It's a Wonderful Wife by Janet Chapman Read Free Book Online Page B

sparkly. “You should also get yourself one if you want a true Maine experience. Oh, and see if the deli has any premade stuffing, will you?”
    The woman definitely had an attention problem. “Anything else?” he drawled. “Ice cream? Cookies? Blueberry pie?”
    â€œNo thank you. I’m not really into sweets,” she said, rummaging around inside the purse. She pulled out a small wire-bound notebook and used it to give him another dismissive wave. “Go on. I’m starved.”
    â€œAnd you promise to be here when I get back?” he thought to clarify when she frowned at the notebook then started searching through her purse again.
    Her hand emerged holding a pencil. “I’ll be here,” she murmured, leafing through the notebook. “Wait,” she added when he opened the door. “Does your truck have to be running to power the slide-outs?”
    Oh yeah; did he have the lady’s number or what? “No, the camper’s battery system can handle it,” he said to her head of big blonde curls, since she was bent over her notebook already furiously scribbling.

FOUR
    Jesse beat a hasty retreat—having to leap to the ground at the last second when he realized the steps weren’t down. He closed the door and lowered the steps on the chance his stowaway was a liar as well as a snoop, then sprinted up across the parking lot and shot through the store’s automatic doors just as a man was approaching holding a set of keys.
    â€œWe’re closing in five minutes,” the guy said, his grin more resigned than inviting.
    â€œThen I’ll only take four,” Jesse offered, grabbing a shopping basket.
    â€œThat your rig out there? I’m sorry, but we don’t allow overnight parking,” he added when Jesse nodded. “There’s a campground fifteen miles east on Route One.”
    â€œI’ll move on if you insist, Mr. Dean,” Jesse said, reading the name tag claiming Ken Dean was the owner/manager. “But it would be convenient for me to be here when you open in the morning, so I can stock my cupboards before I take the camper out to my island.”
    That certainly perked him up. “You the gentleman from New York who bought Hundred Acre Isle last summer?”
    â€œYes, I’m Jesse Sinclair.”
    Ken Dean’s entire countenance changed right along with his grin. “You go ahead and take all the time you want, Mr. Sinclair. And I don’t have a problem with you spending the night in my lot.” Ken fell in beside him when Jesse started toward the back of the store. “Corey Acton’s been working out on your island for the last month, getting it ready for your camper. He said you’re planning to build a home out there and hired him to do all the site work.”
    â€œSince we’re going to be neighbors, please call me Jesse,” Jesse said, stopping in front of the deli display case. “And yes, I hope to start construction in the next few months.”
    â€œIf you ever need anything besides groceries, my brother owns the only hardware store in thirty miles. If he doesn’t have something in stock, he can get it here in two days.”
    â€œThanks. I will definitely look him up.”
    â€œAnd if your wife needs anything, my sister and brother-in-law own the drugstore right next door,” Ken said, nodding toward the side wall. “And their daughter has the beauty salon at the end. I suppose your wife would get her hair cut in the city, but Joanne also offers manicures and pedicures.”
    â€œI’ll take those last two chickens,” Jesse told the deli clerk when he spotted her putting them on a tray as she cleaned out the case. “And a container of stuffing and one of mashed potatoes.” Jesse looked at Ken and decided not to correct him on the wife situation, since he really didn’t want to become a target for every marriage-minded woman in Castle