huffed then, too. “Look, Avra…”
Avra felt her brow creasing. The tone of Setha’s voice was fueled by more than the usual brother/sister agitations.
“There’s something different—Sam’s…always been protective, but this… It’s more than normal.”
“His baby sister’s gettin’ married, hon. That’s a big deal,” Avra softly pointed out.
“Yeah…I just hoped he’d loosen up with Carson Arroyo out of the picture. I’ve tried to get him to talk about whatever’s goin’ on but he just clams up. It’s just him and me out here and I’m ’bout fed up with his mood.”
“Right…” Avra rubbed the creases in her brow then, understanding the woman’s frustration. “Honey, um…you know you are a grown woman. You could always stay with Khouri. You guys are about to get married.”
“I know it’s stupid and old-fashioned.” Setha’s laughter came out brief across the phone line. “I just felt like it’s the least I could do since I really did just spring all this on them. They didn’t even know I was seeing anyone for Pete’s sake.”
Avra strolled back to sit on the arm of a chair near the phone table. “Did they give you a hard time about it?”
“Oh, no! Not even—which is a real surprise. They all like Khouri. They’re happy for me but I think they’re afraid they’ll lose me once I become a wife.”
“Well…they’re not altogether wrong about that.” Avra had settled into big-sister mode, always eager to offer an ear to listen.
“This is different, though.” Setha’s voice had gone softer. “I virtually closed myself off to them when I was investigating all that stuff about Carson Arroyo. Staying with Sam’s the least I can do to make myself more available to them—for a little while longer anyway.”
“So go stay with Mr. Dan.” Avra referred to Setha’s father and a sudden smile curved her mouth. “You’d get no argument from me about coming to stay over then.”
“Sorry, girl, even big, bad Danilo Melendez wasn’t willing to fight with Sam when he roared about me staying here with him.”
Avra felt herself losing the battle.
“So? Will you come?”
Avra broke into a frustrated dance-jerk on the settee and rolled her eyes. “I’ll be there.” She managed to keep her voice level. Silently she acknowledged the part she’d played in riling Sam with talk of Carson
Arroyo’s motives. She couldn’t help smiling over the sound of Setha giggling and yay-ing on the other end of the line.
“I’ll be there today after work.”
“Oh, thanks, Av. We’re gonna have so much fun.”
“Right. Fun.”
“Oh…stop that and don’t worry,” Setha ordered and broke the connection seconds after.
The phone resumed its ring half a beat later. Avra laughed when she answered.
“Don’t worry, I won’t change my mind.”
“I hope not,” Sam said. “Aside from yes, that would be my second-favorite answer from you.”
“Keep dreaming. What do you want?” She rolled her eyes, attempting to ward off her reaction to the sound of his deep laughter rumbling across the landline. “What is it, Sam?” she insisted.
“Just calling to see if you want me to send a car to the Review after work.”
“Ah…” Avra stood from the settee. “Is this about Setha’s shower? The particulars of which you didn’t feel the need to share with me?”
Again, Sam chuckled. “Sorry ’bout that. Must’ve slipped my mind.”
“Humph. I can see how easily that could happen.”
Sam’s laughter was a bit more resonant in response to her dig. “Anyway, the ranch is pretty far out. I figured you might be too worn-out to make the drive after a full day.”
“Gee, Sam, I must say you continue to amaze me. I wouldn’t have thought you capable enough to come up with such a thoughtful plan.”
“I told you yesterday that I’m working to change your opinion of me.”
She’d been doing such a fine job of maintaining her stony demeanor, Avra thought. She coughed in reply to his mention of his office visit and a flashback to the kiss filled her mind for the second time that morning.
“I’ll be fine, Sam. I’ll drive my own car.”
“Mmm…in case you need to make an escape.”
“Something like that.”
“I would never force you, Av,” he said once silence held the line for a lengthy span.
She refused to ask whether he was referring to the ride he’d offered.
“So I guess that means you won’t force me on this trip to Kemah, right?”
“I’m not totally rehabilitated yet.” Laughter carried on his gravelly, deep words. “You can’t expect me to get rid of all my bad habits just like that.”
“Well, then here’s your chance to make progress.”
“I’m very stubborn, too.” He made a tsking sound over the phone. “Another bad habit to work on. Sorry, Av.”
“Such a jackass,” she hissed below her breath. “I’ll get my own ride.” She slammed the phone down on his laughter.
Not surprising, the ringing resumed again.
“Damn you,” she greeted.
Khouri burst into laughter then. “Hell, girl, I swear it’s too early in the morning even for me to be on your bad side.”
“Sorry, Khou…” she groaned, knocking a fist to her forehead when she heard her brother’s voice. “Just had a bad call.”
“So Dad got to you, too, huh?”
“No…what’s up?”
“I was calling to ask if you knew what this meeting was for.”
“Meeting? Today?”
“Ten a.m. sharp.”
“Damn.” The wall clock above her fireplace read 9:10 a.m. “Well…maybe it’s somethin’ good,” she hurriedly reasoned while collecting files and shoving them into her white leather valise. “How’d he sound when he called you?”
“Pissed. I’m guessing this ain’t one of those pats-on-the-back meetings.”
Avra
