Pastor's Assignment Read Online Free Page B

quite a bit.” She toyed with her napkin and hesitated. “My mother died when I was six.”
    â€œCharming,” Ty drawled. “A little Ninja. The killing instinct was honed since age six.”
    She looked up, surprised at his sarcastic tone. She hadn’t expected this reaction, and it stung. “You’re not the only one who’s suffered a loss.” What had she been thinking to share something personal with him? She might as well have stuck her hand into a lion’s cage.
    She let the silence fall between them as she tried to pretend he hadn’t hurt her feelings.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Ty said. “Sorry about your mother.”
    Laney looked up to find him studying her. It might have been the lighting in the restaurant, but she was certain she saw genuine regret in his eyes.
    Laney’s heart softened toward him. Whatever his faults were, he’d seen in a glance that he’d hurt her.
    â€œIt’s okay,” she said. “You’re safe from my killing instincts. I haven’t bumped anyone off since I was nine years old and broke Ken’s neck.”
    Ty’s expression stiffened. Laney shook her head. “Ken, as in Barbie and Ken. Dolls.” She smiled. “When your father is in law enforcement and he raises you, you play dolls a little differently. I’m probably the only girl in Texas whose Barbie recited Miranda rights, handcuffed, then hauled Ken off to jail when he didn’t behave.”
    The waitress returned with their drinks and set them silently on the table. She turned to Ty. “Are you ready to order?”
    Laney looked down at her menu, noticing the selections for the first time. “I’ll have the pasta primavera.”
    Ty’s eyes scanned the menu. “Spaghetti and meatballs.”
    When the waitress left, Laney said ever so casually, “Did you play GI Joe with your brother?”
    The last remnants of the smile he’d given the waitress faded from his face, leaving his features harsh. She could almost see him draw away from her without moving an inch. “As if you didn’t know.”
    â€œKnow what?”
    Ty leaned forward until Laney could see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes. “Just do me a favor when you’re playing your election games—leave my brother out of it.”
    Laney jumped on his words. “I’m not playing games.”
    â€œStop the concerned look, and tell your father you need acting lessons if you’re going to be believable.”
    Laney decided to ignore the comment. She thought hard about the words in the note. He looked at her as if he hated her. This was fine with Laney. At least he was talking. “Something inside you is making you unhappy.” She took a deep breath. “You need to let it out. Isn’t that why we’re here?”
    â€œIn one word,” Ty stated flatly, “no.” His mouth twisted. “I came here to figure out what damage you can do to my campaign.”
    Laney gritted her teeth. “This isn’t about the election. Tell me about your brother.” She calmed her voice and tried to think of an appropriate bribe. “I’ll give you the note after you tell me about him.”
    She thought he would refuse. He appeared angry enough to pick her up, chair and all, and carry her out of the restaurant. Yet something deep in his eyes beyond the anger made her hold her ground. It was a flash of a bleakness of spirit, a glimpse of loneliness and vulnerability. The look vanished almost instantly, and she would have missed it altogether if it hadn’t been so familiar. It was a look she’d seen in the mirror hundreds of times and banished a hundred times.
    Her heart gave a tug of sympathy. “Please,” she said. “I want to know.”
    His hands lay on the table, his knuckles rising in huge balls of bone that seemed both capable of inflicting damage and swollen, as if they themselves