All I Want Read Free

“Better get used to it while you’re in this house, Sean. At least you get to move out at some point. I’m stuck here.” But his father had laughed, like he always did. His parents were pretty awesome people, and he knew his father adored all the pampering his mother did.
    Sean shook his head of thoughts about his family and focused on Alec again. “Just don’t be late for your rehearsal dinner tonight. You’re never on time for anything, and if you’re late for that I’m sure Brynn would kick your ass.”
    “I won’t be late. This is the start of the best part of my life. No way will I be late for it.”
    Nodding, Sean said, “Your mother is making sure your brothers pick you up, isn’t she?”
    Smirking, Alec replied, “Of course.”
    Isabel had become almost like a second mother to Sean over the years he’d been working for Harper’s. Every holiday he received an invitation to their home. Not that he ever needed one, because his own mother would skin him alive if he didn’t return to Boston for the holidays, but Isabel offered just the same, and he always appreciated it.
    “If you’re not out of here in an hour I’m calling your mom,” Sean said, ribbing Alec. It wasn’t like Alec and Phil didn’t get their licks in with him.
    “Don’t worry about it. My mom has everyone on speed dial, including Carly now. She’s got this wedding organized down to the letter.”
    “I’m sure she does,” Sean said, grinning and making his way back to his office—thinking about Carly after Alec said her name again.
    He remembered the first time he met her, almost a year ago. She’d come in to see Brynn after school one day. Her happy, peppy, cheerful voice sounded before she made her way to the doorway, but then she stopped, almost embarrassed, then looked flustered and apologized. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were with someone.”
    Brynn had waved it off and introduced the two of them. Shyly—a complete contradiction to the person who walked into the office before knowing he was there—Carly shook Sean’s hand when he walked over and thanked her for bringing Brynn to them.
    For some reason, that comment seemed to embarrass her more, yet Sean didn’t know why. She stopped and stuttered, looked over at Brynn questioningly, then back to Sean. So he left the room and gave them privacy, pushing the introduction out of his mind.
    Only Carly never stayed out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried.
    She was a tiny little thing, maybe five foot one on a good day. Her light brown hair was shoulder length, with wispy bangs hanging on one side. In her nervousness she always brushed them away from her eyes, but they’d fall back until she finally tucked them behind her ear, allowing him to see the apple shape of her face, the rosy complexion from a blush she usually had that complimented perfectly with her light brown eyes. Almost golden, they stood out so much.
    He’d seen Carly plenty of times in the last several months. Here at the office and once at the thirtieth birthday party Alec threw for Brynn a few months ago.
    Carly was always nice and cordial to him but nothing else, even though he always made a point to go over and talk with her. He’d get a laugh out of her, and almost immediately after that she would catch herself and make some excuse to leave. He had no clue why she always ran away from him.
    Several times he wanted to question Brynn about it but stopped. That seemed too juvenile, reminding him of running to his sisters when he wanted something when he was younger. He was a man now; he could figure it out on his own, and he didn’t need someone to help him get a date.
    With a deep sigh, he got back to the work at hand, but kept an eye on the clock to make sure Alec left on time. Sean was looking forward to seeing Carly at the wedding. Maybe she’d be more relaxed there. Something about her just pulled him in, and he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel before he had a chance to explore