Someone Like You Read Free Page A

behind him, then slid her a sheepish glance. “I, uh . . . I know I should’ve called first, but can I stay with you for a while?”
    â€œAs long as you want,” Tess said without pause. She reached up and held his scruffy face with both hands. “I’m always here for you. You’re good here. On safe ground. Okay?”
    His chest tightened and a muscle jumped in his jaw. “Thanks,” he whispered gruffly before pulling his sister into another hug.
    â€œAww, honey.” Tess rubbed his back, soothing him. He closed his eyes, drinking in the comfort. He’d needed this more than he’d realized. It felt so damn good to know someone truly cared about him, and about what he’d been through recently. Tess might be the only one on the planet who did.
    They each took two bags and went into her house. Within seconds, the sound of tiny footsteps and staccato barking were heard as Tess’s white Maltese burst into the room. With happy yelps, she headed right for Pierce, spinning and dancing in little circles at his feet.
    â€œOh, are you happy to see him!” Tess said to her dog in a singsong voice.
    â€œHeeey, Bubbles!” He crouched down to lift the eight-pound dog into his arms. She yipped and wiggled happily. “Hi, girl. How ya been? You’re good? Yeah, you’re a good girl,” he cooed as he stroked her soft fur. After a minute of this, he released the dog carefully onto the hardwood floor and rose to stand again.
    â€œShe missed you,” Tess told him.
    â€œShe always loved me,” Pierce said with pretend swagger.
    â€œI never saw a woman who hasn’t,” Tess cracked.
    Pierce snorted as the grin faded from his face. “I met one recently who didn’t. . . .”
    â€œJesus, I’m sorry.” Tess shook her head at herself. “I didn’t mean to—”
    â€œOf course you didn’t, stop it.” Pierce scrubbed a hand restlessly over his face and sighed.
    â€œSo take your things up to whichever room you want and settle in,” Tess instructed. “Take a shower if you want, unpack a little, but we’re leaving in half an hour.”
    â€œWe are?”
    â€œYup. Your timing is incredible. Big family get-together up at the main house at four o’clock.” She pointed a finger at him as soon as he opened his mouth to speak. “Don’t even try to say you’re not going. I’m insisting.”
    Pierce scowled. “Seriously? I haven’t even been back here for ten minutes and you’re making me put in an appearance at the palace? This sucks.”
    â€œThink of it as getting it over with,” Tess cracked. “Dane requested a family gathering. He’s been away for a few weeks and asked us all to meet there for dinner.”
    â€œCommand performance?” Pierce bent to lift two of his overstuffed duffel bags.
    â€œIt’s a little odd, I’ll grant you that,” Tess said. “He hasn’t been away on business, he’s been on vacation. He took Julia on a cruise of the Greek islands. It was supposed to be for two weeks, but they stayed for three. They just got back the day before yesterday.”
    Pierce knew that his brother, Dane, who had never committed to a woman in his life, had fallen head over heels in love with Julia Shay, the singer at one of his swanky Manhattan hotels. “He’s still with her?”
    â€œIt’s been a year now,” Tess marveled.
    â€œWow. Maybe they got engaged or something.”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I was thinking. I hope we’re right. She’s lovely,” Tess said, smiling. “And she’s good for him. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
    â€œMust be, if he’s been with the same woman for more than a few weeks.” Pierce headed for the stairs that led to the three guest rooms on the second floor. In a pretend snooty voice, he said, “The blue room all right