Read Run to You for Free Online Page B

hand, silencing him. “Ms. Hanaford, how can we put your fears at ease?”
    She sat up straighter. “Well, I suppose we’d like you to attend the next Town Council meeting and hear from the other concerned members of the council. We’re going to need some reassurances before we can approve your rezoning application.”
    Ethan opened his mouth to let her know exactly where she and the rest of the Town Council members could shove it, but Ryan silenced him with a stony look.
    “We’d be happy to attend the meeting. When is it?” Ryan asked.
    Lorraine turned to Ryan with a pinched smile. “Next Friday the nineteenth at ten o’clock.”
    Ryan tapped the information into his phone and smiled. “We’ll be there, and by next Friday, our third partner, Mark Dalton, should have arrived in town as well. I’m certain we’ll be able to set your minds at ease.”
    Lorraine made a rude sound under her breath at the mention of Mark’s name, and Ethan’s fingers curled. Yeah, once upon a time they’d all been a bunch of teenaged hooligans, but they’d grown out of it—mostly, and Mark most of all. He was a decorated war veteran now, and he deserved better than to be judged by Lorraine Hanaford because he stole a pack of cigarettes from the convenience store when he was fifteen.
    This was bullshit. They had to get Off-the-Grid up and running while Gram was here to see it. To hell with the Town Council and their stupid concerns.
    “We look forward to seeing you there.” Lorraine’s smile more closely resembled a snarl. She stood, and Ryan showed her to the front door.
    Thank God Ryan had agreed to come on board as Off-the-Grid’s business manager because he was clearly better at this crap than Ethan was. All he wanted to do right now was punch a fist through the wall. A better idea would be to go out back to the pool, put on his trunks, and swim laps until the fire in his veins had been doused.
    “You need to learn a thing or two about public relations.” Ryan gave him a pointed look as he came back into the room. Ironic that Ryan, the hulking man with the motorcycle parked out front and tats up and down his arms, was the cool-headed peacekeeper of their group.
    Ethan was known for his charm with the ladies, but his temper had always been on a short fuse. He blamed it on bad genes. “That’s what I have you for. And Lorraine has always had a stick up her ass. Gram said so.”
    On cue, Dixie strolled in from the kitchen, a cup of tea in her right hand. “It’s true. We were all so relieved when she quit coming to book club.”
    Ryan glanced between them. “Stick up her ass or not, she can make our lives a lot more difficult if she refuses to give us the zoning we need, so everyone needs to play nice.”
    Gram smiled sweetly. “I’m always nice.”
    Ryan patted her shoulder. “The best.”
    Ethan grunted. “I’ll try.”
    “If you ask me, Lorraine is just jealous of Ethan’s success,” Gram said. “He was the one always playing pranks on the teachers in high school, and her Devon was supposed to go places. Now, Ethan’s an Olympic champion with an exciting new business, and Devon is just a boring old accountant.”
    Ethan rubbed his neck. “I don’t know about that.”
    “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to butter her up in the meantime anyway,” Gram said.
    “No, it wouldn’t,” he agreed.
    “On that note, I’m out.” Ryan leaned in to plant a kiss on Dixie’s cheek. “Always lovely to see you, Gram.”
    “You, too, sweetie.” At one time or another, his grandmother had looked out for all three of them.
    Ryan waved over his shoulder as he left.
    “I’m just going to freshen up before you take me home.” Dixie headed down the hall in the direction of the half-bath.
    Ethan watched her go. Dr. Haskell had said she shouldn’t drive herself any longer, in case the aneurysm burst while she was behind the wheel. He didn’t like the idea of her living alone either, but hadn’t broached the topic yet. For