Bear Claw by Crissy Smith Page A

Phoenix.
    It had been the right decision for him, but he sometimes wished that he had tried college. He loved learning new things. If he didn’t get the opportunity to advance his education, he could do so on his own.
    His many visits to the library were for that purpose. Connecting with Brandy made everything sweeter. He couldn’t wait to get together with her later.
    Slipping his phone into his back pocket, he took off at a jog back to his truck.
     
    * * * *
     
    Brandy pulled up in front of her parent’s house with dread coursing through her veins. She knew she couldn’t avoid the conversation they were going to have. She wished she could, though.
    Turning the car off, she sat taking deep breaths. She could see her brother William’s BMW in the front parking space. Of course he would be there.
    Her relationship with William had been strained too. Unlike other brothers and sisters, the two of them had never been close. William had loved telling on her and getting her into trouble during their childhood.
    At first, she had tried to be a good daughter and make her family proud. She’d just never been able to get the hang of it and hadn’t fitted in. By the time she’d hit her teenage years, she had stopped caring whether she disappointed everyone. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She did care. She wanted her parents and siblings to be pleased with her accomplishments and recognize her as a good person.
    That wasn’t ever going to happen, though.
    With one last calming breath, Brandy pushed open the car door and exited her vehicle. The large house loomed in front of her and she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
    There was no reason her parents should live in a seven bedroom, four bath house other than to show off. It was a mini mansion. Way too big in Brandy’s opinion. Not that she would ever tell her mother that.
    The Brooks were always the envy of their friends and other people in their political circle. While Brandy couldn’t care less about all that, she was the only one who really didn’t care about it.
    Slowly walking up the steps of the home she’d grown up in, Brandy tried to think of the last good memory she’d had in the place. While she could recall parties and fundraisers for whatever her family was supposed to be supporting, she couldn’t ever remember just hanging out.
    No movie nights or games.
    Her best times had always been at her grandmother’s house. Birthdays and special occasions. Damn, she missed her grandma.
    The front door opened as she reached it, surprising her.
    William stood in the entry with a scowl on his face. “You’re late.”
    Of course she was. It wouldn’t have mattered if she had been on time, she had arrived after him. In William’s way of thinking, he should never be made to wait. Especially not by a woman. The old-fashioned and sexist behaviors were beliefs William had learned from their father.
    “Traffic.”
    William snorted as he stepped to the side to allow her entrance. It was all she could do not to stomp on his foot as she passed him. Childish yes, but William brought that out in her.
    “They are waiting in the front room for you,” William told her.
    “Fine.” She dropped her purse on the entrance table then strolled through the long hallway to the open entrance. Knowing that anytime they met in the formal area never boded well for her, Brandy straightened her shoulders and raised her chin.
    Entering the room, she almost stuttered to a stop as soon as she saw who was sitting with her parents. Shit, this was unexpected.
    “Brandy, you look as beautiful as ever.”
    “Colby.” She nodded to him. “What are you doing here?”
    The question came out harsher than she meant it to but she couldn’t help her shock. Colby Gentry had once been the object of her biggest crush. He’d rejected her, rather publicly, and had broken her heart. She’d been sixteen at the time, and that event had been the very last one where she’d attempted to change