Free North of Heartbreak by Julie Rowe Page B

how she managed the stairs without tripping down them.
    He didn’t have to worry about her. She wanted nothing more from him ever again.
    Willa stomped her boots repeatedly on the front step of Jason’s small house to get rid of excess snow. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. If she were honest she’d admit it made her feel better.
    After last night, she’d managed to avoid Liam, but tomorrow, when he flew her to Summerset Inlet, she would have to speak to him whether she liked it or not.
    Why hadn’t Jason warned her that his nephew was filthy, stinking rich? She’d been thinking about it all day, but instead of being afraid, it made her mad. The only kind of person she distrusted more than a handsome man was a rich, handsome man.
    “Who’s making all the racket?” Jason’s deep crackly voice sounded unusually loud as he opened the front door.
    “Me,” Willa said, frowning. She shouldered the door aside so she could walk in.
    Jason coughed and stood squarely in the doorway. “Now’s not a good time for a visit.”
    “I’m not here for friendly chit-chat. This is business.” She held up the midsized toolbox she used to carry medical supplies for home visits. “You want to explain why you were a no show at the clinic today?”
    “I got busy.” He glanced over his shoulder at something and winced. “Couldn’t you come back tomorrow?”
    “I’m in Summerset Inlet tomorrow. It’s now or I ground you.”
    “That’s hard, Willa.”
    “Tough. Are you going to let me in or not?”
    Jason stepped aside with a sigh and she walked in. The first thing she noticed was a pair of black leather loafers in the entryway. She looked pointedly at the shoes then at Jason, one brow lifted.
    He coughed. “My brother, Liam’s father, is up for a quick visit.”
    “It had better be quick or he’ll end up with frostbite wearing those stupid things.”
    Jason crossed his arms over his chest. “Who burnt your toast this morning?”
    “I’ll get to that in a minute.” She pointed at her toolbox. “Where do you want to do this?”
    “In the bedroom.”
    Willa nodded, took off her boots and strode through the tiny living room.
    A tall man in a suit stood as she walked by. He smiled and held out his hand. “Hi there. I’m Edward Reynolds.”
    Her ingrained good manners brought her to a halt and made her shake his hand. “Willa.”
    “A pleasure.” His smile looked exactly like Liam’s, which didn’t do anything good to her blood pressure.
    She didn’t respond.
    “Are you a friend of Jason’s?” Edward asked.
    “Right now or most of the time?”
    “Both.”
    “Not right now, but I am most of the time.”
    He smiled as if he understood and patted her on the shoulder, his fingers clinging uncomfortably. “My brother generates that reaction.”
    She shook his hand off. “Your brother is the best pilot I’ve ever seen.”
    “Liam’s better,” Jason put in from behind them.
    “Maybe if he kept his focus on flying.”
    “Sounds like you know my son…quite well,” Edward said.
    His tone implied something she didn’t like. Willa glared at him with narrowed eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    He lifted his shoulders casually. “One wonders what kind of distractions Liam has to deal with.”
    She stared at the man, resisting the urge to stuff her toolbox down his throat. He stood there, waiting for her response, a smirk hovering over his lips.
    He was deliberately goading her. She’d seen that before in other more dangerous circumstances.
    “I don’t like you.” She changed her stance so she stood toe-to-toe with Liam’s father, her back straight and chin high.
    “Really? You’re a fast judge of character.”
    “Yes, I am.” She glanced at Jason. “Ready?”
    He took a step back. “Only if you promise to keep your claws sheathed.”
    “I’ll take that as a yes.” She led the way to the bedroom. Edward Reynolds’s chuckle echoed in her ears as Jason shut the door.