Free Kiss of an Angel by Janelle Denison Page A

would.” Then, to Caitlan, he explained, “Paula cooks like there’s no tomorrow when she’s nervous or worried.”
    A woman in her mid-forties with soft blue eyes and short brown hair bustled out of a doorway, the worry on her brow vanishing when she spotted J.T. Frank followed close behind. “I thought I heard J.T. talking about me,” Paula said, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist.
    “I sure was,” he admitted unabashedly, accepting her light, caring embrace. “I was just telling Caitlan here what a wonderful cook you are. Couldn’t manage without you, Paula.”
    She looked him over, as if to reassure herself that he really was fine. “I’m relieved to see a black bear didn’t get your ornery hide.”
    He grinned. “Nope. They wouldn’t dare mess with me.”
    “And this must be Caitlan.” Paula grabbed Caitlan’s hand and gave it a congenial squeeze, bonding an instant friendship. “Frank told me the exciting story of how you saved J.T.’s life. I’ll tell you, J.T. must have had a guardian angel sitting on his shoulder!”
    “I believe he did,” Caitlan replied with a smile.
    “Caitlan will be staying with us for a while,” J.T. said brusquely, his tone suddenly businesslike.
    Caitlan noticed she wasn’t the only one who’d caught J.T.’s abrupt shifting of mood, as if she was stepping too close to his territory and he didn’t like it and wanted distance.
    Giving J.T. a purposeful look, Caitlan transferred her gaze back to Paula. “I’ll try and keep out of your way while I’m here.”
    “Nonsense!” Paula waved a chiding hand through the air. “It’ll be nice having another woman around the house.”
    J.T.’s lips thinned at that remark, but he remained silent.
    “Hey, what about me?” Laura jumped in indignantly.
    “Excuse me.” Paula’s gentle smile placated Laura. “I sometimes forget you’re not a little girl anymore. Come on, everyone, there’s plenty of food to eat.”
    The group started toward the kitchen. Caitlan grabbed J.T.’s shirtsleeve. He stopped, his gaze traveling from the hand on his arm to her eyes.
    “Yes?” he asked tightly, moving his arm so her fingers fell away.
    Caitlan ignored the tingles on her palm and the odd yet deliciously exciting shivers racing down her spine. “I need to call Parson’s. May I use your phone, please?”
    “Laura,” J.T. called, and his daughter stopped at the doorway connecting the foyer to the dining room to look back at him. “Would you show Caitlan my office so she can use the phone?”
    “Sure, Dad.” Smiling, Laura nodded her head down the connecting hall. “Right this way, Caitlan.”
    Caitlan followed Laura, recognizing J.T.’s strategy for the ploy it was—to avoid being alone with her any more than he had to. She felt his gaze on her back, and the tiny hairs at the nape of her neck tingled in acute awareness. With a soft curse, he turned and strode into the kitchen.
    Laura glanced over her shoulder as J.T. disappeared from view, then leaned close to Caitlan. “So, tell me what
really
happened between you and my father.”
    Caitlan eyed Laura, seeing the wistfulness in her gaze and a glimmer of hope. Not wanting to disillusion the young girl in any way, she strove to keep her answer simple and to the point. “Like your father said, I found him!”
    “Oh, how romantic,” Laura said on a dreamy sigh.
    A wry smile found its way to Caitlan’s lips. “Your father has been anything but romantic.”
    Laura stopped before a closed door at the end of the hall. Grasping Caitlan’s hand, Laura met her gaze. “You’ll have to excuse my dad. It’s been a long time since he’s really dated someone—”
    “Laura, this isn’t what you think,” Caitlan said gently, not wanting to hurt her feelings. “Your father and I aren’t romantically involved.”
    “Not yet,” she replied, her tone holding more insight than Caitlan would have liked.
    “How old are you?” Caitlan asked, knowing the