Page 22 of Cursed Touch
Vanessa’s brows pinched together. “How many are there of you? I mean, Brandy got me at the coffee shop, and now you two…”
Andrea laughed. “Oh, honey, we’re just multiplying, especially as everyone finds their soul mates. All that’s left is for Edward and Carter, and that’ll make fourteen of us not including kids.” Vanessa’s eyes rounded before she remembered Carter mentioning being one of seven. “Don’t worry though. James—he’s my man—Junior, who is the oldest, and Edward, who is never around won’t pop by. I can’t say anything for Ethan, Serena’s man, or Max. The Brodericks are a pretty tight group.”
“Enough.”
Something strange came over Vanessa at Serena’s single word, so she remained quiet after filing away the information Andrea had spewed.
“Look, we all know there is a connection between Carter and you—”
“No, you don’t.”
Serena glared, erasing any trace of the sweet woman who had put in a large order. “Your body doesn’t light up at just his name? It didn’t feel like you’d taken a nine-volt battery to your tongue at merely his touch? Your heart isn’t threatening to shrivel up at just the thought of never seeing him again as we speak?”
Vanessa opened and shut her mouth a few times. She cleared her throat, and at the feel of her hands trembling, she slammed them on her hips. “Just because you came in here and made averylarge order, doesn’t give you the right to get in my business.”
“Oh,I really like her,” Andrea whispered from the corner of her mouth.
Serena placed two fingers to her temple and shut her eyes. “Help me, goddess, because I can’t with these two.”
Goddess?
“Look, Vanessa, I really like you, and I adore Carter. He’s a really good man. It would be rather tragic if you didn’t give him another shot.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Did he send you here?”
Serena threw her hands up with frustration. “No, he did not. I did, however, see howmiserablehe’s been since your first date exploded in your faces.”
“He’s miserable?” Vanessa asked before she could stop herself. Her heart did a little pitter-patter at the thought that he was as upset as she was.
Andrea scoffed. “I’ve known this family for a very long time. I’ve never seen him like this, honey. I don’t know you—well, at all—and I have to admit, you two share the same dog-got-run-over-by-a-truck expression.”
“But he lied to me. I can’t be with someone who would lie…”
Serena reached across and held one of Vanessa’s hands in hers. “Sometimes we lie to protect the people we love.”
“Whoa… We just met. I’m not sure why we’re bringing up the L word.” She stammered, her stomach rolling with butterflies. A little voice in her head chuckled and told her meeting Carter had been love at first sight. Vanessa shook her head vehemently. “Uh-uh, no. Lies are lies. Cheating assholes lie. Criminals lie… not people who love you—er… people you claim are in love.”
Serena and Andrea laughed. “Oh, people fib to their loved ones all the time to protect them,” Serena stated.
“Are you kidding me? If I admitted to James the tile he laid was a smidge off, he’d rip it all up, and we’d waste money and time on a job. Nope, my ass is fibbing until I’m blue in the face.”
“And when Ethan brings me a tea as a gift because he thought I’d like it and it tastes like I licked the dirt in the garden? Yeah, I’m going to lie through my teeth, so I don’t break his heart and make it so he won’t be thoughtful ever again.”
Andrea took hold of Vanessa’s free hand and gave her a soft smile. “You see, honey. There are some lies that are necessary.”
Vanessa deflated. “He made me feel like I’d lost my mind.”
They nodded in understanding. “It’s going to happen a lot…”
She looked at them in horror.
Serena shrugged. “If it’s any consolation, we make men lose their minds too.”
“And for the record, only Brandy knows we’re here. Carter hasn’t said much,” Andrea told her and squeezed her hand before releasing it. “Now, I’ve got some shopping to do before you close up for the night.”
Serena shook her head and chuckled but held on to Vanessa’s hand. “Please give him—this thing between you two—another chance. I promise you won’t regret it. The Broderick men may not always be playing with a full deck, but their love is fierce.”
Chapter 12
