Free Cooking Up Trouble by Judi Lynn

Andrews’ latest urban fantasy. A few hours later, Kate Daniels and Curran had kicked every supernatural’s butt. The book finished, Tessa felt better. She headed to bed.
    Tomorrow morning, she’d pick up Ian and take him shopping for antiques. Appropriate because at the moment, she felt worn and weathered.

Chapter 8
    I an turned to give her a quizzical look. “You’re awfully quiet this morning.”
    â€œI’m talked out.”
    â€œReally?” He frowned at a pasture, filled with alpacas. “People don’t raise and eat those, do they?”
    Tessa smiled. “That’s Bob Thorton’s farm. His wife, Ester, dyes and weaves the wool.”
    â€œInto what?”
    â€œAll sorts of things, but mostly wall hangings. She sells them online.”
    Ian shook his head. “You know, before I moved here, I thought the Midwest was pretty behind, out of the loop. I pictured farms and industry. But there’s a lot more.”
    She rolled her eyes. “You’re from New York, right?”
    He nodded.
    â€œIn the Midwest, we think both coasts are too full of themselves.”
    He threw back his head and laughed. “I guess I deserved that. I talk about Indiana like it’s behind the times.”
    She glanced his way. “So, what did you do in New York? What in the world brought you to Mill Pond?”
    â€œBoth fair questions.” He hesitated. “I was a stock broker, made lots of money with my own investments. I worked for my brother in the summers when I was going through college. Construction.” At her look, he grinned. “Lots of cement and earth moving. No flat tire changing. And once a year, our family all heads to a house on the beach in North Carolina. I have great memories from there. So I decided I wanted to open a resort.”
    â€œAnd you have the business know-how to make it work.”
    He nodded. “I’ve got all the big things covered. It’s the small, everyday things that threw me a little, but I’m learning.”
    â€œEveryone wants you to succeed. If you have a problem, all you have to do is ask someone.”
    â€œI’m getting the feel of it. You guys do community really well.”
    â€œBetter than I expected. Small towns don’t welcome newcomers all that well. You’ve managed a small miracle. People are claiming you as one of our own.”
    â€œThat’s not typical?”
    â€œNope. Most people are born and raised here, so are their parents, and their parents’ parents.”
    â€œSo I’m lucky?”
    She smiled at him. “I’d say you made your own luck.”
    â€œThanks!” He looked at her. “Having you take me under your wing helped.”
    â€œWe’re . . .”
    He grinned. “Neighbors. I know. Where are we going today?”
    â€œI thought we’d start at an antique shop on the highway. It’s my favorite, and then we can stop in Pierceton and Angola. If we come up empty, we’ll take the round-about way home.”
    He grinned. “This sure is pretty country.”
    â€œI like it.” She motioned toward a field with horses. “You have someone who knows horses to help you choose ones for your stables, right?”
    His dark brows furrowed together. “I thought I’d buy one of each color.” When her jaw dropped in shock, he laughed at her. “I bet on horse races. I know there are good horses and not so good horses.”
    She nodded, satisfied.
    When she turned silent again, he frowned. “What’s up? Something’s bothering you.”
    â€œMy ex came to visit me yesterday. Said he wants me to be happy. He and Sadie are expecting their first baby.”
    He gave a low whistle. “He’s the guy who turned you off men, right?”
    â€œYup, that would be Gary.”
    He stretched his arm across the back of the seat to lay a hand on her shoulder. “Look, we’re friends. If you ever