Free Trouble in Paradise by Robin Lee Hatcher Page B

legs.
    “Let’s get you outside.” She patted her thigh. “Come on, Honey.”
    A full moon floated above the mountains in the east, seemingly perched on their craggy peaks, bathing the valley in a blanket of white. The light undulated atop the field grasses, rising and swelling with the whims of the midnight breeze.
    In the city, she wouldn’t have dared wander outside alone at this time of night. Here, she felt safe doing so.
    Here, everything was different.
    “Even I’m different.”
    She couldn’t explain it, not even to herself, but she felt more alive, more confident, than she’d felt in a long, long while. Maybe because she was following the path she believed God wanted her to take.
    The image of Ian O’Connell drifted into her mind. There was no denying that she was attracted to him. Almost from day one there’d been something that drew her to him. While she knew she and Ty Sheffield—despite how much she enjoyed this evening—would never be more than friends, Ian could pose a serious distraction. That wouldn’t be a good thing.
    Shayla stopped and stared at the starry heavens. “Lord, I’m grateful for all You’ve done for me. I’m thankful for this chance to write, to see if I really have what it takes. Help me to be obedient to Your calling. Help me not to get distracted by anything—” or anyone “—else.”

Chapter Seven
     
    C het eyed the dark-haired woman behind the lunch counter. Her name was True, but the whole town knew that wasn’t a description of her personality. True Barry could spin a lie faster than anybody in the county and usually did.
    The tall brunette had legs up to there and was movie-star gorgeous.
    Made a guy wonder what brought her to this remote valley in central Idaho. Was she on the run? Hiding out? Or had she come here because the male-female ratio in these parts ran in her favor?
    Not that she needed that advantage. There were plenty of men in Eden Valley interested in True. Chet wasn’t one of them. He wouldn’t even be in the diner, enduring her come-hither stare, except True knew something about Neal’s death. Chet meant to find out what it was.
    “What can I get for you, cowboy?”
    She set the coffeepot on the counter near his plate and leaned toward him. So close, he could see the tiny gold flecks in her eyes. Hazel eyes framed with long lashes.
    “You look troubled, Chet,” she said, loud enough for everyone in the diner to hear. “Maybe I can help somehow.” She lowered her voice to a nearly inaudible whisper. “Meet me behind the diner in ten minutes.”
    “Not interested, True,” he said—and meant it.
    “It’s about Neal, you idiot. Be there.”
    Flashing him another of her smiles, she straightened and walked off to pour coffee for some other customer, leaving Chet to wonder what he would find behind the diner.
     
     
    The cabin door was open. As Ian approached the deck, he heard music coming from inside. George Strait was singing that same tune from last night. The one they’d played during the Grange potluck.
    He couldn’t help smiling as he realized the melody had been haunting her, too. Enough that she’d put it on the stereo.
    Ian climbed the steps, careful not to make any sound. At the screen door, he stopped and looked in. Shayla sat in front of her computer, her back toward the door, her fingers tapping away on the keyboard. Clickity-clickity-clickity. She was a fast typist.
    He’d seen her in church this morning, but she’d arrived before him and was already seated with the Sheffield family—Ty, his parents and the rest of theirchildren. The most Ian had been able to do was give Shayla a quick greeting.
    And so here he was, coming to her place on this Sunday afternoon. Last week he’d brought her a puppy. Today he’d brought a saddle horse.
    He rapped on the door. She typed a few more words, probably finishing an idea, then swiveled her chair. A look of surprise—or was it something else?—filled her eyes an instant