Free Someone To Watch Over Me (Harlequin Super Romance) by Roz Denny Fox Page B

Julian who convinced his papa to ante up seed money for the store. Julian had never let her forgetit was a debt she owed him. Now his parents made that point around town.
    Thank heavens Trini did get the degree Isabella longed for. Now, whenever she could grab an extra minute, Isabella picked her sister’s brain; she also studied her business textbooks. That way, when Trini finished her Master’s and left the bakery for other pursuits, the business would sit on a firm foundation. With careful bookkeeping, maybe she could repay the elder Aranas one day.
    Much as Isabella loved owning the bakery, she’d give it up in a minute to turn back the clock. If only she’d fought harder against letting Julian share custody of Toni and Ramon. But she’d been over and over that if only so many times, it felt as if her head would split apart. There was no turning back. She had to live with that for the rest of her life.
    Why had she started thinking about the past, anyway? Gabe Poston. Because she’d found him easier to be with than she’d ever have guessed.
    Men. She didn’t need another in her life.
    When Isabella’s mind launched into overdrive, as it did now, she found work the only solution to curbing the memories. So, instead of heading home as Trini had suggested, she drove straight back to the shop. Might as well get a jump on starting Estrella Aguirre’s wedding cake.
    Five minutes later she parked on the street rather than behind the building.
    Trini let out a little screech of fear as Isabella opened the back door with her key.
    “Land sakes alive! Scare the heck out of me, why don’t you?”
    “Sorry. I realize you weren’t expecting me, but youknow how restless I get after a trip to the cemetery. You go on home, Trini. I have some demons to exorcise, and work’s the only way I can do that.”
    “Was the trip to the cemetery responsible for your demons? Or is it the person who went with you?” Trini lounged against a counter, one eyebrow raised, her arms crossed.
    “What?” Isabella shot upright from stuffing her purse in a drawer.
    “Oh, come on Bella. The phone’s been ringing off the hook. Did you think in a town the size of Callanton no one would notice? Everyone’s speculating as to who he is. My bet’s on Gabe Poston.”
    Isabella sagged against the wall. She covered her face with her hands. After a moment she straightened and rubbed her temples. “It was…him. I don’t know what got into me, Trini. He’s staying at the Inn. I ran into him accidentally. He saw the flowers and seemed to know why I had them. He invited himself along, but I should’ve told him no.”
    “It’s okay, Bella,” Trini said soothingly.
    “But what are people saying? You know as well as I do that Julian’s attorney would love to find any dirt on me.”
    “So a man rode with you to the cemetery. Until the third or fourth call, I told everyone you must’ve run into Joe, Rick or Manuel in town.”
    “Rollie Danville saw us leave together.” Isabella began pacing around and around the work island.
    “Oh. Out of curiosity, Bella, why did Gabe go with you?”
    Isabella threw up her hands. “I think he mentioned he’d heard the story from Summer. He…he told me no one should have to go alone. It was more how he saidit, Trini. Not dripping with pity but just…concerned. Oh, damn, that’s no excuse. But…how else do I explain my sudden lack of backbone?”
    Trini caught her sister’s arm as she paced around the island for about the tenth time. “Stop beating yourself up. I think it’s nice. It shows chivalry isn’t dead.”
    “I’m afraid that’s not how others will see it.”
    “Who cares?” Trini waved her fingers in Isabella’s face. “Anyway, whose business is it except yours?”
    Isabella rested her elbows on the table and again buried her face in her hands. “It’s not that simple. Thanks to the news coverage of this case, every aspect of my life is under a microscope until Julian’s trial is