Free Seeking His Love by Carrie Turansky Page B

across the street taking our picture.”
    Fear snaked up Rachel’s back and tightened around her chest, making it hard to pull in her next breath. Could it beKyle? Had he followed her all the way up here from Seattle? How was that possible? She thought she’d covered her tracks by changing jobs, changing phone numbers and moving more than ninety miles away. “Is he tall with dark hair?” Rachel forced out the words, refusing to turn around and see for herself.
    “Yeah, and he’s kind of cute in a quirky way. Nice dresser.” Chandra smiled and started to lift her hand.
    Panic skittered along Rachel’s nerves. “Wait!” She grabbed Chandra’s arm. “I don’t want him to know we see him.”
    “It’s too late for that. I already smiled at him.” Chandra frowned at her. “What’s the matter?”
    “I…I just don’t like the idea of someone taking my picture without my permission.” With a shaky hand she replaced the poster. Should she slip out the other side of the tent and hope he wouldn’t follow, or turn around and face him?
    Confronting Kyle had only made things worse in Seattle. The police advised her to ignore him and pretend his skulking around didn’t bother her. But that had been impossible.
    What if he started following her again? A cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and her stomach swirled. She touched Chandra’s shoulder. “Let’s get out of here.”
    “But I thought you wanted to get some posters.”
    “Not now. We need to leave.” Rachel wove through the display of books, heading toward the opposite side of the tent.
    “The guy’s not creepy or anything. He looks totally normal.”
    Rachel shook her head. That’s what she’d thought at first, too. It was only later she learned Kyle’s problems were well hidden behind his winsome appearance. “It’s not normal to spy on someone with a camera.” She ducked out the back door of the tent. “Come on. Let’s cut across the Village Green.”
    Chandra followed, toting two shopping bags of items she’d purchased earlier. “I don’t think he was spying on us. He’s probably just a photographer from the paper or something. He had a nice camera, and there was another guy with him who looked like a reporter—blond curly hair, good-looking, but he had kind of a fierce expression.”
    Rachel turned. “What did you say?”
    “I’m saying we just walked away from two cute guys who probably wanted to meet us, and that’s a cryin’ shame.”
    “No, I mean about the guy with the photographer.”
    Chandra shrugged. “I said he’s blond and good-looking, sort of reminded me of a lion.”
    Rachel gulped in a breath.
    “Rachel?” a man called from somewhere behind her.
    She stopped, her heart pounding in her throat, trying to process the voice. It didn’t sound like Kyle, but—
    Chandra spun around. “Hey, the photographer knows you?”
    Rachel swallowed and slowly turned around.
    Ross and Cam wove through the crowded Village Green toward them. Cam sent her a half smile. Ross lifted his hand and waved.
    “Well, if it isn’t our mystery men,” Chandra whispered.
    Rachel’s heartbeat slowly returned to normal, and she forced a smile. “Hi, guys.”
    Rachel introduced Chandra. “She’s the choreographer for N.C.Y.T., so you’ll be seeing a lot more of her around the Arts Center soon.”
    “Wow, that’s great. I’m a bit of a dancer myself.” Ross did a brief tap dance right there on the brick walkway.
    Chandra grinned. “You could give Fred Astaire a run for his money.”
    “If he was still alive,” Cam added with a wry smile.
    Ross ignored Cam. “So, have you lovely ladies had lunch?”
    “Not yet.” Chandra smiled, her blue eyes shining.
    “Cam and I were just headed over to get something to eat. Would you like to come along?”
    Rachel glanced at Cam, trying to gauge how he felt about the invitation, but he remained silent and unreadable. Chandra watched her expectantly. “Sure. We’re ready for lunch.”
    “I