All They Ever Wanted by Tracy Solheim Read Free Book Online Page B

container along the countertop toward her. “Here, I put some of the lemon ones aside for her. I know she likes those,” Miles said quietly.
    His gesture was a sweet one and so unlike the man he pretended to be that Lori was momentarily caught off guard. She peered at him from beneath her lashes and for a fleeting moment she watched as a hint of vulnerability flickered in his eyes. But just as quickly it was gone and his mouth formed that familiar arrogant line.
    â€œAny progress on catching the idiot who ran my mother off the road?” Miles asked.
    The sheriff shook his head solemnly. “I’ve scoured the entire county for a car matching the description of the one your mother thought she saw. But it was twilight when it happened. Who knows if her description is even accurate? Chances are the driver never saw your mother on the bike. And all it would take was a slight bump to push her over the embankment like that. Whoever was behind the wheel might not have known anything happened. There likely wouldn’t be any damage to the car, either.”
    â€œSomeone has to know something,” Miles protested. “At the very least if they were driving on that road that evening, they should come forward.”
    â€œI can assure you, Miles, that I’m following up on every possible lead out there,” the sheriff said through clenched teeth. “I want the creep who did this brought to justice just as much as you do. I won’t rest until I catch him or her. You can count on that.”
    A heavy silence settled over the kitchen. Both were used to solving Patricia McAlister’s problems. But this time might prove to be the exception.
    â€œCan I go with you to the rehab center, Sheriff?” Cassidy grabbed her own plate and tossed a sandwich on it as she asked. “I’ve got an hour before I need to open the Patty Wagon for the evening and I’d like to say hi to Mrs. Mac.”
    Lori tucked some plastic wrap over the plate she’d filled for Patricia. She’d added some fresh fruit and a sandwich along with the cupcakes, knowing her friend would enjoy eating something healthy. The sheriff gave her a nod as he took the plate from her and headed for the door.
    â€œOh, by the way,” he said over his shoulder, “I just heard on the radio that Faye Rich is putting together a write-in campaign. She’s been a good friend to the local Fraternal Order of Police over the years, Miles. You’re gonna have some ground to make up there.”
    He was out of the door, Cassidy at his heels, before Miles could respond.
    Lori busied herself by opening the industrial dishwasher and filling the kitchen with steam, hoping that when it evaporated, Miles would, too.
    â€œWe need to talk.”
    No such luck apparently. Ignoring his looming presence on the opposite side of the room, she emptied the flatware onto a towel she’d spread on the counter. “Why start now?” In the nearly two weeks he’d been staying at the B and B, he’d barely spared her a word. Not that he’d spoken to her all that much before moving in here.
    He chuckled and Lori hated how much she liked the sound of it. “Because it sounds like I may need you to make some of those cupcakes to take over to the station house as a bribe.”
    She gently stacked the plates onto the counter. “Wow, I can’t imagine which one is stinging your pride more, Dudley Do-Right—having to ask me for help or contemplating bribing officers of the law.”
    Another charged silence settled over the kitchen and Lori glanced over her shoulder to see Miles actually grin at her. “Did you just call me Dudley Do-Right?” His tone sounded as much insulted as amused.
    Startled by his demeanor—not to mention what it was doing to her body—Lori resumed her task of unloading the dishwasher so he wouldn’t see the pleasure in her own eyes. She heard Miles move away from the