Free About That Man by Sherryl Woods Page A

Billy Inscoe was practically the only boy she’d known that they hadn’t scared off. Maybe that was why she’d thought herself in love with him, because he hadn’t been intimidated by her brothers.
    At any rate, fearing Tucker and Bobby might not have outgrown the habit, she slammed to a stop and cut the lights and the engine, then turned and glowered at Walker.
    â€œThat kiss was an impulse, Detective. Nothing more. I’m sure you regret it. So do I. It won’t happen again.”
    â€œI know that,” he said emphatically, frowning right back at her. He gestured toward her house. “Why don’t we just get back there and see if anyone else has had any luck finding Tommy?”
    â€œYou don’t deal well with your emotions, do you?” she asked irritably. “I noticed that earlier when we were talking about your sister. You got all stiff and uncomfortable, just the way you are now.”
    â€œMaybe because you were beating the subject to death, just the way you are now.”
    â€œIt’s an interrogation technique,” she said. “Tucker told me. Surely you’re familiar with it.”
    His lips twitched ever so slightly. “I am, which is why it doesn’t work well on me. I get annoyed.”
    â€œI’ll try to remember that. I just didn’t want Tucker or Bobby to get the idea that you and I have been…” She hesitated, then said, “Arguing. They’re very protective.”
    Walker’s lips twitched. “Your brothers don’t scare me. I think I can take care of myself.”
    â€œOkay, then,” she said, forcing herself to let the subject drop. An instant later she faced him as another worrisome issue occurred to her. “You’re not going to yell at Tommy for running off, are you?”
    His level gaze met hers. “Are you?”
    â€œOf course not.”
    â€œThen why would you assume I might? I do understand what it’s like to be a kid and to be scared.”
    Daisy was surprised by the admission. “I can’t imagine you being scared of anything.”
    â€œBecause you don’t know me. I wish you’d try to remember that.”
    Daisy doubted she could forget it if she wanted to. The kiss might have been a rare display of intimacy, but he hadn’t let her into his head or into his heart, not for one single second since they’d met.
    Sighing, she put the car into gear and drove the rest of the way down the block, pulling into the driveway next to Tucker’s sport-utility vehicle.
    â€œNot much sign of activity,” Walker observed as they left the car.
    Just then they heard laughter from the backyard.
    â€œIt sounds more like a party,” Daisy said, leading the way around the side of the house. She stopped abruptly at the sight that greeted her.
    Her brothers, Frances and Tommy were all sprawled in lawn chairs on the deck facing the river, empty pie plates beside them. Tucker was pointing out some of the constellations visible in the velvet-black sky. Their not-a-care-in-the-world demeanor irked her as much as anything that had happened all day, which was saying something.
    â€œHaving fun?” she inquired tartly.
    Four pairs of guilty eyes turned her way.
    â€œYou might have let us know that Tommy was safe,” she said peevishly.
    â€œYou didn’t take your cell phone,” Bobby pointed out mildly. “We had no way to get in touch with you.”
    â€œSomebody could have gotten in a car and come after us,” she said, regarding Tucker accusingly. “I’m sure someone could have spotted us since the streets around here are practically deserted at this time of night.”
    â€œThe point is that Tommy is back,” Tucker responded quietly, refusing to rise to the bait. He turned to Tommy. “Son, this is your uncle, Walker Ames.”
    The introduction brought on a heavy silence. Daisy watched as the boy warily eyed Walker. Neither