Free Undercover Love (The Women of Manatee Bay, Book 2) by Jessica Nelson Page A

either.”
    “Unfit?”
    “She’s hissin’ but she’s not a mean cat. Just scared.” The guy reached up and scratched his gray curls. “I reckon the shelter’s out of room. Paperwork says she’s been here over a week. And she’s old.”
    “Too many things against her.” Rachel studied the man, then smoothed her slacks and held out her hand. “I’m going to adopt this cat.”
    The man’s eyebrows shot to his scalp. “Well now . . .”
    Rachel smiled, showing her teeth the way she’d done in college. The smile seemed to work on overzealous guys, but would it on an older man? She wiggled her fingers toward the cage. Maybe she was crazy, but adopting Miss Priss felt right. “I’ll take her.”
    His brown eyes were clearly filled with doubt but he handed her the cage. It was heavier than she’d expected and almost pulled the smile off her face. She set it on the floor and straightened. “Should I take her to the front?”
    “Yep. Right out that door. They’ll ring you up and process the paperwork.” He gestured to the door Katrina had disappeared through.
    “Thank you.” She picked up the cage, grimacing at how the cold metal handle dug into her palms. Not the best decision of her life, but she wouldn’t back out now.
    Slowly, her heels scraping over the floor, she walked to the door. She’d have a pet. It would get her mind off of . . . stuff.
    Handsome stuff.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Handsome stuff was following Rachel.
    She eyed the truck behind her, a blond thatch of hair visible through the windshield. Grant Harkness better have a good reason for being behind her or she’d be putting in a complaint. After her experience with investigating a case a few years back, any interest from the cops felt invasive.
    In the backseat, the cat yowled.
    Rachel slowed at an intersection and turned into a gas station. Grant followed her. She got out of her car, leaving the engine running so Miss Priss didn’t die of heat stroke, to face him head-on. After his apology this morning at Mom’s, she didn’t know what to think of him.
    Forcing a smile, she waited while he walked over to her. He wore civilian clothes.
    “Is there a reason you’re following me?”
    He smiled a slow smile. “Your tag’s expired.”
    “No, it’s not.” She looked anyway. And puffed out an annoyed breath. “You lied.”
    The corner of his mouth wobbled as if he was trying to hold back a grin. “Just joking.”
    “I don’t have time for jokes,” she told him, even though her own lips were having trouble holding still. “Are you following me? You’ve been behind me since I got off the interstate.”
    “Actually, I’m heading over to my mom’s. She happens to live on this road. Alec called and I mentioned you were in front of me. He asked me to have you call Katrina. I don’t have your cell number though…”
    “Why didn’t he call me?”
    “He said Katrina couldn’t get through.”
    “Probably a weak signal.” She thought about checking the phone now to see if she had any missed messages, then decided to wait. Although evening had arrived, the air still felt thick with moisture. Clouds hovered low and she wondered if it was going to rain.
    Grant must’ve thought the same thing because he held a hand out, palm up. “I think a storm front’s coming through tonight.”
    “Yeah.” Since he was being so nice, she let her eyes linger on how attractive he appeared in cotton shorts and a t-shirt.
    He eyed her in return and some intangible force passed between them. Her heart knocked against her sternum and her mouth dried. He looked at her almost as if he was attracted to her too. As if—
    “I have a question about your sister.”
    “Maggie?” Rachel frowned, not liking the jealousy that rose to the surface at his interest. “What about her?”
    “Does she know Mayor Owens? Have any connections to him?”
    Rachel’s spine stiffened. She felt a wall go up and knew Grant saw it because his gaze narrowed and he leaned