Opposites Distract by Judi Lynn Page A

his arm.
    Ian laughed at her. “You girls take off. Brody and I will clean up.”
    Tessa had to push herself out of her chair. Harmony fought to not put a hand under her elbow to help her into the living room.
    â€œYou’re still dead,” Harmony said. “When the guys are done in the kitchen, Brody and I will head back.”
    â€œNo, we haven’t even talked writing!” Tessa pursed her lips in a pout. “Are you getting enough pages done? Will you make your deadline?”
    â€œI’m doing rewrites as I go, and I finished ten new pages today. When I get back, I’ll try to squeeze in five more.”
    â€œBrody said you’re being awfully nice to the kids.”
    Harmony shrugged. “You’ve seen me when I get too driven. I use up my brain. It goes dry. The kids give me a nice break. I need it.”
    Tessa smirked. “You like reading to them.”
    Harmony couldn’t slide a half-truth past Tessa. They’d known each other too long. “Yup, I’m busted. Who knew kids could be so much fun?”
    Tessa studied her under lowered lashes. “How do you and Brody get along?”
    â€œUh-uh, don’t go there.” Harmony waggled a finger at her friend. “We do okay, but we don’t have much in common. We make great houseguests, though.”
    Tessa smiled and leaned her head back against the high spindles of the rocking chair. Her eyes closed for a second, and she jerked forward, fighting to stay awake.
    â€œMaybe you’re catching something.” Wasn’t it flu season in the Midwest? At home, Harmony usually tried to avoid germy people. For Tessa, she’d brave them to bring her Jell-O and 7-Up. She’d even hold a bucket for her when she puked.
    â€œNo fever, no cough, I’m just tired.”
    â€œThen take it easy for a while. Hang in there, friend.” When Brody came to check on her, Harmony motioned that it was time to leave. He gave a quick nod and said his goodbyes to Ian.
    Ian gave them a container of Ice Melt to sprinkle on the cement in front of them as they walked to the SUV. “Try not to kill Harmony on the way to your car. Just leave the container by the driveway. I’ll get it in the morning.”
    On the short trip back to the lodge, Brody concentrated on the road. His car had four-wheel drive, but it was still tense going. He pulled so close to the front door, she only had a few steps before she was in the foyer. Then he parked the SUV and slid across the pavement to join her. Maybe they should keep Ice Melt near his parking place.
    When he went to hang his coat on one of the hooks, he fidgeted with it, and then he fidgeted with his boots when he took them off.
    She finally asked, “What’s the deal? Are you worried about Tessa, too?”
    â€œIt’s too soon to worry about her,” he said. “She might have overdone it before we got here and wiped herself out. She might be catching something. We’ll know soon.”
    â€œThen what’s wrong?” He’d been tense all night.
    â€œI want to ask you something, but I feel stupid.”
    She waved that away. “Stupid has always appealed to me. Go for it.”
    He hurried his words. “I don’t suppose you’d like to watch the next Harry Potter movie with me? I bought it.”
    She stared. “Wouldn’t that be like cheating? We’d know what happens in the story before I read it to the kids.”
    â€œIf you think about it, it might help you read better, with more expression. You’ll know what to emphasize and what not to.”
    She couldn’t believe it. “That’s some of the best rationalization I’ve heard in a long time. I thought you always did the right thing.”
    â€œMost of the time, I try.”
    â€œMost of the time?”
    He shook his head. “No one’s perfect. But I make really good popcorn, and I bought a really nice bottle of wine. Do