Deceived Read Free

would only solidify his place as the fourth Woodley brother.
    “Why do you look so incredulous?” he demanded.
    Edward was the one who responded. He laughed as he said, “‘Josie Westfall despises me!’” Then he threw his hand up to his forehead and tossed his head back with great dramatic flair, setting off laughter from Jude and Gabriel.
    Evan shifted in his chair. “Now wait a moment…”
    “Oh, you cannot deny it. You were all dramatics when asking about her,” Jude interrupted. “You should have seen your eyes.”
    Folding his arms, Evan stared straight ahead. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re being an idiot.”
    “Why does she hate you so much anyway?” Edward asked. “I’ve never understood it.”
    For a brief moment, Evan flashed back to a much-recalled and highly despised afternoon sixteen years ago. Flashed back to the bright pain in Josie’s eyes. Then he blinked those thoughts away, along with the shame that accompanied them.
    “I don’t know,” he lied. “Miss Westfall has the memory of an elephant, I suppose. Never forgets a slight.”
    “You slighted her?” Jude said with wide eyes.
    “I don’t know. She hates me, I must have,” Evan said, waving away their questions. “Or maybe she just doesn’t like my choice in cravats. Who knows with women?”
    Gabriel blinked at him and Evan turned his head so he wouldn’t see his younger brother’s knowing stare.
    “Well, I hope you won’t let it interfere with Audrey’s wedding,” Edward said as he pushed to his feet.
    Evan wrinkled his brow. “I would never do that.”
    “Edward, did you want to go over those figures?” Jude asked, also taking his feet.
    Edward laughed and shot Gabriel and Evan a glance. “Three days to his wedding and this one is still managing estate business.”
    Jude rolled his eyes. “Because I intend to leave you manager-less for several blissful weeks after I make Audrey mine. So take me while you can get me.”
    Edward clapped an arm around their friend and the two moved toward the door. “So I can’t send you messages day and night about estate minutia?” he teased.
    “You can, but I won’t answer them,” Jude chuckled as they left the room.
    Once they were gone, Gabriel turned his attention back to Evan. His younger brother leaned back, folding his arms and meeting his gaze evenly. “You haven’t really forgotten why Josie hates you, have you?”
    Evan glared at him. He had often wished his younger brother hadn’t been witness to the afternoon in question.
    “I remember something about it,” he admitted. “I should have known you’d recall it all, with that memory of yours.”
    Gabriel shrugged. “I pay attention to detail, that’s all.”
    “Yes, you do that,” Evan muttered, his own mind recreating the very details he wished he could forget forever. “You know, it was a decade and a half ago. You’d think she could just forget it. I have apologized a dozen times.”
    His brother lifted both eyebrows. “She must have her reasons. When was the last time you apologized?”
    Evan pursed his lips. “The year she came out. So…”
    “Eight years ago?” Gabriel said with a shake of his head.
    “Well, she hardly spoke to me during those eight years,” Evan said, pushing out of his chair and pacing the room. “Even when she was running about with Claire, she’d hardly look at me. Look, the girl doesn’t like me. That’s fine. She may not even come to Audrey’s wedding. Then how she feels or doesn’t feel about me won’t matter a whit. Hell, if she comes it won’t matter. I’ll see her for all of a few hours—she’ll avoid me. That will be the end of it.”
    Gabriel shrugged. “Very well, if you say so. Now I am going to go up and talk to Mama for a bit. I’ll see you later.”
    His brother walked from the room and Evan moved back over to the table. He leaned his hands against the smooth surface and tried to control the tangled emotions that knotted in