A Major Seduction Read Free Page A

Maria and Olivia.
Probably the start of another plan to encourage Mike’s interest. He found it
flattering now, when for years he’d thought it annoying.
    “She is most definitely not my sister.” Brad put an arm around Maria’s shoulders. “Are you, sweetness?”
    She laughed. “Nope. Not at all.”
    “She’s taken, anyway.” Olivia shrugged. “She’s going out
with Bobby after dinner.”
    “Bobby who?” Mike wanted to know.
    Maria rolled her eyes. “Pass the rolls, please.”
    The conversation continued about his father’s golf game, the
craft shop where Maria worked, and Olivia’s classes at the local community
college. His parents peppered him with questions about Camp Pendleton, his last
duty station in California. And he filled them in on yet another one of his
friends who’d gotten divorced and/or separated. Just one more reason never to
get attached. He cringed at the thought of his last ex-girlfriend.
    Conversation continued around him, yet he noticed no one had
answered his question about this Bobby guy. Had he heard of him before? Olivia
had never mentioned him in any letter or phone call, and she normally kept him
up to date on everyone at home.
    Once dinner finished, they all stood to clear the table.
Before Mike could ask again about Bobby ,
Maria hugged his mother.
    “I’m sorry to duck out, Elizabeth. But I have a date.”
    “Enjoy yourself, honey. See you later.” His mother smiled
and waved.
    Mike watched Maria hug everyone but him—to whom she
waved—before she left.
    He turned to see his sister watching him. “What?”
    Olivia smirked. “Nothing.” She turned and challenged Brad to
a game of rummy. His parents wanted in and dragged him in as well.
    It was like he’d never left. Family game night with Brad,
Olivia, and their parents. It might seem hokey to some, but not to Mike.
Smiles, good times, and a closeness he’d never felt with anyone not family. His
time spent with his fellow Marines in the field and in combat had shown him
what real camaraderie meant. Those guys he’d kill for, and he loved them like
brothers. But he’d never felt that soft, warm emotion the way he did for the
Cava brood.
    But the more he played, the more he wondered why tonight
felt so…off.
    “Seriously. Are you playing the game to win or to make us
feel better for being so much smarter than you?” Brad asked.
    “Fu—screw off,” he corrected at a glance from his mother.
“Anyone got any threes?”
    Brad snickered. “It’s not Go Fish.”
    They played for a while more until he couldn’t stand it.
“Who is this Bobby Maria’s dating? Have you met him?”
    “Why all the concern?” Brad asked.
    “Maybe he’s upset because Maria’s over him.” Olivia smiled,
seeming pleased with herself for some reason. Such a little sister.
    “Over Mike?” his mother scoffed. “Oh, you mean that innocent
crush she used to have? That was puppy love.”
    “Felt real enough to me,” Mike muttered, annoyed everyone
seemed to discount her feelings. Sure, it had been annoying when she’d been in
high school and he’d been trying to score with the ladies. But she’d been so
cute he hadn’t had the heart to truly discourage her. Pretending he had no idea
she liked him had solved all their problems. Especially when she’d started
blossoming into a beautiful young woman he’d had no right even thinking about.
    “Please.” Brad laughed at him. “You’re just upset she
prefers me over you.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yeah. She’s cute, she’s nice, and we get along.” Brad
shared a smile with Olivia. “I like her. And I know she’s not my sister. Thank
God. Because then I’d be having some pretty inappropriate thoughts.”
    “You’re so gross.” Yet Olivia laughed at him.
    Their father chuckled. “Just like me, eh, Lizzie?”
    Their mother blushed. “Too much so.”
    “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m happily single for the time being,”
Brad added.
    Their mother sighed. “Too bad, because Maria would