Read On A Night Like This (Callaways #1) for Free Online

much more interested in having a good time. And while Burke was impressing people right and left, Aiden was usually getting into trouble.
    "Burke is right," Jack interjected, his eyes on his younger son.
    "That I'm a screw up?" Aiden asked, sarcasm in his voice. "Tell me something I don't know, Dad."
    Jack's jaw tightened. He wasn't as tall as either of his sons, but he still had a big presence and a huge personality. His hair had gone white since Sara had last seen him, and his normally ruddy complexion was very red now, anger burning in his eyes.
    "You need to tell us what happened on that mountain," Jack continued. "You owe Kyle that much."
    Aiden's jaw tightened. "Don't talk to me about what I owe Kyle. Neither one of you knew him the way I did."
    "If you don't clear your name, no one will ever trust you again," Burke said harshly. "If you want to keep working as a firefighter, you sure as hell better come up with a good reason for losing one of your men."
    "Go to hell," Aiden said, turning away from his brother. His gaze collided with Sara's.
    She swallowed hard, not just seeing anger in his eyes, but also the pain. She had no idea what was going on, but it was clear that he was hurting.
    Aiden brushed past her and Emma without a word, the side door slamming behind him.
    "You both pushed too hard," Lynda scolded her husband and son. "You need to give Aiden a chance to defend himself. He's only been back a few hours."
    "It doesn't sound like he has anything to defend," Burke said.
    "You didn’t give him a chance. You're always so impatient, Burke."
    "He's had three weeks," Jack said, cutting off his wife. "Three weeks to come up with the plain, simple truth. That's all we're asking. You've always been too easy on Aiden."
    "And you've always been too hard," she retorted. "The truth is never plain and rarely simple, and you, of all people, should know that, Jack."
    Jack frowned at her pointed look. "I'm just trying to help my son."
    "I didn't hear either of you offering help, just condemnation."
    "I've got to go," Burke said. "I don't have time for this." As he finished speaking, he glanced toward Sara and Emma, his gaze widening as he appeared to realize for the first time that they had an audience. "Sara Davidson, right?"
    She nodded, not sure what to say in the midst of so much tension. She'd always felt a little out of step in the Callaway house. They loved and fought with a tremendous amount of passion, which had been hugely different from the quiet stillness of her home where conflict was fought in cold, angry silence.
    "Nice to see you," Burke said politely, but it was clear his thoughts were elsewhere.
    "You, too," she said.
    "I'll walk you out," Jack told his son. "We need to talk."
    When the men had left, Emma said, "What was with the full frontal attack on Aiden, Mom?"
    "They're worried," Lynda replied. "And sometimes there's a little too much testosterone in this house."
    "Sometimes?" Emma echoed.
    "Sara, your food is in the oven," Lynda said. "I'm sorry for all the yelling, but I'm really glad you came over. How is your father?"
    "He's resting. He'll have some healing to do, but he should make a full recovery."
    "I'm so happy to hear that." She paused. "If you'll excuse me, I need to speak to Jack. There's pasta in the oven and salad in the fridge. Emma will take care of you."
    "Thanks," Sara said.
    "Well, that was a crazy scene," Emma commented. "Never a dull moment in the Callaway house." She grabbed a hot pad and pulled a plate out of the oven. "I hope you're hungry. Mom is always very generous in her portions."
    As Emma pulled off the foil, Sara could see that she wasn't kidding. There was enough lasagna on the plate for three people.
    "Are you going to eat, too?"
    "Already did. You're on your own, but don't worry about finishing it all. Have a seat. I'll get the salad."
    She sat down as Emma pulled out a bowl of greens and a bottle of dressing.
    Picking up her fork, she took a bite of pasta and was