Free Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) by Lenora Worth Page A

about me that might upset you.”
    Before she could respond, her cell phone rang. “It’s my dad,” she said to Alec.
    He nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll see if these two have figured out a way to solve world peace.”
    Marla answered the phone on the second ring. “Daddy, hi. Is everything okay?”
    Her father sounded winded. “No, honey. But don’t panic, okay? Gabby is a little upset is all.”
    “I’m on my way,” Marla said, her stomach knotting. She motioned toward her mother but kept speaking to her dad. “What happened?”
    “Dipsey McQuire. He saw us on the golf cart and waved. When we got closer he tried to tickle Gabby’s tummy. Gabby got scared and grabbed hold of me. I guess his red beard threw her a bit. She’s all right, honey. But she’s asking for you. I can’t get her to calm down.”
    “I’ll be there soon, tell her. Okay, Daddy, tell her I’m coming.” Marla ended the call and hurried toward her mother. “Gabby got scared, Mom. Mr. McQuire tried to talk to her.”
    Her mother put a hand to her mouth. “Oh, no. He’s harmless but he’s got that big beard and he laughs so loudly. I’m sorry. I told your daddy to stay on the less-traveled trails.”
    “What can I do?” Alec asked, clear concern in his eyes.
    “Nothing,” Marla replied. “I... I had planned to take all of the leftovers and my equipment back to the shop.”
    He stared at her for a minute and said, “Give me the keys to your van. I’ll go to your shop and unload it.”
    Shocked, Marla shook her head. “But you don’t know the code to get in.”
    “Can I call someone to meet me?”
    “Brandy,” she said. She spouted out the number.
    “Got it,” Alec said, writing the number on his hand with a pen he’d pulled from his pocket. “Brandy and I will take care of the shop. You go with your mother.”
    Marla didn’t know what to say. “Thank you, Alec.”
    Aunt Hattie walked with them to a side gate. “I hope your sweet girl is all right, Marla. Poor little thing. We’ll send up prayers for her healing.”
    “Thank you,” Joyce said. “We had such a nice time.”
    Aunt Hattie hugged her mom. “Come back again, please.”
    Alec guided them toward where her mother had parked on the side street. “Call me when everything is okay,” he said. “Brandy and I will make sure the van is cleaned out and your shop is locked up tight.”
    Marla could only nod as she and her mother hurried to her mother’s car. When she glanced back, Alec was already in the van. He shot her an encouraging smile and waved her on.
    Marla turned around to stare straight ahead, her purse clutched in her hand. Worries about Gabby being afraid warred with the tiny crack in her heart at the way Alec had offered to help her.
    “He’s a very nice man,” her mother said.
    “Yes, he is.” Marla couldn’t quite believe that Alec had taken control without batting an eye. Then she gave her mother a reluctant glance. “Once a marine, always a marine, right? He must have taken control like that in much worse situations.”
    Her mother patted her hand. “Right. We women like our independence but sometimes it’s nice to let others help us when we really need it.” Then she shot Marla a knowing motherly smile. “Especially if the help comes from such an unexpected place.”
    Marla would have to remember that sage advice. Had she become so closed off and out of touch that she’d forgotten to accept kindness? Especially the kind that left her surprised and touched?
    * * *
    Alec couldn’t get the memory of Marla’s panicked expression out of his mind. Glancing at the clock again, he noted that three hours had passed since she’d left with her mother to go and check on Gabby. What had happened?
    After getting in touch with Brandy and explaining that he needed her help, she’d met him at the shop and together they’d put away Marla’s supplies and the remaining food.
    “We sometimes take any fresh leftovers to the homeless shelter on the