Free All A Heart Needs B&N by Barbara Freethy

change."
    "I'm not trying to win or expecting him to change. I just wish he'd leave me alone."
    "Aren't you living in the garage apartment?" Aiden asked dryly.
    "For three weeks. Trust me, I'm counting the days."
    "Well, try not to let Dad get to you."
    "That's not easy. He hates everything I do."
    "I've been there," Aiden said. "But try to remember that just because Dad doesn't like your choices doesn't mean he hates you. He just worries and wants the best for you." Aiden patted his sleepy daughter's back. "Now that I'm a father myself, I'm starting to understand him better."
    "Hello, what's going on in here?" Sara asked as she came into the room. Aiden's pretty dark-haired wife gave them a smile. "How are you Sean? I didn't see you come in."
    "I'm good. And you?"
    "I'm tired. Chloe doesn't let us get much sleep. I think my daughter is going to be a night owl like her father."
    "Hey, if I could go to bed right now, I would," Aiden cut in.
    She laughed. "And I'd be right there with you."
    As Aiden and Sara exchanged a loving look, Sean found himself yearning for that same kind of shared connection. Unfortunately, that kind of connection came with a lot of strings, so he shoved that idea out of his head.
    Sara turned back to him. "Jessica told me that she moved into the Emery house. I couldn't believe it. I know it's been a long time since the fire, but I always felt like that house was kind of spooky after that."
    He wasn't surprised that Sara would have the same reaction he'd had. Sara had grown up next door to his parents' house, and she'd known the Emery family, too.
    "I remember when Stacy died," Sara added. "Her mom came over to talk to my mom after the fire. She was crying so hard. She said it was all her fault that Stacy was dead. My mom tried to convince her it was just an accident, but she was hysterical. Two days later, she was gone. My mom tried to get in touch with her, but she never called back. I guess she couldn't bear to talk to anyone from the neighborhood."
    "Why would Stacy's mom think she was to blame for the fire? She wasn't even home," Sean asked.
    Sara shrugged. "Maybe Mrs. Emery felt guilty because she wasn't there. She probably thought she could have gotten Stacy out if she'd been at home. But I don't know why she'd think that, because her husband couldn't save Stacy. If Mrs. Emery and Blake had been there, they probably would have died, too."
    And if he hadn't let Stacy run away from his house, she wouldn't have been there at all.
    "Maybe it's good that Jessica and Kyle are living there now," Sara continued. "We'll all be able to look at that house in a different, happier way."
    "Yeah, maybe," he said, not at all sure about that possibility.
    "It's just a house, guys," Aiden said. "It was rebuilt after the fire, and Helen Emery has lived there for years without any problems. It's not like it's haunted or anything."
    "How do you know? You haven't been in the house, have you?" Sara challenged her husband.
    "No, I haven't. But I don't believe in ghosts, and I've seen plenty of structures come back to life after a fire."
    "You're being logical," Sara said, with a dismissive wave of her hand.
    Aiden smiled. "Well, someone in this room has to be, don't you think?"
    "I'm sticking with my opinion," Sara said. "Are you about ready to go, Aiden?"
    "Any time."
    "I'll say goodbye to Nicole and get my bag. Then we'll go. Nice to see you, Sean. Don't be a stranger. Come by and visit us sometime."
    "I will," he promised.
    After Sara left, Aiden gave him a speculative look. "Are you really bothered by Jessica moving into that house?"
    "I'm bothered by a lot of things that have to do with Jessica," he admitted.
    Aiden gave him a knowing look. "So it's like that. You have a thing for her."
    "I'm trying not to."
    "Probably a good idea. The family has pretty much adopted Jessica. If you mess around with Jessica and break her heart, there will be hell to pay."
    "I know."
    "But she is very attractive," Aiden said.
    "Yeah,"