Free Entangled Souls by Kimber Waits

confidence in her sexuality and she knew how to use it to her advantage, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she failed to excite Bridger.
    Ever since she’d read her mother’s will and learned the truth about her family’s secret, she’d been trying to seduce Bridger with little success. He would be the perfect choice to rule by her side.
    “Maven,” Albert said, taking his time entering the room.
    “Dammit, Albert! Stop sneaking up on me like that. You’ll give me a coronary.”
    “Sorry.”
    “Well, what do you want?” she snapped, tired of the little man’s constant interruptions. If given the choice she would have fired him the day her mother died. But for some unknown reason the old coot meant a great deal to her mother, and for the time being it was important for her to keep up appearances.
    “Bridger has arrived.”
    “Really? I didn’t hear the doorbell.”
    “I saw him as he was coming up the drive and opened the door before he could ring the bell.”
    “Well, what are you waiting for? Bring him to me.” Maven smoothed her long dark curls into place. She glanced down at her simple black sundress, feeling pleased with her appearance.
    “Would you care for refreshments?” Albert asked, leading Bridger into the living room. Maven glanced over at Bridger who quickly declined the offer. She dismissed Albert, smiling sweetly at Bridger.
    “How are you holding up, Maven?”
    “As well as can be expected under the circumstances. I miss my sister.”
    “Of course you do,” Bridger said. “Sorry I wasn’t able to get here sooner, but work’s been crazy lately, plus studying for finals.”
    Placing her hand in the crook of his arm, Maven steered him towards the over-sized sofa, urging him to sit next to her. “Honestly, Bridger, you are too young to work so hard, Why don’t you let your family deal with things so you can have more free time.”
    “That would be nice, but I don’t have anyone that I trust…with dad sick…and mom…she’s hopeless when it comes to business. So, any word on Halen?”
    “No. Not yet. I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”
    “Any idea where she might be? What about a boyfriend?”
    “No. She was seeing that Dalton boy, but it was never serious. Honestly, I think our mom’s death proved to be too much for her to handle. She’s probably gone to stay with friends until things blow over. Maybe she needed to get lost for a while. I think we all need that from time to time.”
    “Wherever she is, I hope she isn’t going through this alone.”
    Maven sighed, taking in his closely cropped hair and dark, coffee-brown eyes. “All we can do is pray.”
    Bridger removed his arm from her grasp and quickly stood. “I hate to rush off, but I need to head out — gotta get back to work.”
    Maven bounced to her feet. “No!”
    “Sorry, Maven. I need to go.”
    Maven frowned. This was not going as planned at all. “I thought you would at least stay for dinner. It’s so lonely with mom and Halen gone. There is no one here to talk to.”
    Bridger gently placed his hands on her shoulders, looking down into her cobalt-blue eyes. “I can only imagine how lonely you must be, and I’m sure you miss your sister very much. I wish I could stay here with you, but it’s just not possible.”
    “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” she pouted.
    “Maven, I have other dinner plans. Do you remember the Wilkerson family?”
    “I think so, why?”
    “Well, Abby and I…are engaged.”
    Maven stomped her foot in protest. “Engaged? to be married?”
    Bridger laughed at her childish outburst. “Why do you sound so surprised? We dated off and on all through high school. We even went to prom together.”
    Maven turned away to hide her disappointment. How could he be engaged, and to Abby Wilkerson, no less. For years she dreamed of marrying Bridger, and she was not about to lose him to a basic whore like Abby.
    Mastering a semblance of composure, Maven turned to face him with