Safe in the Fireman's Arms. Tina Radcliffe

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СКАЧАТЬ simply going to have to stay out of his way,” she murmured. “Because Jake MacLaughlin is an exceptionally dangerous man.”

      * * *

      “Attention, shoppers. We’re serving free coffee and carrot-cake muffins with lemon icing from Patti Jo’s Café and Bakery at the front of the store.”

      Jake looked up from the paperwork on his desk as the announcement blared over the hardware-store loudspeaker.

      What’s he up to now? Ever since he’d semiretired, Jake’s father spent his extra time divided between his newly self-appointed roles as marketing director for the store and head of Jake’s nonexistent reelection committee. Jacob “Mack” MacLaughlin Senior was oblivious to the fact that Paradise Hardware was the only hardware store in Paradise. There was no competition.

      Jake set aside the monthly inventory folder and shoved back his chair. Taking long strides through the aisles he followed the scent of fresh coffee.

      “Nice picture, Jake.”

      “Huh?” Jake turned.

      At the end of aisle one, near the cash register, several customers were gathered around the Paradise Gazette as they munched their muffins.

      One of the regulars shoved the front page of the paper at Jake. Smack-dab in the middle was a photo of him in turnout gear standing next to Maggie Jones.

      She looked like she’d taken a bite out of something sour.

      Great. Just great. It had been pretty obvious yesterday that she wasn’t in awe of the truck or the uniform like most of the women in town. He could almost feel her glare from the two blocks that separated the hardware store and the fix-it shop. Somehow the photo op would turn out to be his fault, adding fuel to her ire. The woman didn’t like him. Of that, Jake was certain. Why that bothered him, he didn’t know, but it did.

      His father clapped him on the back. “Nice picture, huh?”

      “Dad, how did they get this picture?”

      Ever happy-go-lucky, Mack grinned and ran a hand through his thick, silver hair. “Me. I took it through the window of Bob’s shop. Told you that photography class would come in handy. Great publicity, huh? The election is coming up, after all.”

      “I’m running unopposed.”

      “No matter. This will hit home with the voters. You’re a hero, Jacob.”

      “Burned eggs, Dad. It was a 10-35. Unnecessary alarm system activation.”

      “Who’s that in the picture with you?” Mack asked.

      “Maggie Jones. You’ll note that she doesn’t look real happy.”

      Mack narrowed his eyes and pulled the paper close to his bifocals. “Can’t hardly see her face. Bob’s niece, right?”

      “Yeah.”

      “She’s a smart one, that girl. I brought that broken reel of mine to her and she figured out what was wrong with it before I even left the shop. You know, the one you’ve been working on?”

      Jake gave a tight nod.

      “I heard from Duffy that you two really hit it off.”

      “Duffy said that?”

      “Said it sure took you a long time to get her statement.”

      Jake folded up the newspaper. “Don’t listen to Duffy, Dad. He’s a troublemaker.”

      “He’s your best friend.”

      “Not anymore.” Jake handed his father the paper.

      Mack laughed and shot a glance at the big, stainless-steel wall clock. “Hey, I nearly forgot. Bitsy Harmony called. She said to remind you that you’ve got an appointment at the photographer’s.”

      “Tell me again why I’m going to the photographers?”

      “The fire department fund-raiser at the Paradise Fair.”

      “The raffle.” Jake bit out the words.

      “Right.”

      “Bitsy says it’s going to bring in lots of revenue for the fire department as well as the auxiliary. A win-win for everyone.”

      “Since when did you get so tight with Bitsy?”

      “We’re friends. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”

      Jake grunted in response, as his mood moved south. Bitsy’s first idea had been a bachelor auction. He’d thought he’d effectively torched that notion, but when he hadn’t been looking the raffle had taken off like a bottle rocket.

      He had to give the woman credit. This time the head of the Paradise Ladies Auxiliary had played it smart. She’d gotten a fire started on the raffle before he’d had a chance to snuff it out. The entire town, including Jake’s own men, had embraced the idea. All he could do now was smile and go along with it.

      Because, yeah, it was an election year.

      “Think you could watch the store while I go?” Jake asked.

      “Sure. Glad to help you out. But come right back. I’ve got a meeting with our web guy at noon. He drove all the way up here from the Springs.”

      “We have a web guy? I thought Duffy was doing the webpage.”

      “Bitsy says it’s time for us to go pro, son.”

       Bitsy again?

      His father continued. “This guy is going to redesign the site and get the store some social media. Good for business. Might even get us Tweeter next.”

      “Twitter.”

      Mack released a hearty chuckle. “Is that what it’s called?”

      Jake shook his head as he exited and walked across the blacktop to his truck.

      He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, making a hard right at the last minute. Why not take the long way around to the photography studio, past Bob Jones’s shop? Make sure everything was okay with his fellow shopkeepers.

      Or possibly, just one Maggie Jones.

      He’d never admit it to anyone, but he’d been thinking about her a lot since yesterday. Maybe it was her jaunty ponytail the color of warm caramel. Or the way she chewed on her lower lip as she concentrated. Or the way she looked at him, with those owlish brown eyes that seemed to see...everything. Next to her cousin Susan, a man might overlook the mousy brunette.

      That would be a mistake.

      It was the strangest thing, he mused. The incident report paperwork should have taken five minutes, tops. But he couldn’t stop asking questions. Couldn’t say what had gotten into him, either. Except that Maggie Jones СКАЧАТЬ