Legacy of Lies Read Free Page B

his mind, I told myself. I pounded down the last few steps, so they would hear me and have time to switch topics.
    Grandmother was sitting at her desk again. Matt’s backpack was on the floor, his back turned to me.
    “Hello, Megan,” Grandmother said, then glanced in Matt’s direction.
    “Hello,” I replied, and followed her glance. Matt reached for a book high up on a shelf and began to page through it, keeping his back to me. I doubted he was as interested in the book as he pretended.
    Well, okay. I could play this game. I sat down with my back to him.
    “Grandmother,” I said, “I was hoping you’d have some family pictures hanging up.”
    “There are three in the upstairs hall,” she replied.
    “The ones from the 1800s? They’re cool. I was hoping you might have some of my grandfather and you. I’d love to see pictures of Mom and Uncle Paul when they were growing up.” I glanced around the room. Despite the space available on the desk, the long fireplace mantel, and walls of shelves, there wasn’t a family photograph in sight.
    “I don’t like to display photographs,” she said.
    “Oh. Well, do you have some picture albums?”
    “No.”
    “How come?” I asked.
    “I don’t approve of taking pictures of ourselves. It’s vain. It glorifies our own image.”
    I frowned. “It also allows us to remember the people we loved.”
    Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Matt turn his head slightly.
    “You mentioned my cousin,” I said. “Does he visit Wisteria often?”
    Her eyes flicked sideways, watching Matt. “He lives here.”
    “Oh, good! Will he be here for dinner?”
    I caught the look of amusement in her eyes. “Yes.”
    “What’s he like?”
    A sly smile lit the corners of her mouth, as if she were enjoying the game. “You’ll have to decide for yourself, Megan.”
    “Good point. It’s not fair to judge people before you actually meet them.”
    The pleasure she took in our rude standoff convinced me to put an end to it. I rose and walked over to my cousin. “Just so I don’t misinterpret things,” I said, “I want to know, are you shy or a snob?”
    He carefully closed the book and set it back on its shelf, so I got a good look at his profile, a tanned face that was too strongly cut to be described as “cute.” His hair was brown and thick.
    When he finally turned to me, I was ready to glare back and treat him to what my brothers call “the hot coals.” But his eyes took me by surprise. They were dark and beautiful, fathoms deep, like a river on amoonless night. Now I knew why three girls were riding around with him in his Jeep.
    We both took a step back. His intense gaze made me unsteady. “I’m Megan,” I said, anchoring my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t twist my hair.
    “Matt.”
    He kept staring at me. I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. I wished he was either less good-looking or less of a jerk. I’d rather not be drawn to rude and arrogant guys. Until now, I hadn’t been.
    “Nice to meet you,” I told him.
    He nodded, then turned and walked past me to pick up his backpack. “Are we eating at six, Grandmother?”
    “As always,” she replied.
    Apparently our little family reunion was over. “May I go for a walk before dinner?” I asked. “I’d like to look around.”
    “Keep the house in view,” Grandmother warned. “We don’t want to have to search for you.”
    “Would anybody like to come with me?” I added, giving friendliness another try. Maybe Matt would behave better when Grandmother wasn’t around.
    “No.” Her reply was blunt, but it was more of a response than I got from my cousin, who left the room silently.
    “Sorry, Matt,” I called. “I didn’t hear your answer.”
    He turned back in the hall, a flash of annoyance in his eyes. “No. No, thank you.”
    I shrugged, wishing it was as easy to toss off the strange attraction I felt toward him.
    After promising Grandmother I wouldn’t get lost, I headed outside. I made a