Free Necessary Detour by Kim Hornsby Page B

fingers touched and his hand lingered longer than necessary, showing her that on his left hand, fourth finger, was a definite gold wedding band. Had he worn it before?
    “My daughter and I make this jam and it’s pretty good, if I do say so myself.” Nikki waited for him to mention his son, or wife...or sister. “My daughter, Quinn,” she added to prompt him. “She makes the jam.”
    In the five seconds they stood facing each other, she got the distinct impression Pete Bayer knew exactly what was going on. She did too. Nikki was being nosey and Pete was hiding something. She needed to put an end to the nonsense. “I thought your son and wife might like the buns.” She stuck her chin in the air and waited.
    “Thanks,” he said, holding back an obvious grin.
    It was a struggle to not break down and say, “Hey, what planet are you from? I just acknowledged that you have a son.” Anyone else would’ve said something about the son and wife, or asked what kind of jam it was or if she wanted to come in for a cup of coffee. That’s what normal people did, she’d heard. But this guy just stood there, rattling the keys in his hand.
    Elvis broke through the trees and charged toward them, barking at Pete. Unfazed, Pete bent down to let the dog sniff his hand, even though Elvis looked like he might take a few fingers from him. “It’s just me, boy.”
    “Elvis, stop.”
    “It’s okay,” he said. “I like dogs.”
    Elvis stopped barking and let Pete scratch him behind his ears.
    “No, it’s not okay.” She didn’t want Elvis fraternizing with this guy.
    “He’s just protecting you when he barks.” Pete stood and they stared awkwardly at each other. “Thanks for the buns and jam.”
    “Yes, well…” Nikki stumbled for something, anything. “We...I hope...”
    Pete cut her off. “I have to get something from the truck.” He walked her down the road like a goddamned magpie or whatever those birds were who led predators away from the nest.
    She took the hint, thinking that Pete had to have enough social skills to know this was rude. Was being rude the lesser of two evils? If so, what was the other one—revealing he had a wife?
    “Goodbye.” Nikki walked away, chin higher than usual, trying to pretend she hadn’t been rebuffed for the second time.
    “Come on, boy,” she whispered under her breath. “He’s a major weirdo. He’s probably going inside to tell his wife that the nosey neighbor was spying again.” She mentally snipped the thin thread that connected the two houses, and once inside her house, she set the security alarm to the highest setting.

Chapter 7
    Connie hadn’t been particularly impressed at the thought of having a rock star next door when Pete told her.
    “I’m telling you this in case you see her. Don’t talk to her, if you can help it,” he’d advised. There was no reason for those two to meet. “And Tony, you stay away from the windows. She’s not dangerous, but neither of you need to make a friend.”
    When he and the kid first met, Tony was resentful of Pete, but that was normal. The boy had big problems and was just trying to protect his mom. Too bad he was so strong-willed. Being a buddy didn’t interest Pete, but everything would go a lot easier if Tony didn’t oppose everything Pete said.
    Tony ran over to see what was in the basket and hadn’t been disappointed it was food. After all, he was an eleven-year-old-boy.
    “I love these,” he said.
    “They’re hot cross buns from the neighbor, but let me eat half of one first, to make sure they’re yummy.”
    Connie shot him a look of concern as Pete popped a hunk into his mouth and dipped another piece into the jam jar.
    “Hey, give me those.” Tony grabbed at the basket while Pete held it high enough to make a game of it.
    “Say please.”
    Tony laughed. “You’re not so tough. You like jam too.”
    Pete didn’t have time to wonder what Tony thought of him. He had to avoid these bonding moments with the