Free Heart's Reward by Donna Hill Page B

“What are you drinking?”
    â€œWine is fine.”
    â€œSure you don’t want something stronger?”
    His eyes ran down her body for a hot second. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
    She didn’t dare respond, at least not to that statement. “I’ll be right back.”
    â€œYou two seem to be getting along rather well,” Alan commented under his breath, sidling up to her next to the bar. He refilled his drink.
    Her head jerked up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    He held up his hand in defense. “It’s not supposed to mean anything. Just an observation. Relax, sis.”
    She shook her head. “I’m sorry. This whole blackout thing has me off balance.”
    He draped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “You off balance? Come on, be for real. You always have everything under control.”
    â€œYeah, I do, don’t I?” she said with little conviction. It certainly didn’t feel like it.

Chapter 6
    E van came into the room and began removing the dishes and dinner trays.
    â€œLet me help with that,” Melanie said, putting down the bottle of wine to stack some of the dishes on the rolling cart.
    â€œYou’re not going to try to get home tonight, are you Evan?” Alan stated more than asked.
    â€œNo, I’m going to stay.”
    â€œGood.” Melanie patted his shoulder. “And don’t even think about trying to clean up the kitchen in the dark. I know how you are.”
    â€œI guess it can wait, but you know how I hate a messy kitchen.”
    â€œTonight is an exception.”
    He blew out a breath of resignation. “Just this one time.” He pushed the loaded cart out of the door to the kitchen.
    Melanie finished fixing the two glasses of wine and was about to return to her spot by the window.
    â€œI think he likes you.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œWho do you think?”
    She glanced a look in Claude’s direction. His body was silhouetted in stark relief against the pane of the window. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s a client and I’m being hospitable. Nothing more, nothing less.”
    â€œOkay,” Alan said and she could almost hear the smirk in his voice.
    Did she give off a vibe that she wasn’t aware of? Or was her brother doing to her what he’d been doing since they were kids—messing with her head? That had to be it.
    She returned with the drinks and handed Claude his.
    â€œThanks.” He took a sip. “I’ve been sitting here watching this storm, the power and shape that it takes, the things that it does to the horizon. It’s incredible to look at.”
    She sat back down and stared out into the turbulent night. The only thing to be seen was the white suds of the waves as they pummeled the shore and theoutlines of homes and rocks when lightning took their instant picture.
    â€œIt is pretty awesome.” She took a sip of her drink.
    â€œWhat about you? Tell me something that isn’t in your bio and profile.”
    He chuckled. “What could they have missed? Oh, I got a B in spelling in second grade.”
    Melanie’s laughter floated back and forth between them. “Yeah, I have a feeling we didn’t go back quite that far.” She paused a moment, knowing that she was treading on shaky ground, but she appeased herself with the notion that she was doing this as part of getting to know her client. It was in everyone’s best interest. “Let me put it this way. Since I haven’t gone over all the information, why don’t you tell me what you think you want me to know?”
    â€œHmm. I’ll skip over to all the good stuff,” he said, making her laugh, and she realized he made her laugh often and easily.
    He talked a little bit about his job, what he liked and disliked about being chief of staff for the senator. He told her about his love of fishing, which he rarely