Free Craving a Hero: St. John Sibling Series, book 3 by Barbara Raffin

parted."
    "Then you're a fool, St. John."
    He caught her by the arm, stopped her. "Kel, I just got a huge advance against this next movie. If I'd had this kind of money a month ago, I could have helped my sister big time. But I didn't, and now that I've got it, she doesn't need it. But those people back there do need it. If helping them with a few bucks makes me a fool, then I'm a happy fool."
    Her brow furrowed as she seemed to study him through those clear, bright eyes of hers. "You're a good man, Dane St. John."
    Then she turned and stepped out of his grip, heading off through the woods like a hungry mama bear on the scent of a honey comb.
    "Why are we in such a hurry?" he called, darting after her.
    "Can't run his license until I get back to the truck."
    "You're going to check them out?" he asked, catching up to her.
    "Of course. They could be fugitives."
    "And if they are, what's going to happen to those kids?"
    Her pace slowed. "Child Protective Services will take custody and those kids will have full tummies and a bed to sleep in tonight."
    "That's the real reason you're checking up on the father, to protect those kids," he said.
    She tossed him a hard look and picked up her pace. "I'm law enforcement, Dane. Checking out people is what I do."
    "Watching out for those kids is what you're doing."
    "And the residents of my district. If the mom or dad have outstanding warrants—"
    "Yeah, they looked like they were a real threat." He said, scrambling to keep up with her.
    "People aren't always what they seem to be."
    "I know that, Bright Eyes."
    Her step faltered and she glanced back at him. "Sorry. I keep forgetting how you grew up. Of course you'd know you can't judge a book by its cover. Now quit slowing me down. I've got groceries to buy."
    "We don't need any more gro—" What she meant dawned on him. "You're buying groceries for them. "
    "I'm going to have to check up on them later, make sure they moved to a designated campsite. Might as well see to it the kids get something wholesome to eat."
    He laughed. "Now who's the sap?"
    "Just because I'm law enforcement doesn't mean I'm heartless," she grumbled.
    He caught up to her, hugged her against his side, and kissed her cheek. "I already figured that out about you, Bright Eyes."
    She brushed him off and hurried off ahead of him. "Don't get carried away, St. John."
    "You think the grocery store has an ATM?" he called after her.
    She shook her head, her braid swishing across her back. "You're going to give them more money, aren't you?"
    "Can't help it. I'm a sap for the underdog."
    "That's for sure."
    "And you love that about me, admit it."
    "Don't get a swelled head over it, St. John."
    "Oh no. My head's getting so big, I don't think I can carry it. Look, I can't fit it between the trees.
    She kept trucking. But her shoulders shook with silent laughter.
    Damn, if he didn't like making her laugh.
    #
    It was more than the beauty of the valley stretching for as far as the eye could see from Angel Point—more even than the natural beauty of the woman sitting across the picnic table from Dane distracting him as he shuffled the playing cards. He'd seen how Kelly had soothed the homeless couple's toddler quiet while the mother and father stowed the groceries he handed out to them from the back of the truck later that afternoon. The little girl may have latched onto him, but there was no denying a nurturer lie beneath the uniform of CO Kelly Jackson.
    "You did a nice thing for that family today," he said, setting the card stack in front of her.
    "You implying I'm a soft touch, St. John? Because, if you are, I would remind you you're the one who gave them all the cash in your pocket then went to the ATM and got more."
    She cut the deck. He turned up an Ace. She grunted, a dissatisfied sound. Because of the card or because he'd given the homeless couple money?
    "That wasn't being a soft touch," he said, dealing them each the seven cards required for a cribbage hand. "That was