Between a Book and a Hard Place Read Online Free Page B

direction, and I felt a frisson of unease. “Mr. Jett Benedict has offered a three-year endowment for the library.”
    â€œWho is this guy?” Colin demanded. “And what’s in it for him?”
    â€œI’d like to answer that if I may.” The guy who had quieted down the professor stood. “I believe I can explain it better than anyone else.”
    â€œBe my guest, Mr. Benedict.” Boone motioned the man to the front of the room. “The floor is yours.”
    Jett strode to the podium and said, “When my wife told me about this wonderful town and its lack of funding for the library, I was concerned that unlike her daughter, the children of Shadow Bend would grow up without ever developing the joy of reading.” He glanced around the room. “So when I was looking for a charity to support and she suggested endowing the library, I said, ‘Yes sirree, Bob. Let’s do that.’”
    â€œNot out of the goodness of your heart, I’m sure,” Colin sneered.
    â€œNot entirely, no.” Jett’s smile thinned, but his voice was smooth. “All I ask is permission to examine the archives. My research leads me to believe that they contain information about this area’s history that interests me.” He shrugged. “I know it will take a while to spiff up the place and hire staff, but I’d like to have access before the library officially opens.”
    â€œA reasonable request that I feel the city council should approve.” Boone shot a glance at the mayor.
    Egger nodded and said, “Any other questions for our benefactor?”
    The name
Benedict
had finally clicked in my brain, and I raised my hand.
    The mayor pointed at me, and I stood. I really didn’t want to know the answer, but I forced myselfto ask, “Mr. Benedict, you mentioned that your wife told you about our town’s need for a library. Is she from Shadow Bend?”
    â€œNot originally, but she lived here for many years.” His eyes twinkled.
    â€œMay I ask your wife’s name?” My heart was pounding, and I could barely breathe.
    â€œHow about if I just introduce her to everyone?” Jett winked at me. “Although most of you already know her.” He held out his hand, and a voluptuous blonde walked out from behind a portable whiteboard. He put his arm around her slim waist and said, “It’s my pleasure to bring your own Yvette Sinclair Benedict back to Shadow Bend.”
    The audience was eerily silent as I stared at my mother’s beautiful and traitorous face.
    One of my best friends, along with a man who claimed to love me, had ambushed me. Mom was back in town, flaunting a new husband and his money. And I had a bad feeling that with Hurricane Yvette around, Shadow Bend would need to put up its storm shutters and take cover.

CHAPTER 4
    J ett Benedict’s little bombshell knocked me for such a loop that it took several seconds before I was able to put all the pieces together. When I did, I narrowed my eyes and glanced between Noah and Boone. Noah’s expression was hard to read, but Boone, my up until now BFF, lifted one shoulder in an unapologetic shrug.
    As I suspected, Boone had known for some time that the library benefactor was my stepfather, and that was why he’d been so insistent that I attend the meeting. My presence hadn’t had anything to do with supporting the cause. The whole scheme had been a trap.
    Boone was well aware that I would not have agreed to see my mother, and clearly, either Yvette or her loving husband had manipulated my friend into persuading me to come to the city hall. The only mystery was why Yvette would care enough to arrange all this. Considering that since dropping me on Gran’s front porch, she’d made virtually no effort to be a part of my life, what had changed?
    I didn’t wait around to find out. Standing, Ihurried down the aisle. I could hear high heels clicking on the