Free Blind Faith by Kimberley Reeves Page A

only was McKinley here, but that she’d slipped back into the role of sex kitten and was about two seconds away from plastering herself against him.   He stepped backwards just as she reached for him and was immensely glad he had done so when Rose appeared in the doorway behind her.   His relief was short lived.   Undaunted by his evasive maneuver and with a live audience to perform for, McKinley swiftly closed the distance between them and slipped her arms around his waist.
    “What did I tell you,” she said to Rose, though she was gazing up at him with feigned adoration.   “We’ve barely been apart for an hour and already Will has managed to track me down.”
    “So I see.”   Rose greeted him with a warm smile.   “It’s nice to see you again, Will.   McKinley was just telling me how she’d run into you while visiting Serena and that the two of you really hit it off.”
    McKinley’s eyes dared him to deny it.   “Instant fireworks, wouldn’t you say?”
    “Something like that,” he muttered.   Sparks had certainly been flying, just not the type she was eluding to.  
    “Shall I leave you two love birds alone or are you coming inside?”   Rose was holding the screen door open, apparently oblivious to his lack of enthusiasm at having her niece suctioned to him like a limpet.  
    Will started to deny there was anything going on between him and McKinley when it struck him that Rose’s casual acceptance of their supposedly budding romance seemed extremely odd.   His gaze briefly met hers before McKinley’s clinging vine routine demanded his attention, but it was enough to discern the almost imperceptible shake of Rose’s head and the undeniable amusement in her eyes.   Unbelievable; the woman was actually enjoying this!
    “I have some things to discuss with Rose,” he said, gently but firmly prying McKinley’s arms from around his waist.
    McKinley looked genuinely surprised.   “ With Rose?   You mean you didn’t come here looking for me?”
    “Well, I…”   From behind her, the shaking of Rose’s head became more pronounced.   “I knew she would have your number,” he finished lamely, “but I have other things to discuss with her as well.”
    “I’ll wait for you then,” McKinley replied with a tight smile.
    “Oh , dear,” Rose jumped in.   “This is about the repairs to the roof, isn’t it?”   The sympathetic look she turned on McKinley was almost as impressive as the story she wove to explain why he was there.   “I’m sorry to hone in on your time with Will but I completely forgot I asked him to stop by and help me go over the estimates I received for the roof.   It was damaged during that last storm and it seems squirrels have found their way into the attic.   You know how sensitive Serena’s hearing is; the sound of them scurrying around up there is disturbing her sleep and I promised to get the repairs done right away.”
    “The hole needs to be fixed before they cause any more damage,” Will added when McKinley didn’t look convinced.  
    “I really am sorry,” Rose apologized, “but I’m going to be out of town for a few days, and with Will’s studies keeping him so busy, this is the only time we’ll have to get it done.   If it’s not too late when we finish, maybe you two can get together afterwards?”
    Will could have throttled her for making the suggestion but it did seem to appease McKinley.   He wasn’t sure why Rose was trying to keep him from saying anything that would dispel the illusion he was interested in McKinley but trusted she had a good reason.   With both of them staring at him expectantly, Will had no choice but to play along.   Forcing a smile wasn’t nearly as difficult as sounding sincere when he told McKinley he would call her when he was done.   He even handed over his cell phone so she could enter her phone number, al t hough he was careful not to volunteer his own number.
    “All right,” she reluctantly agreed,