just my favorites.”
    She pushed her blonde hair behind one ear as she tilted her head to read the titles. “You do have some Keats. I’d wondered.”
    He hated that she’d gone straight for that. He only had the two, but it probably made him look wimpy. “They’re collector items. I’m not really . . .”
    Tara glanced up and grinned. “Poetic?”
    He shook his head. “Nope.”
    “Just a curious guy full of personal questions then, I guess.”
    He smiled. She was such a contradiction. One minute it was as if she was afraid of him, and the next she teased him. He liked a woman with a sense of humor. “I love a great story. When you’re ready, I hope you’ll tell me yours.”

    She wasn’t falling for that one. No matter how cute the man was. “Mine isn’t all that great.”
    Tara glanced out the window, away from his penetrating gaze, and took in the fantastic view of the lake. The story of her life was more like one of the psychological thrillers he had on his bookshelves. “Gloria said you did all of this yourself?”
    “Yeah. Want a tour?”
    When she turned to look at him again, he wasn’t studying her like a science experiment anymore. If she didn’t know better she’d think he might be interested in her. She should leave, but she really was impressed with the house. “Okay.”
    Tara followed behind as Ryan pointed out all the renovations he’d done to his gorgeous home. It was no cabin as the outside suggested, but a beautiful, light-filled, elegant home.
    They passed by the dining room, which held a lovely wooden table that could’ve used some pretty flowers in the center. The large kitchen had been remodeled with stainless steel appliances that rivaled the ones her parents’ chefs used. The gleaming granite countertops offset the same beautiful cherry wood he’d used in the living room.
    When she turned to tell him how impressed she was, he was just a few steps behind her. He walked quietly for a guy who must’ve weighed as much as an NFL