Free Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) by Amanda Siegrist Page A

out of earshot range.
    "Back off, Emmett," Austin growled.
    "Oh, you like her then? Are you dating her?" Emmett asked, intrigued.
    "She's a friend, nothing more. But she...she doesn't like men. At least, that's what she's told me and the impression I get. She likes her space and she likes her privacy. I don't want anyone upsetting that," Austin said with a serious glower, "including you."
    "So, you like her," Emmett repeated, laughing as he did.
    "I just said—"
    "Austin, I know what you just said. You didn't specifically say it, but you like her. Maybe you don't want to, but you do. Since when do you give women things like you do with her? You date casually, but putting in an effort like this is very strange behavior for you. I'm just saying." Emmett rubbed his chin as Austin's frown deepened. "And I know what you mean about the space thing. I'm surprised she stood so close to you. She's wary. You do know what that means, don't you?"
    "She normally doesn't. She keeps her space, even from me, but she's known me a bit longer than you. Maybe that's why. Trust me. It's taken a lot for her to get to know me. She never accepts my help in fixing anything with the house, but she does a great job herself, so it's not like she really needs my help. She never invites me inside her house and when I offer her to come inside my house, she declines. I'd like to say we're friends, but the most I can really say is we're friendly. I have a small idea of why she acts that way. I'm guessing someone abused her before. If I knew who it was, they would be the sorriest man alive," Austin said with a slice of venom in his voice.
    "I don't know her that well, but I'd be right by your side if you ever find out. Just say the word."
    "Yeah, well, I don't know. I'm not going to ask her or suggest to her that I know anything. I'm keeping it light here. I'm just trying to be her friend because it looks like she needs one. That's it," Austin said, glancing at the house.
    Emmett slapped him on the shoulder. "Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better, but you like her. I think it scares you. Don't drink all the beer. I better go kill some spiders."
    Austin scowled as he watched Emmett head for the house. Suddenly he worried about Sophie inside the house as a man she barely knew was heading inside as well. Not that he didn't trust Emmett because he trusted him with his life. Sophie didn't know him and could be very nervous. He had no idea if she would hate him coming inside, but what the hell. She broke a small barrier between them today when she stood so close to him as she did.
    "Come on, Axel. Let's get you inside my house and then I'm going to check on Sophie, okay?" Austin said, as Axel happily followed him home. He swore Axel's tail wagged faster when he said her name as if he agreed with Austin's worry.
    ***
    Sophie bounced around the kitchen, pulling ingredients out, trying to calm her nerves. But they refused to calm down, jumping with every movement. Her hands shook every time she pulled something from the cupboard, or opened the fridge, or opened a drawer. She'd burn herself, cut herself, or hurt herself in some silly way if she didn't calm down.
    But a man was in her house and she hated it. She didn't even know why she offered him a pie. She only did that for Austin. It felt like a small betrayal, but she couldn't allow him to do it for free. Every man expected something in return. He would get nothing but a pie. Not a grape nut pie either.
    That was for Austin only.
    She wouldn't cross that line. He would get a simple apple pie. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw she had apples in the house because she was out of every other ingredient for pie except for grape nut pie. He just wasn't getting that.
    She stopped in front of the fridge to take a calming breath when she felt another presence. Everything tightened inside, ready to take flight or fight mode into gear when she heard a familiar, calming voice.
    "Are you okay, Sophie?"