Page 57 of Karma

Again, Liza reacted against type and decided to confide in her. She didn’t understand it. She was usually so self-contained, but something about the fact that these strangers kept showing kindness got to her. Liza genuinely liked Kelly and Faith. More than that, she was embarrassed to admit she was starving for the friendship they seemed to willingly offer.

Liza only hoped that friendship wasn’t contingent on her relationship with their brother-in-law because that seemed dead in the water. “Dare and I…” She trailed off, not knowing how to explain.

Kelly waited patiently, not pushing her to divulge more than or before she was ready.

“It’s just that we have more things that divide us than we have in common.”

Kelly popped the top of her cola can and pulled a long sip. “So? Nash and I didn’t have an easy go of it either. But it was worth the hassle, even when things got really bad. And believe me, they did. And that good relationship you see between the brothers now?” Kelly shook her head. “It wasn’t always that way.”

Liza should have been surprised at the other woman’s candor, but everything about her seemed so warm and open, she’d almost expected it. “Dare mentioned something about their difficult road.”

Kelly nodded. “Ethan got his shit together first. Pardon my French,” she said, laughing. “And he came home to make amends. He and Dare warmed up to each other next. But Nash? He came to the party kicking and screaming. In fact, he actually decked Ethan.”

Liza blinked, startled by that revelation.

“Yep. It took Nash a long time to forgive his older brother. And Dare? We all thought Dare was the most easygoing of the brothers, but it turns out he had secrets nobody knew.” Kelly eyed Liza over the rim of the soda can.

What kinds of secrets, Liza wondered, but knew she wouldn’t ask any more than Kelly would tell. Whatever secrets Dare kept hidden, Liza would learn from Dare himself if he chose to tell her.

When Kelly continued to stare, Liza grew uncomfortable. “What?”

Kelly shrugged. “It’s just that Dare projects this easy persona, but underneath? He’s been hurt and abandoned, and it’s hard for him to trust. Like all the brothers, really. But he’s hidden it the deepest.”

This revelation, though not specific, came as more of a surprise. Liza had assumed his harsh words about her behavior with her brother came from his being a cop with a judgmental personality. But from what Kelly was telling her, Dare wasn’t as judgmental as he was scared of trusting.

Just like she was. Which made them quite a pair, really.

Could he have been looking for an excuse to push her away this morning? Was the tattoo and then Brian’s arrival an easy way for him not to deal with his feelings? Or was she reading more into Kelly’s simple words because Liza was falling for the man and wanted an excuse to let him back in?

She groaned out loud.

“Are you okay?” Kelly asked.

Liza nodded. “Yeah.” Just more confused than she’d been before and even more wary, if such a thing were possible.

“Do you want to go into town and take care of your errands?” Kelly offered, letting her off the hook and ending any personal conversation—at least for now.

These Barron women were as pushy as the men. And Liza liked them just as much as she liked one Barron brother in particular.

***

Dare promised himselfhe’d give Liza space. She was clearly angry, and he understood her reasons. He’d been an ass. And the scary thing was he couldn’t say he wouldn’t do it again. Brian McKnight flipped every known switch he had inside him and some he didn’t know he’d had. The rest of the morning dragged on, and when Nash called to see if he wanted to grab a late lunch at the Family Restaurant, Dare was only too happy for the break.

He pulled up to the family-owned restaurant on the edge of town. The place had been around longer than most in Serendipity, and that was saying something, but each generation had kept the place up and added modern touches.

Dare walked inside and waved to Macy Donovan, the daytime hostess, as he found Nash already waiting in a booth in the back.

“What’s up, big brother?” Dare asked.

Nash raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking me that? I heard you had some excitement this morning.”

“You can’t go a couple of hours without talking to your wife?” Dare asked, hoping to deflect the subject.

Nash treated him to a smirk. “You’re one to talk, considering you practically moved into Liza’s over the weekend. How’s that going for you, by the way?”

Before Nash could answer, Gina, their server, strode over. Middle-aged, happily married, and with a heart of gold, the woman knew every customer by name and order. “The usual, boys?” she asked them.

“Thanks, Gina.”

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