The Deputy's Perfect Match. Lisa Carter

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

      She poured the remains of the coffeepot down the sink drain. “Thank you. I like children.”

      “That’s why I hoped maybe you could help me with a project.”

      She rinsed out the pot. “If I can. What project?”

      “It’s for the department, really.”

      “Sheriff’s business?”

      “Deputy sheriff business.”

      Her mouth quirked. “How in the world can a librarian like me be of assistance to SuperDeputy?”

      “Who?”

      She bit her lip and turned to wipe the counter.

      He hunched his shoulders. “The library is closed over Labor Day weekend, right?”

      She unplugged the coffeemaker from the wall socket. “Yes.”

      “If you’d care to join me, I need to make an appearance—in an unofficial capacity—to present a friendly face behind the uniform to the kids.”

      Stretching on her tiptoes, she stashed the unused paper plates inside the cabinet. “What kids?”

      “The kids at Keller’s Kids Camp.”

      She froze. “Sawyer Kole’s foster kid camp.”

      Charlie didn’t like the sound of the ex-Coastie’s name on her lips. “Yeah. Him.”

      Evy drifted onto her heels. “Isn’t camp over until next summer?”

      “It’s a new two-month pilot program on autumn weekends. Follow-up with local foster kids. Friday night through Sunday afternoons.”

      She averted her gaze. “The Duers won’t want me.”

      “With the Labor Day harbor festival and folks on their last vacation before school starts Tuesday, I have it on good authority the volunteer pool is light this weekend. Too light for the number of children expected. You’ll be welcome.”

      She looked at him, then. As if she didn’t believe him.

      “We’ll be doing them a favor. You’d be doing me a favor.” He moistened his lips. “Would you come with me, Evy? Please?”

      She searched his face. Not quite buying his explanation.

      “I do love kids...” She gulped. “Sure. Why not? I’d love to go. Thanks for asking.”

      He smiled. “I’ll pick you up Saturday morning. Bright and early. It’s a date.”

      “Okay.” She tucked a loosened strand of blond hair behind her ear.

      Following the motion of her hand, his heart beat rapidly. Should he trust his first impressions of Evy Shaw? Sweet, smart, very pretty. Was his initial instinct about her correct?

      “You don’t have to wait for me, Charlie.”

      “Of course I do. I’ll walk you to your car.”

      She slung the purse strap over her shoulder. “Another Southern gentleman thing?”

      He followed Evy to the front door. “Let me be one, okay? And for the record, I want to walk you to your car.”

      Evy worried her bottom lip between her teeth as she set the alarm on the library. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. Before he did something stupid like touch her. Or kiss her.

      Suppose he was wrong about Evy? Could she be hiding behind a mask, the image she wanted him to see? And if so, why?

      Who was the real Evy Shaw? Was seeing believing in her case?

      Maybe...maybe not. Only time would tell.

       Chapter Four

      On Saturday morning, Charlie leaned across the truck cab and threw open the passenger door. “Hop in.”

      The open door dinged. Evy hesitated. “Come on, Shorty.”

      She sniffed and placed her shoe on the running board. Putting one hand on the seat and the other on the handle, she hauled herself onto the seat. “I prefer to think of myself as vertically challenged.”

      He laughed and jumped out of the truck to come around and close the door for her.

      “You didn’t have to do that, Charlie.”

      He smiled. “It’s going to be a great day. Buckle up. Safety first.”

      She smiled. “Will do, Officer.” She clicked her seat belt in place.

      Charlie palmed the wheel as he maneuvered the rural road. “Glad to see you dressed appropriately.”

      Evy extended her feet, toes pointed. “You don’t like the way I dress?”

      He loved the way she dressed. The pencil skirts, high heels and silky blouses. But his favorite was the baby-blue cardigan she’d worn to the Chinese restaurant, which brought out the blue in her eyes. Charlie scrubbed a hand over his face. Since when did he have favorites where Evy Shaw was concerned?

      Charlie stole a quick look at her. He liked her version of casual, too. The pink polka-dot Keds. The lime-green boatneck T-shirt. The cuffed jeans.

      Only her ponytail retained her usual weekday appearance. And idly he wondered what her hair would look like spilling over her shoulders...gleaming in the sunshine...

      His heartbeat staccato-stepped. “I like the way you dress just fine.”

      Evy’s eyebrows rose as his voice went gravelly. He’d surprised her. Surprised him, too. Who would have guessed, in casual Kiptohanock, he’d take a shine to someone like Evy Shaw?

      A shine... He lifted his ball cap off his head and resettled it. Where did that come from?

      Sounded like something Charlie’s grandfather would’ve said fifty years ago. Evy had a way of bringing out the old-fashioned in him. She smiled at Charlie. And his heart flip-flopped inside his chest.

      With effort, he refocused on the road. Was she happy to be riding in a truck with him? Or happy at the prospect of spending the day with the Duers? And if so, why?

      Doubt ate at his stomach. He hadn’t always been so unsure of himself. But his confidence where women were concerned had taken a nosedive since his days with Honey.

      He pulled into the long gravel driveway of the Keller farmhouse. Passing under the crossbars framing the entrance to the farm, the truck rattled over a cattle guard. Cedars and fencing lined the drive. Horses grazed in the pasture.

      She sat forward on the seat. Her gaze flitted from side to side. Taking everything in. “I’ve never been here before.”

      “Me СКАЧАТЬ