Blurring The Line: A steamy romantic suspense novel that will have you on the edge of your seat. Kierney Scott

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СКАЧАТЬ Beth, she would be taken into protective custody, as would he, for his own sake. And then Javier Martinez would get away.

      There was really only one choice so he would not let himself overthink it or second-guess himself. He would do what needed to be done. He always did.

Chapter Four

      Beth entered the eleven digits of her sister’s cell phone number but hung up before the call went through and returned the phone to the cradle. Paige would be in the library studying or at the clinic. Beth shouldn’t bother her, not so close to finals. God knew she would be up to her eyeballs with only a trimester left before graduation. But that wasn’t the real reason Beth couldn’t make the call; she just didn’t want to know. If she could put off making the call forever, she would. If it would keep her mom the same strong vibrant woman, she would never make or receive another phone call for the rest of her life.

      Beth chewed on the pad of her thumb as she tried to decide what to do. She couldn’t actually pretend nothing was wrong, as much as she desperately wanted to; it wasn’t fair to her mom and it wasn’t fair to Paige. Her sister had borne the brunt of it, mostly because Paige still lived in Sacramento, but also because Paige seemed to be able to handle it. Paige faced everything head on. There was no hiding or pretending for her. Beth should be more like that. Was April too late for a New Year’s resolution?

      Beth picked up the phone and dialled the number before she could talk herself out of it.

      “I was wondering when you would call,” her sister said when she picked up the phone. Even across a thousand miles, Beth could see the cheery smile on her sister’s face.

      “Are you busy? If you’re busy I can call back later.”

      “No, I have a few minutes. A cat just bit me so I could use a break anyway. People think it is dogs you have to worry about, but cats are the real menace. If I could get away with it, I would totally open a no-cat practice,” Beth said.

      “A cat bit you? Are you OK?” Beth’s throat tightened as visions of her baby sister being attacked by a feral cat ran through her mind. She would have far preferred her sister to have gone to medical school because at least people don’t bite, but Paige had had her heart set on being a vet since Beth had read her Black Beauty when she was six. So in actuality it was Beth’s fault. She would add that to her list of things to feel guilty about.

      “I’m fine; nothing that a shot of penicillin won’t fix. Funny enough that is also what I said about my last date.”

      Beth laughed. “Don’t tell me these things. You know I worry. How bad is the bite? Text me a picture.”

      Paige sighed. “No, I’m not going to send you a picture. I’m fine.”

      “Well if you’re fine, send me a picture to prove it.”

      “Or what?” Paige asked.

      “Or I will get the next flight to Sacramento and see it for myself.” They both knew she would do it.

      “For God’s sake, Beth. Give me two seconds.”

      A few seconds later her cell phone chirped to let her know a message had arrived.

      Beth winced when she opened the attachment. “That isn’t a bite that is a mauling. Honestly Paige…” Her voice trailed off. There was so much she could say, but she had said it all before. If worrying about her sister were a job, Beth would be pulling double shifts every week.

      “Animals are far less vicious than humans. I’d be far more worried about the people you work with than the cranky pussycats I see.”

      Beth let out a breath. Her sister had a point.

      “So,” Paige asked after a long silence. “Are you going to ask about Mom?”

      “Yeah, how is she?” Fresh guilt gnawed at Beth. She was the older sister, she was the one who should be taking care of all this, not Paige. For the third time that day, Beth contemplated quitting her job so she could move back to California. She could easily take a pay cut and move back to the Sacramento office. She would happily deal with the meth cookers of the central valley if it meant she could be near her family. But she couldn’t afford to move back to Sacramento. Paige couldn’t afford it. Beth’s promotion was paying for vet school. She tried to think of it in those terms, but every way she looked at it, she still felt like the shithead who abandoned her family.

      “Well to tell you the truth, she is pissed off. I would rather deal with a room full of cats than her, most days. She still feels like we’re all in it against her and that there is nothing really wrong.”

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