Free Under Currents by Elaine Meece Page A

came from missing her husband. On the other hand he'd been a fool for not coaxing her to his bed and taking what he’d been fantasizing since day one. But the lady had been nothing but nice to him, and then there was Ally and Scott to think of. He couldn’t destroy their lives.
    He’d try harder to keep his distance, not because of Deputy Grear, but because he cared about Julie. Once he re-hung the kids’ tire swing, he’d back off. But the woman attracted him like a hummingbird to nectar. How in the hell would he find the willpower to stay away from her?
     
    ♦♦♦
     
    Frank sipped his beer, then turned to his buddy John, who also worked for the Faith Police Department. “I don’t like that ex-con living next door to her. Julie let the son-of-a-bitch in her house. I saw him.”
    “You’re shittin’ me?”
    “Nope. The kids were home, but still.”
    “Isn’t he on parole?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Plant drugs on him. A parole violation will send his ass back to the slammer.”
    Frank shrugged. “That crossed my mind. But it’s not personal enough.” He thought of the way Julie had defended McGregor. At the mere mention of his name, her eyes had lit up. “There’s a lot more satisfying ways to eliminate scum like McGregor. Before I’m done with him, I want him to think he’s died and gone to hell.”
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Standing in a deserted field, Julie heard the familiar sound of Caleb’s motorcycle. Scott and Ally turned toward the country road as he approached and waved. Caleb pulled in behind where she’d parked her van and smoothed his windblown hair. He swung his leg over the bike and stood.
    The blonde streaks in his hair sparkled in the sunlight as he walked toward them with the agility of a cougar. His jeans revealed muscular thighs. Just for a moment she thought of him as the dominant male on the scent of a female.
    Stop fantasizing. He’s too hot to touch.
    “Car trouble?” he asked, appearing concerned.
    “No.”
    “What the hell are you doing in a cow pasture?”
    “Meadow, it sounds more appealing.”
    “Are you bird hunting?”
    She laughed and shook her head. “I’m trying to help Scott and Ally fly their kites. It’s windy enough, but so far they just fall back to the ground.”
    “I’ve been ripped off,” Scott shouted as he once again tried to launch his kite. “This thing’s junk.”
    ”Mine’s junk too,” Ally said and held up hers.
    When Caleb walked closer, Julie put her kite behind her back, hoping he wouldn’t notice it. He grinned slyly, causing the lines at the corners of his blue eyes to crinkle. “Is yours broken too?”
    Her cheeks heated. “No, I just think we don’t know how to get them from point A to point B. Point A being the ground. Point B the sky.”
    He laughed. “I used to fly kites. Let me see your dragon, Scott.”
    The kid handed over the kite.
    Caleb examined it closely. “It looks fine to me.” He stepped away from them. “There’s a trick to it.”
    Scott flashed a frustrated frown. “I’ve tried everything. Nothin’ works.”
    Caleb held the kite up high and waited for a strong breeze to pass before feeding just a little of the string upward while he walked backwards with the kite. Within minutes the dragon rose in the sky.
    “You did it!” Scott shouted and ran up to claim the string.
    “Me next! Me next! Pleeeeease do mine,” Alley begged.
    Just as fast as Scott’s, Caleb had Ally’s butterfly soaring. He handed Ally the string, then turned to Julie.
    No matter how she mimicked him, Julie’s kite crashed to the ground every time she launched it. Caleb stepped behind her, placed his arms around her, and reached for her kite. Immediately, the warmth from his body permeated hers, and she felt the strength in his arms. Masculine strength. He smelled like sunshine and fresh cotton.
    As he raised the kite, his warm breath kissed her cheek. Sensual heat simmered inside of her. All his concentration seemed to be on the