Powerful (The Driven World) - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,4

water with Tommy on her heels.

I’ve never moved so fast. I pushed Tommy over, grabbed her by the waist, and we went swimming. Athena had me hook, line, and sinker after that night, and Tommy Baker never forgave me.

“How many books does she have out now?”

TB smiles. “Over twenty. Not that I’ve read them. Romance isn’t my thing.”

The waitress comes back with a pot of tea and a cup on a tray.

“Shannon, is it?” I ask her.

“Yes,” she squeaks out excitedly.

“Sorry to be a pain, but could we get that in a to-go cup?”

Her face falls, but she quickly recovers. “Of course. Coming right up!”

I raise my eyebrows at TB.

“She’s a fan. I think she thinks it’s funny that I know you, and you came from such a small town. I think Shannon thought you were hatched in LA.”

“It’s certainly where he began his life, so almost the same,” replies Sophia.

TB frowns at her. “So long as he doesn’t forget where he came from.” Sophia looks confused. “You know, so he stays grounded. No one likes a stuck-up snob who forgets about his friends and the place he grew up.”

Sophia smiles warmly at TB. “Kris would never do that. After all, we’re here, aren’t we?” Venom drips from each word. She reminds me of a snake, cold-blooded and ready to strike.

Shannon returns with a paper cup. “Here you go, Miss Thorne.”

Sophia takes the cup but doesn’t look Shannon in the eyes as she says, “Thank you.”

“TB, we’re going to check into the Sea Shore Motel. We’ll catch up later, yeah?”

“What? You’re not staying with your dad? If he doesn’t have room, I’m sure we could fit you in or Mom and Dad can.”

“No, no, no!” says Sophia quickly. “We don’t want to impose.” Sophia kisses my cheek. “I’ll meet you in the car, darling.”

I watch her retreating figure as she leaves. “I know she can be demanding, but underneath she’s got a heart of gold.”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure it’s gold-plated.”

I quirk an eyebrow and look at him sideways. “Plated?”

TB shrugs. “Anyway, get settled in. Come to Mom and Dad’s for dinner tonight.”

I nod and look back at Sophia. “Will Athena be there?”

“Who knows. Athena is pretty busy. Does six sound okay?”

I look at my watch. “Yeah, six is good.”

“Is that a Rolex?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I got it as a gift from the studio for that artsy movie you didn’t like.”

“Nice. Still a shit movie.”

Pushing TB, I head for the door. When I get to it, I turn. “See you at six.”

“Just you?”

“We’re a couple, TB. Play nice.”

“See you at six,” he replies with a grin.

Chapter Five

TB

You ever do anything that you know you’re going to get your ass kicked for?

I told Athena to come to Mom and Dad’s for dinner and said it was just a family thing.

Just us.

Athena is going to throttle me when she sees Kris and Sophia sitting at the family dinner table. She’s never gotten over him. Sure, she’s been on dates, but no one seems to stick. I thought once she got her degree in journalism, Athena would find someone.

But that was before the attack.

After that, she came home, bought the house up on the hill that you have to be a billy goat to get to, and she became a recluse. Writing books is the only thing she does, and she doesn’t even go to book signings. I know she gets invited to them since I follow her on Facebook. Athena’s fans adore her, and her publisher is more than happy to pay for her to go, but she always declines.

I think life is too much for her some days. First, Kris left, and then she got attacked, and it feels like she stopped trying. Athena celebrates each book release with Mom and Dad and occasionally Todd, but that’s it. She has to want more out of life

Athena is only twenty-five. I’m twenty-seven, but I’ve traveled, and I’m lucky enough to have Ashlea who loves to travel too. Ash has family in India, and they’re wealthy. She talks about having bodyguards and security systems when she goes there. It’s hard to believe when she’s fair-skinned with long curly red hair. They are flying over for the wedding and should arrive next week.

“Ares Boswell, are you listening to me?”

I look up, and Ashlea is in front of me, hands on hips and a smirk on her face.

“Of course, babe.”

“What did I say?” I look at her and shrug. “You know you just agreed to move