Free Saving Alyssa (Mills & Boon Heartwarming) by Loree Lough Page B

casually against the counter as he talked with a customer. “If it goes well, he’ll hire me to design his website.”
    â€œNoah?” Bud shook his head and whistled low. “Now, there’s one eccentric dude.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œHe can talk for half an hour straight without really saying anything. You know me—once a detective, always a detective. I looked him up to see if I could find out where he’s from, what kind of work he did before moving here, what happened to his wife.” Bud shook his head again. “Came up empty. It’s like he didn’t exist before coming to Ellicott City.” Frowning, Billie’s neighbor aimed a thick forefinger at her. “Just between you, me and the lamppost here, I’m guessing witness protection. But you keep that under your hat, you hear?”
    Billie nodded. “Don’t worry. My lips are sealed. I just want this job. If I get it, he’ll be my hundredth client.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, if? You’re the best in the business, and half the shop owners on Main Street know it. And if Noah has talked to any of them—and I’m sure he has, if he’s thinking about a website—he knows it, too.”
    Bud’s bright blue eyes narrowed. “That’s how he heard about you, right? From one of his neighbors?”
    â€œActually, we met when I walked my bike to his shop for repairs. When I told him what I do for a living, it didn’t seem like he hadn’t heard it before.” She thought of everything the guy in Gucci clothes had said about Noah’s overprotectiveness toward his little girl. Maybe Bud was on to something with his witness protection idea. “He seemed nice enough when he drove me home that day, so I wouldn’t have to hike back up the hill.”
    Bud glanced at her ankle. “Ah, right. The Great Cannondale Fall.” Then he met her eyes. “No need to look so worried. Just because a man keeps mostly to himself doesn’t mean he’s dangerous.” Her neighbor nodded toward the shop. “And anyway, if the way he takes care of his little girl is any indicator, I’d have to say he’s good people.”
    If that were true, why did he seem so secretive? And why did he only look relaxed and happy when Alyssa was around? “If you have time when you’re through with him,” Bud said, walking backward toward his house, “stop by and I’ll show you where I keep Inky’s stuff.”
    â€œWill do,” she said. The light changed again, and Billie crossed the street as a customer exited the bike shop.
    â€œSaw you talking to Bud,” Noah said when she walked up to the counter. “From where I was standing, it looked like a pretty serious conversation.”
    â€œHe’s having surgery next week, asked me to take care of his cat while he’s hospitalized.”
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œHis doctor wants to insert stents in his heart.”
    â€œThat’s the last thing I’d expected you to say. Bud seems healthy as a horse. Jogs everywhere.” Noah put down the wrench he’d been holding. “Plays a mean game of tennis, too.”
    Well now, that was odd. Bud hadn’t mentioned playing tennis with the bike mechanic. “I believe it. He keeps a treadmill, a weight bench and an exercise bike—the kind with handlebars that move—in the middle of his living room.”
    She handed over the folder, and as Noah opened it, said, “That’s just an overview, to give you an idea how I’ll develop your site.” Billie almost tacked on if I get the job, but thought better of it.
    He gave the proposal a cursory glance and slid it back into its pocket. He’d told her that he’d given up trying to build his own site, due to negligible computer skills. Hopefully, she hadn’t jumped the gun, drafting it without first discussing it with him in more