Free Dangerous Alterations by Elizabeth Lynn Casey Page A

her and the familiarity of the library at her back just seemed right. Calming, even.
    Summer had always been one of her favorite seasons. As a child, it had signaled the start of uninterrupted time with her great grandmother—time spent reading, sewing, baking, talking. When college came, it afforded her time to volunteer at her local library, preparing her for the career she’d been dreaming about for years. And now that she was an adult, she loved what it represented even more. Suddenly, the school-aged children came through the doors because they wanted to, adults came in search of the perfect vacation read, and Milo was off for nearly three months.
    Maybe that’s why she’d been so antsy the past week. She missed having him around—watching movies, taking long walks, eating dinner together on his deck or hers.
    But it was more than that.
    It was Nina’s absence and Dixie’s presence, it was worry about Rose and the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis that seemed to creep up on her elderly friend with little to no warning, it was Jeff’s re-entry into her stratosphere, and her inability to give Milo a firm answer to his months-old proposal.
    Sighing, she made her way to the bottom of the steps and over to one of two wooden picnic tables that had been a gift from the Friends of the Library after their annual spring book fair. In spite of the noon hour she had the table to herself and she was glad. Her lunch was lacking in all areas except sugar and she wasn’t in the mood for any comments it might bring. Restless nights simply demanded sugar-infused days.
    A flash of movement behind a nearby tree caught her attention and she bobbed her head to the left to afford a better look. Seconds later, a plumpish brown bunny sporting a miniature black bow tie hopped into the clearing.
    “Paris?” she asked as she released her death grip on the chocolate bar inside her bag and stood. “Is that you?”
    The bunny stopped, turned back toward the tree, and made a beeline toward the bejeweled hand that tried to wave it back in Tori’s direction.
    She rolled her eyes and sat back down. “Are you trying for a second career as a psycho stalker, Leona?”
    A huff emerged from behind the tree followed by the slender, stylish sixty-something dressed to the nines in a baby blue Donna Karan suit. “A psycho stalker? Really, dear, must you be so, so, I don’t know … dramatic ?”
    “Okay. A spy, then?”
    “Of course not. Though, I did date a spy once. He was very charming and so very creative when it came to finding unique places to—”
    Tori held up her hand, successfully cutting off a parade of details she didn’t want to hear. “Then how do you explain your fascination with trees as of late?”
    “Trees?” Leona brought her non-Paris holding hand to the base of her neck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, dear.”
    Reaching into her lunch sack once again, she plucked out the candy bar, unwrapped it, and took a bite. “I know you were listening in on my conversation with Jeff last night. And I know you took it upon yourself to include Milo in that conversation as well.”
    “I did no such thing.”
    She stared at Leona over the top of her candy bar. “Leona …”
    A tinge of crimson rose in the woman’s cheeks just before she lifted Paris into the air and held him in Tori’s direction. “Did you notice his little bow tie? Isn’t it precious?”
    “Adorable. Truly.” She pointed at the vacant picnic bench on the other side of the table and watched as Leona sat down. “Now tell me why.”
    “I think he has a little friend in the neighborhood. I just want him to look dapper.”
    She shook her head. “No, why did you involve Milo without telling me?”
    Leona tilted her head downward and peered at Tori across the top of her glasses. “Because I figured someone had to talk some sense into you where that sorry excuse for a man is concerned.”
    “Sense?” she echoed.
    “Sense,” Leona repeated. “I