Heartbreaker by Diana Palmer

you remember the way my brother is.”

    For the first time since Grange had asked her out, Tellie wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing. She didn’t want to hurt J.B., even if he’d given her reason. On the other hand, it was a test of control, his over hers. If she gave in now, she’d be giving in forever. Marge was her friend, but J.B. was Marge’s Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    brother. It was a tangled situation.

    Marge put an arm around her. “Don’t worry yourself to death, honey,” she said gently. “If you really want to go out with him, go ahead. I’m just saying that J.B. is going to take it personally. But you can’t let him run your life.”

    Tellie hugged her back. “Thanks, Marge.”

    “Why don’t you want to go to the barbecue?” the older woman asked.

    Tellie grimaced. “Miss runner-up beauty queen will be there, won’t she?”

    Marge pursed her lips. “So that’s it.”

    “Don’t you dare tell him,” came the terse reply.

    “Never.” Marge sighed. “I didn’t even think about that. No wonder you’re so anxious to stay away.”

    “She’s really gorgeous, isn’t she?”

    Marge looked old and wise. “She’s just like all the other ones before her, Tellie, tall and blond and stacked. Not much in the way of intelligence. You know,” she added thoughtfully, “I don’t think J.B.
    really likes intelligent women much.”

    “Maybe he feels threatened by us.”

    “Don’t you believe it,” Marge scoffed. “He’s got a business degree from Yale, you know.”

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    “I’d forgotten.”

    “No, I think it has to do with our mother,” she continued. “She was always running down our father, making him feel like an idiot. She was forever going to conventions with one of her research partners.
    Later, they had a serious affair. That was just before she died.”

    “J.B. didn’t have a great respect for women, I guess.”

    “Not in his younger days. Then he got engaged, and tragedy followed.” She seemed far away. “I lost my first love to another woman, and then my husband died of an embolism after surgery.” She shook her head. “J.B. and I have poor track records with happily ever after.”

    Tellie felt sad for both of them. “I suppose it would make you gun-shy, when it came to love.”

    “Love?” Marge laughed. “J.B. doesn’t believe in it anymore.” She gave Tellie a sad, gentle appraisal.
    “But you should. Maybe Grange will be the best thing that ever happened to you. It wouldn’t hurt to show J.B. that you’re not dying of a broken heart, either.”

    “He won’t notice,” Tellie said with conviction. “He used to complain that I was always underfoot.”

    “Not recently.”

    “I’ve been away at college for four years more or less,” she reminded the older woman. That reminded her of graduation, which he hadn’t attended. It still stung.

    “And going away for three more.” Marge smiled. “Live your life, Tellie. You don’t have to answer to anybody. Be happy.”

    “That’s easier said than done,” Tellie pointed out. She smiled at Marge. “Okay. If you don’t mind me dating Grange, J.B. can think what he likes. I don’t care.”

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    Which wasn’t the truth, exactly.

    Grange was good company when he relaxed and forgot that Tellie was a friend of J.B.’s.

    The movie was unforgettable, a film about a misfit crew aboard a space-going freighter who were protecting a girl from some nasty authorities. It was funny and sweet, and full of action.

    They came out of the theater smiling.

    “It’s been a good year for science-fiction movies,” he remarked.

    “It has,” Tellie agreed, “but that was the best I’ve seen so far. I missed the series when it was on television. I guess I’ll have to buy the DVD