Free Midnight Sons Volume 2 by Debbie Macomber Page B

Landgrin had asked her out, she’d found a dozen reasons to accept. She’d always been curious about the Alaska pipeline. It was said to stretch more than eight hundred miles across three mountain ranges and over thirteen bridges. Having dinner with a man who could answer her questions seemed innocent enough.
    In addition, it sent a message to Mitch, one he’d apparently received loud and clear. He didn’t like the idea of her dating Bill Landgrin, and frankly she was glad. Unfortunately, Mitch had to use his daughter’s injury as an excuse to talk to her about Bill. That was what irritated Bethany most.
     
    Mitch honestly tried to stay away from Bethany on Friday night. Chrissie was spending the night at Susan’s, and the house had never seemed so empty. By seven o’clock, the walls were closing in on him. He’d had to grab his coat and flee.
    He tried to look casual and unconcerned when he walked into Ben’s café. A quick look around, and his mouth filled with the bitter taste of disappointment. Bethany was nowhere in sight.
    “Looking for the new teacher, are you?” Ben asked as he dried a glass with a crisp linen cloth.
    “What gives you that idea?” Mitch growled. He was in no mood for conversation. “I came here for a piece of pie.”
    “I thought you decided to cut back on sweets.”
    “I changed my mind,” Mitch said. If he’d known Ben was going to be such a pain in the butt, he would’ve stayed home.
    Ben brought him a slice of apple pie. “In case you’re interested, she left not more than twenty minutes ago.”
    “Who?” he asked, pretending he didn’t know.
    “She wasn’t alone, either. Bill insisted on seeing her home.”
    Agitated, Mitch slapped his fork down on the plate. “Who Bethany Ross dates is her own business.”
    “Maybe,” Ben said, bracing both hands on the counter, “but I don’t trust the man, and you don’t either, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. My feeling is that maybe one of us should check up on Bethany—see that everything’s the way it should be.”
    Mitch was convinced there was more to this scenario than Ben was telling him. His blood started to heat.
    “Since you’re the law in this town, I think you ought to go make sure she got home all safe and sound.”
    Mitch wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Ben was right. If anything happened to Bethany, Mitch would never forgive himself. In the meantime, if he did meet up with Bill, he’d impress upon the man that he was to keep away from Bethany Ross.
    “So, are you going to see her?”
    No use lying about it. “Yeah.”
    “Then the pie’s on the house,” Ben said, grinning.
    Mitch drove to Bethany’s, grateful to see that the lights were still on. He knocked loudly on the door and would have barged in if she hadn’t opened it when she did.
    “Mitch?”
    “May I come in?”
    “Of course.” She stepped aside.
    He walked in and looked around. If Bill was there, he saw no evidence of it.
    She’d been combing her hair, and the brush was still in her hand. She didn’t ask Mitch why he’d come.
    He suspected she knew.
    “Did Landgrin try anything?” Mitch demanded.
    Her eyes narrowed as if she didn’t understand the question.
    “Landgrin. Did he try anything?” he repeated gruffly.
    She blinked. “No. He was a perfect gentleman.”
    Mitch shoved his fingers though his hair as he paced the confines of her small living room. He didn’t need anyone to tell him what a fool he was making of himself.
    “Will you be seeing him again?”
    “That’s my business.”
    He closed his eyes and nodded. He had no argument. “Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have come.” He stalked toward the door, eager to escape.
    “Mitch?”
    His hand was on the doorknob. He stopped but didn’t turn around.
    “I won’t be seeing Bill Landgrin again.”
    Relief coursed through him.
    “Mitch?”
    She was close, so very close. He could feel her breath against the back of his neck. All he had to do was