Cocoon Read Online Free Page A

she’d see that his booth would be shut down. Said she’d never saw an outfit like that. Feisty little thing. Her little, crooked fingers were flying, texting the news over her newfangled cell phone.”
    â€œBut he did have long lines until that happened, didn’t he?” Laughter tinged Barth’s unique, un-Southern, citified drawl.
    â€œThat he did,” gurgled Seana. Heavens, but it felt so good to laugh … most of all to have someone to laugh with.
    â€œSee you tonight?” His query was husky, hinting of anticipation.
    â€œYes. Here? I can cook if you –”
    â€œI’m gonna take you out. Seven?”
    She grinned. “Can’t wait.”
    After they hung up, Seana had to descend back to Earth. This thing with Barth was a powerful ride of emotions. Whew! Lordy! Feet, behave yourself. Settle back down . She turned to go to the den and nearly bumped into her daughter.
    â€œZoe.” She was about to embrace her when Zoe swept past her.
    Seana planted hands on hips and turned to watch her. “Well, hello to you, too. I didn’t hear you come in.”
    â€œI know,” Zoe snapped. “You were too caught up with lover boy.” Her back, ramrod straight made her five-ten look even taller as she stalked into the den and crossed the room to gaze out the window at distant blue mountain ranges as though she wanted to dynamite them, bringing Brutus’s head up as he gauged her temper.
    Her garb consisted of funky apparel from the Sassy Rags shop, today gaucho-style blouse and felt vest over calf-length matching floaty skirt. From beneath the earth-tone ensemble sizzled sexy brown boots with skinny heels, now tapping impatiently against Seana’s shiny hardwood floor.
    â€œZoe, why do you feel this hostility toward Barth? You don’t know a single thing about him that should –”
    â€œThat’s just it.” Zoe spun from the window and glared at her mother. “I don’t know a single thing about him. Zilch. Just who is this man who comes out of nowhere?”
    Seana’s nose did a slight flare as she fought her rising temper. “He’s a wonderful man who makes your mother happy, Zoe. That’s who he is.”
    Zoe moved to within inches of her mother, her gaze oozing cynicism. Her long, ebony hair, so like her father’s, framed a pale oval face whose deep blue eyes, so like Seana’s, revealed that she’d seen too much of the world too soon – a view that came at too great a cost.
    How Seana loved her, this dynamo female child of hers who had carried her own load, plus her ex-husband’s baggage over terrains too rough, at times, to forge. Zoe had almost single-handedly raised her child to adolescence and done a fantastic job of it.
    Who stood squared off before her mother, challenging her, hating the man Seana loved.
    Seana reached out to touch her arm, only to have it snatched away. “Are you going to find out who this man is? I’ve asked him and get this runaround –”
    â€œIt’s none of your business. Maybe that’s what he feels. You know he senses this resentment, Zoe. He’s not blind.” Seana hated the shrill note that crept into her voice, but she couldn’t help it. This was her life, dadjimmit.
    â€œNone of my business?” Zoe’s eyes filled with indignant tears. “You’re my mother, for crying out loud! I love you very much.”
    Seana’s heart began to melt and she started toward her, but Zoe’s back-off stance stopped her dead in her tracks. Zoe’s gaze narrowed. “But what I want to know is this. Are you going to marry him?”
    Seana stared at this beautiful, wild creature standing before her. Like a lioness protecting her cubs. Only this time, it did a flip. The cub was protecting the lioness.
    Seana shook her head free of the crazy image. She took a deep breath.
    â€œZoe, Barth proposed last