Free One True Heart by Jodi Thomas Page B

chair.” Drew’s voice boomed from just behind Millanie. “I’m on the first date I’ve had in years and you’re not invited to join us. Whatever this week’s crisis is can wait, Kare.”
    She flashed her brown eyes at Millanie, begging one more time for help.
    Millanie nodded and patted the girl’s hand as if silently swearing to oblige.
    Kare jumped up. She kissed her brother on the cheek and danced away as if they’d somehow solved her problem.
    Drew sat down and offered Millanie one of the drinks. “I warned you to stay away from my sister.”
    â€œIt wasn’t easy to run with this leg.” She saw the lift of his lip and knew he wasn’t serious. “You always solve her problems, don’t you?”
    â€œIt’s my mission in life, it seems. Last week she was convinced there was a ring of catnappers running wild in the streets. A week before that she thought she met a man who didn’t have a heart. I mean really didn’t have one. She claimed she’d read about heart thieves in an old book. Last month I put a dozen holes in her wall because she swore she heard something trapped inside. Now you know why I don’t have time for TV or movies.”
    â€œOr dates, apparently.”
    He shook his head. “Not dating was by choice.” He grabbed a fry and pointed it toward her. “Now, answer my question. Why’d you come back to Harmony?”
    Their meals were half eaten since he’d asked. He waited. She stalled by acting like she was starving.
    Finally, when all her chicken was gone, she said, “I don’t know why I came back. I lived here as a kid and I guess it’s as close to being home as anywhere. My roots are here. Mygreat-great-grandparents started this town.” She couldn’t tell him she’d returned here simply because she had nowhere else to go.
    He ate a few bites without speaking, then said more to himself than to her, “That’s not the answer, but it’ll do for now.” He pushed his food aside and added, “You want to go for a ride?”
    Millanie tilted her head and studied him. “What about your sister’s emergency?”
    â€œI talked to a friend about it when she woke me up from my afternoon nap. The law doesn’t think Wheeler killed his wife. In fact, she did a pretty good job of mentally beating him up before she left. If he hadn’t said he buried her, the sheriff wouldn’t have arrested him. But it’s hard to ignore a confession and everyone’s talking.”
    â€œSmall towns.” She’d never understood them. “I remember some of my mother’s stories about growing up here, but we moved before I paid much attention.”
    â€œYou got to love them. They have two jars on the bar for money. One to bet on how he killed her and the other to help pay for his defense.” Drew put his arm around her to help her up, as casually as if he’d done it a hundred times. “Let’s get out of here before my sister comes back.”
    The wind had died and the night was warm and rich with the aroma of summer. He drove her through the streets of Harmony. Neither talked much. She pointed out a few places she remembered. He gave no hint of where he grew up.
    Finally, she asked, “You said you didn’t date, so why me? Why now?”
    â€œMaybe I haven’t run across a woman who had what I wanted?”
    She laughed. “What? Two lips?” She liked the low laugh he had when she caught him off guard.
    â€œNo, it’s more than that. I don’t know what, but you have something, lady. Something very rare. Maybe something only I see.”
    She thought of saying that whatever she had must be very rare because no one else had ever mentioned it. Maybe hewas a romantic, looking for a magic that wasn’t there. The stars weren’t aligning for love. They were simply two people who were probably a little lonely,