A Penny for Your Thoughts by Bess McBride Read Free Book Online

bank to see if they need anything.”
    She pushed open the door, and Matt followed her in. She cast a quick eye over the neutral beige couch and easy chairs, light wood coffee table and end tables in the living room. Everything looked tidy.
    “Nice place,” Matt murmured as he moved to the middle of the room. He turned to the right toward her open bedroom door. “May I?” He tipped his head in the direction of the bedroom.
    A tremor ran through Penny’s body as she nodded. How often she had dreamed of seeing Matt walk into her bedroom over the years. And now he was about to...but only to inspect!
    Matt flipped on the light and looked around the room. She watched him open and shut the closet door and step into the bathroom. Not everyone had the Chief of Police search their house, she thought with a small measure of satisfaction. She fought the little smirk that threatened to erupt on her face.
    “Everything looks good so far.” Matt came back into the living room and crossed over to the large sliding door that opened onto the balcony. He pulled it open.
    “This isn’t locked, Penny.” He turned to eye her with a raised brow.
    She hung back.
    “I-I thought since it’s on the third floor. No one can climb up here...I don’t think.”
    His grave look sent her into a kindergarten seat.
    “Lock it.”
    He stepped outside. Penny closed her dropped jaw and followed him. He’d never spoken to her like that before. She wouldn’t have taken it from anyone else.
    The Gulf breeze blew brisk, full of salty moisture. The outline of the white foam from the waves on the shore was faintly visible under the light of the quarter moon.
    Matt leaned over and peered below.
    “You’re right. I doubt if anyone could climb up here, but just in case, keep it locked.”
    Penny nodded mutely, surprised at her meekness. Could she beg him to stay? She bit her lip. Of course not! It was quite likely their time had come and gone.
    Matt’s cell phone rang...again.
    “Chief Williams.” He lowered his head to the phone.
    Penny tried not to eavesdrop...too much.
    “Yes. I’ll be right there.”
    She turned away and reentered the apartment with a sinking feeling. Soon, he would be gone. Matt entered behind her, closed the door and locked it.
    “Well, everything looks pretty good here. I’ve got to get going. Here’s my phone number.” He pressed a card into her hand...a business card.
    Penny stared at it dumbly. Who would ever have thought a man she’d once loved so passionately would give her an impersonal business card? It seemed surreal.
    “Call me if anything comes up...if you get any more phone calls. I hope you don’t. Maybe this was just isolated. Maybe a prank call. I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see.” He moved toward the door. Penny wanted to follow him like a good hostess, but she froze in the middle of the living room with her hands clasped behind her back. He paused at the door and surveyed her with an enigmatic smile.
    “I’ll call you,” he said quietly. He waited at the door, but Penny still made no move toward him.
    “Sure, sounds good,” she murmured with downcast eyes.
    “It’s really good to see you again, Penny.”
    “You too, Matt. Thanks for everything.” She raised her eyes and flashed him a bright smile.
    “Good night. Lock the door.” And then he was gone. 
    Penny stood in the middle of the living room floor and stared at the closed door for a moment before she jumped into action and crossed the room to lock it. The ringing of her cell phone startled her.

Chapter Four
    She reluctantly dragged the phone from her purse and studied the caller ID with anxious eyes. The phone number brought a grin to her face, and she dropped onto the soft couch.
    “Hi, Travis!”
    “Hi, Mom. What have you been doing?”
    “Oh, nothing. What’s going on? What time is it there?” Penny squinted at her watch. The sound of her son’s voice lifted her spirits as no other voice could.
    “About ten. I