Opposites Distract Read Free Page A

oven door a crack. “Bread pudding with whiskey sauce.”
    Harmony hugged herself.
    Brody shook his head. “For being thin, both of these women really love food.”
    â€œAnd you don’t?” Ian opened the refrigerator to grab a bottle of wine and two bottles of beer.
    Brody accepted one. “That’s Mom’s fault. She cooked a meal every night, and every meal came with dessert.”
    â€œThen this will feel just like home.” Ian motioned for him to help carry heavy pots to the round, cherry wood table. Trivets waited for them. Tessa sat across from Ian, Brody across from Harmony. Oh, good, Brody could watch her eat. When they were all seated, they dug in.
    Tessa’s bungalow lived up to everything Harmony expected. White cupboards lined three walls. Granite countertops provided plenty of workspace, and the oak floors looked worn and homey.
    Ian pointed his spoon at Brody. “Fill me in on what everyone’s up to at home.”
    Brody told him about their parents and sisters. “Maeve’s youngest boy—”
    Ian interrupted. “How old is Connor?”
    â€œFour now, he broke his arm after Christmas. Got a sled from Santa and went down the wrong hill.”
    Tessa winced. “Is he all right?” She glanced at Harmony. Harmony had broken her arm as a kid when her brother pushed her off their backyard swing set.
    â€œKids heal fast, but he hates his cast. Itches. It’s a good thing Maeve can work on her bookkeeping from home.”
    â€œAnd Bridget?” Ian glanced at Tessa’s copper hair. “My sister’s the woman who gave redheads a bad name. What a temper!”
    â€œShe’s fine. Likes her students this year. No one’s blown up the chemistry lab yet.” Brody paused for a second. Voice low, he said, “Cecily remarried on New Year’s Day.”
    Ian fumbled his fork. “The bitch talked another man into marrying her?”
    Harmony felt her eyes go wide. She wasn’t good at hiding her feelings. Tessa turned to her and whispered, “Brody’s ex. Ugly divorce.”
    Harmony had wondered. He looked to be about forty and didn’t wear a ring. Either he’d always been a woman-hater or he’d recently become one.
    Tessa reached over to touch Brody’s hand. “I’m sorry. That had to be hard for you.”
    He grunted. “Not really. They’ll probably make it to happy-ever-after. She married someone a lot older with loads of money. I’ve heard he loves to dote on her.”
    â€œEverything on her bucket list,” Ian said.
    Harmony asked, “Is she a blonde?” The man certainly had a low opinion of them. Maybe Cecily was the reason.
    Ian answered. “No, a ball-buster brunette.” He obviously didn’t like Brody’s ex.
    Harmony raised her hands in defeat. “I guess females in general don’t cut it. Blondes are bubbleheads, brunettes bust balls, and redheads have fiery tempers. Brody likes Tessa, though. So maybe a girl has to have copper hair to pass inspection.”
    Brody quirked an eyebrow. “Why? Are you interested in giving it a go?”
    â€œMe? No, just asking out of curiosity.”
    Brody focused on her. “Have you been married? In a serious relationship?”
    Those smoky-gray eyes made her squirm. “Not my thing. I get distracted too easily.”
    â€œNo heartbreak in your past?” he persisted.
    Tessa glanced her way. She looked uncomfortable. “She wouldn’t allow that.”
    â€œNone at all?” Brody sounded surprised.
    Harmony shrugged. “A drummer once stole a carton of cigarettes from me when he left before breakfast, but that was good. I meant to give up smoking anyway.”
    His lips curled in a half-smile. “So you’ve stayed single out of convenience, and I’m single because I got screwed over.”
    Convenience? Hardly. More like self-preservation. When you let someone