Undone (A Country Roads Novel) Read Online Free Page B

holding up one finger. “I eat meat like it’s nobody’s business.” Two fingers. “And I’ve never done drugs in my life.” Three fingers.
    “You don’t have to convince me,” he said, shaking his head. “So I’m sensing a pattern here with all of these jobs. Are you a photographer?”
    “Yes, but I do graphic design and I paint.”
    “So a woman of many talents.”
    “I don’t know about that,” she said, shaking her head.
    “Oh, I’m sure you have a lot of talent. It’s probably proportional to the length of your legs.”
    “What did I tell you about flirting?” she asked seriously, but betrayed herself when the corner of her mouth quirked up.
    “Look, Paige, don’t let it get to you. Not everyone is all bad.”
    “So I’ve just been fortunate enough to meet everyone who’s mean.”
    “You’ve met me.”
    “Yeah, well, the jury’s still out on you.”
    “Then I guess I’ll have to prove myself.”
    “I guess so,” she said, leaning back in her seat. Her arms now rested in her lap, her shield coming down a little.
    “I have a question,” Brendan said, slowing down at another stop sign. “If you eat meat, why do you have such a problem with hunting?”
    “It just seems a little barbaric. Hiding out in the woods to shoot Bambi and then mounting his head on a wall.”
    “Let me give you two scenarios.”
    “Okay.”
    “In scenario one, we have Bessie the cow. Bessie was born in a stall, taken away from her mother shortly after birth where she was moved to a pasture for a couple of years, all the while being injected with hormones and then shoved into a semi truck where she was shipped off to be slaughtered. And I don’t think that you even want me to get started on that process.
    “In scenario two, we have Bambi. Bambi was born in the wilderness and wasn’t taken away from his mother. He then found a mate, had babies, and one day was killed. He never saw it coming. Not only is Bambi’s meat hormone free, but he also lived a happy life in the wild, with no fences.
    “Now you tell me, which scenario sounds better: Being raised to be slaughtered, or living free where you might or might not be killed.”
    She was silent for a few moments before she sighed.
    “Fine, you win. The second sounds better.”
    “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Brendan said as he pulled into the parking lot of King’s Auto. “How are you getting home?” he asked as he put the truck into park.
    “I called my dad after I called you. He’s here actually,” she said, pointing to a black Chevy Impala.
    They both got out of the truck and headed toward the auto shop. Brendan held the door open for Paige, shoving his sunglasses into his shirt pocket. His grandfather and a man who Brendan recognized as Paige’s father stood up from their chairs as Brendan and Paige walked in.
    Trevor Morrison was a tall man, maybe six foot four or six foot five. He had light reddish-brown wispy hair on his head and large glasses perched on his nose. And like his daughter, his face and arms were covered in freckles.
    “Hi, Daddy,” Paige said, pushing her glasses up her nose and into her hair.
    Brendan immediately noticed the change in her voice. Her cautious demeanor vanished and her shoulders relaxed. He’d caught a glimpse of this in the truck, but not to this extent.
    “Mr. Morrison,” Brendan said, taking a step forward and sticking his hand out.
    Trevor grabbed Brendan’s hand firmly. “Brendan,” he said, giving him a warm smile and nodding his head. Trevor let go of Brendan’s hand and turned to his daughter. “Paige, this is Oliver King,” he said, gesturing to Brendan’s grandfather, who was standing behind his desk. “Oliver, this is my daughter, Paige.”
    “I haven’t had the pleasure,” Oliver said, moving out from behind his desk and sticking out his hand.
    Paige moved forward past Brendan, her arm brushing his as she passed.
    “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” she said, grabbing Oliver’s