Free A Risk Worth Taking by Melissa Klein Page A

blonds.”
    The last part of her sentence hung in the air as she opened the door. She didn’t know who was more surprised: Abby or her sister, Sarah, who was standing bug-eyed where her tall, dark and handsome should have been. Abby coughed to cover the laugh that threatened to bubble up.
    “What?”
    They’d never been the type of sisters who just dropped by each other’s place. Why now, of all times? “It’s Sarah,” she answered, making her voice light. No sense starting off on the wrong foot.
    “Don’t let her get under your skin.”
    “Okay, I’ll tell her you said hi,” she said before pushing the “end” button on the phone.
    “I was in the area, and I thought I’d pop by and pick up those photos you promised,” Sarah said as she stepped through the doorway.
    After leaving Katie and Jackson’s wedding on less than cordial terms, Abby wanted to smooth things over with the only blood relative she had other than Jackson. She’d made a small album of wedding photos to give as an olive branch. “Sure, it’s right over here,” she said pointing to a bookcase behind her.
    “Are you expecting company?” Sarah asked pointing to the chips and salsa on the coffee table.
    “Grant Davis is coming over in a while,” Abby answered, hoping her sister would then cut her impromptu visit short.
    Sarah cocked an eyebrow. “Isn’t he married?”
    The implication hurt. “He’s divorced.” If Abby did a thousand things right, it would never erase her one mistake in her sister’s eyes. “Besides, it’s not like that. I’m helping him and Heather with their charity.”
    Sarah narrowed her eyes as if she were calling up some detail for her memory banks. “They still live together, don’t they?”
    Classic Sarah. She loved gathering tidbits of information the way a squirrel did acorns. The better to judge everyone with.
    Abby clenched her jaw to keep the storm of words inside her mouth. What business was it of Sarah’s how other people lived their lives?
    Sarah prattled on, keeping up her one-sided conversation. “Makes you wonder if the two of them can stand to live under the same roof why they didn’t just stay married.”
    A chill washed over Abby. She saw last Sunday how well the two got on. Like friends. What if there was more than co-parenting going on?
    “Who knows, maybe they’ll remarry,” Sarah said. “I always think it’s best if children are raised in a two parent home.”
    Abby seethed from her sister’s latest jab. She could name quite a few children who turned out just fine with one parent. Jackson. And a few who’d been raised with both parents who seemed to delight in making each other miserable. She’d had all the family values lecture she could stand. Abby thrust the album toward her sister. “I hope you’ll enjoy the pictures,” she practically growled. So much for the olive branch.
    Sarah blinked, seemingly confused by Abby’s forcefulness. Her sister always was surprised when others didn’t share her point of view or baulked at being schooled on morality. Her mouth opened as if she were about to launch into another round of “what’s wrong with the world.”
    Abby’s phone cut off the impending lecture. Grant’s number showed up on the phone’s screen. “Hello,” she said, keeping her voice casual.
    His sultry voice reached out through the line. “Hi, beautiful lady.”
    She held up a finger to her sister and stepped out of earshot. “What’s up?”
    “Something’s come up here at home.” Though his voice became muffled, probably from him covering the receiver with his palm, she could still hear him say, “Hold on sweetheart. I’ll be right there.” Then his voice became clear again. “I’ll call you, and we can reschedule.”
    Images of the cozy scene playing in the background flooded her mind. “Okay, that’s fine,” she answered then hung up. She schooled her features into a placid mask before turning back to her sister.
    Sarah quirked an