Delivered with Love by Sherry Kyle Read Free Book Online Page B

rainy day, was the reason she loved California. The waves crashed against the shore and the salty air penetrated her senses.
    Suddenly there it was—the street she'd been looking for. Claire picked up her pace. She searched for the house among the small, older ranch-style homes. Halfway down the street, she came to an abrupt stop. Number 216. The return address of the letter. An older home with dark blue shutters stood in front of her. Claire walked up the sidewalk, her insides quivering with each step. A For Rent sign hung in the window. She climbed the few steps to the porch and set the umbrella down. Leaning up against the window, she peeked in. The front room was empty.
    "You interested?" A male voice called from behind.
    Claire spun around. A dark-haired young man wearing jeans, hiking boots, and a flannel jacket stood at the bottom of the steps. Wow, he is good-looking.
    "Are you the owner?"
    "No. I'm Blake Coombs, the neighbor." He pointed to the house directly on her left, joined her on the porch, and extended his hand.
    Claire shook it. His hand felt warm, nice. "I'm Claire James. "She looked up into his steel blue eyes . . . and realized she was still holding his hand. Neighbor, huh? Her cheeks heated. She pulled her hand free and tucked her hair behind her ear.
    "Good to meet you, Claire. I told the owner I'd keep watch over the house until it was rented. Would you like to see the place?"
    Would she like to see it? Definitely. Her insides danced. "Please."
    He produced a key from his jeans pocket and stepped toward the front door.
    She hesitated for the briefest moment. Something about the man put her at ease. Her desire to go inside the house, the place where her mother's love interest wrote the letter, jumped ahead of her common sense. "I do need to find a place." She removed her boots at the door.
    "Then come on in."

    Michael's wipers smeared water across his windshield, giving him a hazy view of the street. He pulled his BMW over to the curb and slid out, sidestepping a puddle. Water spattered his face as he attempted to clean the wipers. He couldn't remember when it had rained last.
    He jumped back in his car and headed toward his rental property. The small sign posted in the window of the house wasn't much in the way of advertising, but it had done the trick before. The last couple had lived there for a good three years. A job transfer was the only reason for their departure.
    Michael turned down Saxon Avenue. The street was only a couple hundred yards long before it reached the bluff. He had bought the house before the market spiked. Light gleamed through the front window. Either Blake had shown the place earlier and had forgotten to turn off the lights, or he was there now with a potential renter. He cut off the engine and hurried to the front door.
    Wiping his feet on the mat, he saw a pair of women's rain boots leaning haphazardly against the side of the house. He turned the doorknob and walked in.
    "Hey, Michael." Blake rested his arm against the fireplace mantel. "I'm showing the house to a young woman. She's in the bathroom."
    "Thanks. Not working today?"
    "Even police officers get a day off now and then." Blake tucked his hands into his pockets. "Lately we've been busy cracking down on graffiti. It's been a huge problem."
    "I'm glad the police are involved. Do you think it's street gangs?" Michael's eyebrows furrowed. "I've seen signs and walls vandalized. It makes me think twice about showing homes for sale in certain neighborhoods."
    "It doesn't appear to be gangs, but I may be wrong. The best thing to do is call 9-1-1 if you see someone destroying property. Street gangs tend to be violent and may carry weapons."
    "Thanks for the tip." Michael planted his hands on his hips as he inspected the new paint job. "How's it look?"
    "Armstrong Painting does good work." Blake stood next to Michael and looked at the ceiling. "The cut-in line couldn't be any straighter."
    "I had the carpets cleaned in the