Free Trophy Wives by Jan Colley Page A

barrel.
    â€œTo—succeed. No luck involved.”
    â€œTo succeed where your father failed,” she told him triumphantly.
    He grinned at the sparkle in her eyes. “Dammit, you’re right, Freud!”
    â€œYou haven’t forgiven him, have you?” Her head was cocked to one side, the grin fading.
    â€œHave you forgiven your parents?”
    Lucy’s mouth twisted, just for a moment. Her thumb knuckle pressed on her chin. “I don’t suppose it’s easy being a parent.” She smiled sadly. “If I ever get the chance, I’ll know what not to do.”
    â€œI’ll drink to that,” Ethan said, raising his bottle and toasting her. “Here’s to making a better job of it.”
    They clinked bottles.
    â€œWould you like to see your mother again?”
    Lucy picked at the label of her bottle. “No.” She shook her head. “She made her choice and obviously I didn’t figure.”
    â€œShe was walking from your father, not you.”
    Her smile held a gentle rebuke. “Oh, Ethan. If that were the case she would have kept in touch, like your mother.”
    She inhaled deeply then looked up at him seriously. “But I do regret that I let Dad get away with ignoring me all those years. If I’d tried a bit harder…”
    â€œMaybe if he’d tried a bit harder,” he told her andthere was an edge to his voice. Why should she feel bad about it? It was she who had been treated shabbily.
    Where was this coming from, this protective thing he had going on here? He’d always been a loner, proud of it. Had no problem with the strongest-of-the-pack-survive rule.
    â€œYou have to forgive them, don’t you?” she was saying. “They’re family, and you only get one.”
    He frowned. “I think that’s—generous, considering what your parents did.”
    She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “What’s the point in being bitter?”
    Ethan found that interesting. He would not have described himself as bitter. But it had never occurred to him that his father deserved forgiveness. Hell, if that were the case, what did his poor mother deserve?
    And then the thought popped into his mind that his mother had been perfectly happy, these last ten years. His father had been generous with the settlement and she had a nice spread and seemed happy with Drako, her boy-toy up north.
    â€œActually—” she broke into his thoughts, and her tone was much lighter “—if you want to think about it, we’ve got quite a lot in common. My mum married a much older man, then took off with a younger one. Your dad likes younger women. Just think what our combined gene pool would produce.”
    Ethan had already started laughing at her words. But when Lucy realized what she’d said, the look of shock that crossed her face really did him in. That’s when he threw back his head and let rip.
    Her hand was clamped over her mouth again but as he laughed she relaxed. Her elbows rested on the barrel and she leaned on them, shading her eyes.
    â€œDon’t worry about me,” Ethan chuckled. “Just say exactly what’s on your mind.”
    She shook her head, still hiding her eyes, but she was smiling ruefully. “I can’t believe I said that.” She sighed. “Strike that from the record.”
    He cleared his throat, still grinning. It felt good—great. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d shared a good laugh with a woman. Man, she was cute.
    â€œI’m sorry. Tom’s always saying I need to engage brain before mouth.”
    Their smiles faded. Tom seemed to have that effect. “You’re very loyal,” Ethan said quietly, and watched a mini slide-show of expression on her face. From humor to caution in one second. She would be hopeless at poker. “Your brother doesn’t know how lucky he is.”
    Lucy pursed her lips. “And have you