Free Home to Sparrow Lake (Harlequin Heartwarming) by Lynn Patrick Page B

planned on Alex. He was simply a bonus.
    She and Kristen worked together in harmony. Despite her niece’s own preferences, Margaret made a big deal about the entryway now looking perfect. They’d just finished when she heard a vehicle pull up to the curb and turned to see a familiar patrol car.
    And couldn’t help the smile that blossomed in response.
    “Oh, look at who’s here,” she said as Alex left the vehicle. “The police chief himself.” She couldn’t help teasing her niece. “Are you sure you didn’t do anything illegal this morning?”
    “What?” Stooping to put the lid back on the paint can, Kristen glanced over her shoulder and lost her balance. Luckily she caught herself, but not before getting chartreuse paint on her hand. “Great.” After wiping her hand with a paper towel, she shoved the hair out of her face and stood.
    To Margaret’s amusement, Kristen was finally wearing some vivid color where she’d touched her cheek.
    “Ladies, good afternoon,” Alex said, giving Kristen a penetrating look.
    Kristen narrowed her gaze on him. “You’re not here to arrest me again, are you?”
    “Uh, no. I was just driving by and decided to be neighborly.”
    “Oh, how nice,” Margaret said. “Kristen, why don’t you offer Alex a cup of coffee.”
    Kristen frowned at her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “I don’t, either,” Alex said. “But I wouldn’t mind your taking a ride with me. I want to show you something.”
    “A ride?” Kristen echoed.
    “You know, sitting in the passenger seat of my squad for a while.” His brows arched. “You must be familiar with the concept.”
    Tension seemed to zap back and forth between her niece and Alex. Margaret busied herself cleaning up.
    “C’mon, take some time off,” Alex said. “You don’t have to be ‘on’ every minute.”
    “He’s right, Kristen,” Margaret said. “You should go.”
    “But Aunt Margaret, I cleared my calendar to help you paint today.”
    “And you did a great job. Didn’t she, Alex?” Margaret indicated the brilliant-hued entryway.
    He nodded. “Very, um, colorful.”
    “See,” Kristen croaked. “Aunt Margaret needs me.”
    “Actually, I don’t, sweetheart. We’re through for now. So there’s nothing keeping you from going and having a nice time with Alex.” When Kristen stood there like a deer caught in the headlights, Margaret leaned over and whispered in her ear. “It’s good for business to be friendly with the local authorities. Please go for me.”
    Kristen heaved a sigh. “I suppose I could go.”
    Alex indicated she should lead the way to the patrol car.
    Margaret didn’t miss the way he swept his gaze over her niece, or the way he insisted on rubbing his thumb over her cheek to rid her of that little smear of paint before opening the car door for her.
    Watching them drive off, Margaret hummed happily to herself as she gathered the paint can and brushes and took them around back to the garage.
    * * *
    “S O WHAT IS this all about?” Kristen asked, suspicious of Alex’s motives. At least he hadn’t handcuffed her to get her in the car. Still, she was certain Alex had an angle. She simply couldn’t figure out what it was. “Why ask me out for a drive?”
    “I wanted to show you something and talk to you about an important matter.”
    She’d been forced into this outing by Aunt Margaret, Kristen thought. Her instincts had been to stay as far away from Alex Novak as she could. She didn’t need to complicate her life, and she figured that’s exactly what Alex would do to it if she let him get to her. Something that could definitely happen.
    Though he was driving the patrol car, he wasn’t in uniform today. He was even more handsome wearing charcoal-gray trousers and a lighter shirt of the same gray as the eyes that fed her nerves when he glanced at her.
    “What exactly are you doing for your aunt at Sew Fine?” Alex asked.
    “She wants me to find ways to increase traffic