Free Growing Love (Brookfield) by Lacey Wolfe Page B

if those two would ever get along or if this was how it would always be.
    “Nothing. A misunderstanding.” Matt’s gaze was hot on Alyssa. Alyssa glanced in Diane’s direction, appearing both frustrated and contrite. What was going on?
    “Everyone okay?” Connor put his arm around Alyssa.
    “Apparently not. What’s the misunderstanding?”  Diane said, crossing her arms over her chest.
    Matt and Alyssa were quiet, as though they were arguing with their eyes.
    “Is this about Matt being at the prostitute bar?” Connor asked.
    “A prostitute bar!” Had she heard right?
    “Connor!” Alyssa shoved at her boyfriend’s chest. “Diane doesn’t need to hear this in her condition!”
    “I didn’t know,” Matt said in his defense. “I left as soon as I knew what it was.”
    “How could you not know?” Alyssa demanded, turning back to him with fiery eyes. “I probably should have waited and asked you another time, but now that it’s out there,” she lifted her arms in a “what now?” gesture, “you may as well explain yourself.” She stepped over to Diane and whispered low, “I’m sorry, sis.”
    Diane ignored her, too intent on Matt’s face. She held her breath as she waited for his answer.
    “ I’m not going to sit here and explain this, because once again, I’m the bad guy. I’m always the bad guy for you Duncan women. And you never believe a word I say anyway.” Matt brushed past them.
    “What? Matt, ” Diane called.
    “I’ll see you at home. Now I can be the bad guy for not feeding you as well.” He pushed open the glass door and the bell jingled loudly behind him.
    “Alyssa, what’s going on?” Diane crossed her arms over her belly this time, feeling another Braxton Hicks coming on.
    Alyssa sighed heavily. A worry line appeared on her forehead. It was obvious she didn’t really want to reveal whatever it was.
    “Alyssa,” Diane injected a warning note into the name, “out with it. You started this. Now finish.”
    “ Okay,” her sister raised a hand to stay any further words, ”the other week Matt went to Guave’s Bar. It’s well known as a—“
    “ Prostitute bar, I’m guessing. I’ve not heard of it, but apparently you have.” Diane sighed. “Maybe he was telling the truth. How did you find out he was there?”
    “I heard it at the hair salon. The guys from his construction site sent him there.”
    This town and its gossip. Welcome to small-town living. “Did you happen to hear if he took someone home?”
    “He was there. Why else?”
    Diane was torn. Her sister had a point. Matt was at the place and he was single. So if he wanted to pay for sex, he could. But a bigger part of her believed Matt. She couldn’t see him going to a place like that knowing what it was. It just wasn’t Matt.
    “I’m going to go talk to him.” Diane turned.
    “Want the book you came for?” Alyssa asked.
    “No. I’m not in the mood for it right now.”
    She left and started the short walk back to Matt’s. He’d gotten so upset. Not really about the bar thing, but about the way her sister and her had acted. He’d mentioned it before, but she hadn’t given it much thought. But now she saw how much this bothered him. She needed to find a way to fix this. She didn’t think Matt was a bad guy.
    When she entered the home she was sharing with Matt, it was silent.
    “Matt,” she called out, but there was no answer.
    She walked farther in and back tow ard the bedrooms. She peered into his room and found him in the bed sound asleep. A nap sounded good. She leaned against the doorjamb and sucked on her bottom lip. What would it be like to curl up in the bed with him?
    Slowly, she walked, waiting for something to stop her. But as she stood next to the bed, he didn’t stir. She climbed onto the bed, feeling it dip under her weight. She lay with her back to him. For a moment she was still, but then she wiggled her hips a little to make the bed bounce, hoping it might wake him and perhaps