Family Values Read Free Page A

love you too. The only problem, mijo , is that she also loves your brothers. Now she feels bad about herself, not only because she disappointed me, but because she hurt them. Worse, she no longer has a home.”
    “That’s not true.”
    “Tell that to her heart. She’s alone now. Her handsome princes scorned her.”
    “But what can I do?”
    “Nothing for now. Let her finish school. Let her think about what she wants. If she’s meant to be here, she’ll return.”
    Patience had never been Nate’s strong suit. He didn’t know how many times he’d been tempted to climb into his truck and make the trip to Austin to see her. But Brand had told him to stay away. Amelia had echoed his warnings.
    So he’d waited. His brothers would probably die of shock if they knew he hadn’t slept with another girl since Angel. No one could compare. When he was alone at night, he fisted himself, remembering how it had felt to hold her soft body against his and slide deep into her slick channel. Everything about that night was engraved on his memory.
    Hell, he was getting hard now just thinking about it.
    Brand cleared his throat and aimed a glare his way. Then he tilted his head toward Angel.
    With a start, he realized the conversation had gone quiet. He sat straighter in his chair. “So, Angel, you seein’ anyone?”
    * * * * *
    Angel busied herself at the sink after she’d shooed the men out of the kitchen. Each in their own way had shown reluctance to leave her alone. Perhaps Nate not as much. Since he’d asked his ill-timed question and received deadly glares from his siblings, he’d gone silent, the tips of his ears turning red as he’d dropped his gaze to his bowl and stuck a spoon in his mouth.
    She’d been happy that the brothers had turned their attention to him, because she’d grown flushed at his question. How pathetic would it sound to them if they knew she hadn’t dated anyone all throughout college? Study dates, coffee dates, yes, but she’d been firm when an invitation was issued and had declined, saying she was taken.
    Not that she imagined any future here at the ranch, but she’d loved the three of them for so long, she didn’t think she had room in her heart for another man.
    “You’ve had a long day. Why don’t you let me help? I can dry the dishes.”
    She didn’t look back at Eli, just listened as he strolled quietly toward her. “You have a dishwasher. No one dries dishes anymore. The few pots I have left can drip-dry.”
    “Angel…”
    “ Eli .” She aimed a baleful glance his way. “Spit it out. I’m tired, and I’d like to retire to my room.”
    “The moon’s pretty tonight. Big and full. Maybe you’d join me on the porch for a little while? I promise I won’t ask you about any boyfriends.” He wrinkled his nose. “You’re gonna be here a while. Wouldn’t you like to have someone you can talk to?”
    Her shoulders drooped. “You always were the one I brought my problems to.”
    “Unless they were really big problems—and then you sought out Brand.”
    “Yeah. Kansas going lame was pretty traumatic,” she said, a smile tugging at her mouth.
    “You wailed like a banshee then wet his shirt you cried so hard.”
    She laughed ruefully. “Over a pebble in her shoe. I felt really stupid when he pointed out the problem.”
    “See? I made you laugh.”
    “You always could,” she said softly. Had she really thought she could keep walls up to close him out? “I suppose I could keep you company for a little while.”
    With a grin, he offered her the crook of his arm, and although she knew touching him was a mistake, she couldn’t bear disappointing him. She let him lead her outside to the steps.
    They sat side by side, bathed in moonlight, as romantic a setting as any girl could want. That the cowboy sitting beside her was every bit as handsome as any prince from a fairytale was simply something she chose to ignore.
    “Amelia says you started work at an architectural