Just a Memory by Lois Carroll Read Free Book Online Page A

chair. She hoped he didn't guess she was trying to hide the fact that she felt her legs trembling.
    "Good pizza," she mumbled.
    " Mm-hmm ," he agreed.
    Despite a rough start, the conversation gradually grew comfortable and time passed easily. They talked mostly about Lakehaven, Carolyn answering Mac's questions about the area. She found herself disappointed that he didn't volunteer much about himself personally, and decided to keep the conversation impersonal by not offering any information about herself or Terri. She asked some general questions about where he worked before when they discussed the Lakehaven police department, but she didn't want to pry further.
    The pizza disappeared in short order.
    "Now what can I do to help you get done here?" Mac asked, scoring with his wadded-up paper towel thrown at the wastebasket in the corner.
    "You don't have to do any more, Mac. You've done so much just by bringing me food. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating. I hope I left enough for you." She set the desk calendar back in place after clearing away the pizza box.
    "I'm fine, but I mean it. What else can I do to help you get ready to open for business tomorrow?" He stepped into the hall and she followed.
    "Mac, I can't ask you to stay and help."
    Walking through to the showroom ahead of her, he whirled back toward her and stopped abruptly. Not able to stop as quickly with no warning, she walked right into his chest. He held her shoulders to steady her, and then kept his hold to prevent her from stepping back. Her gaze flew up to see he was smiling down at her.
    "You don't have to ask, Carolyn. I volunteered. I want to help you. Just me. Mac. Not the cop. Not the Acting Chief of Police. Just me, your new friend."
    Carolyn held his gaze and swallowed past the lump that had settled in her throat. "Thank you," she managed.
    He smiled and they continued on into the showroom to put the last of the displays back in order. She turned the tape deck back on to play quietly while they worked and discovered they had similar taste in classical music.
    "We'll have to go to Syracuse for the symphony concerts," Mac announced casually. "They're really good. I haven't heard them often, but I've never been disappointed."
    Carolyn didn't know what to say. He'd probably just made the offer in passing and wouldn't remember when the concert dates neared, but the possibility of attending was wonderful. She loved going, but it was such a long drive. She'd never chanced going alone, and it was not often she could find anyone interested in driving up with her.
    The thought of going with Mac….
    "There. That's the last of the boxes for the display," he said, breaking into her thoughts.
    "Thanks for all your help, Mac. That didn't take long at all with two more hands working. I would have been here another hour at least. Now I can open tomorrow without having to skip the Lakehaven Merchants Association meeting in the morning in order to finish. I really appreciate your help. In fact, you've made yourself so handy around here, there's one more favor I'd like to ask."
    She led the way to her office where they retrieved their jackets and coats. She pointed to a cardboard file box on top of the little refrigerator. "Those are the minutes for the Association. I have to pass them on to the new secretary tomorrow at the meeting. It would take me two trips to get them all out to my car. Could you carry the box for me?"
    "Hey, you don't need an excuse to ask a friend for help." The broad smile he flashed heated parts of her that no man had made feel even lukewarm for nearly a decade.
    Mac hefted the heavy box and walked with it resting on his hip. Carolyn saw a flinch of pain on his face when he lifted it, but it passed so quickly she wondered if she'd been mistaken. She followed him to the back door, turning off the lights as she went.
    "Charlie sure got this fixed in a hurry," Mac said, noticing the new door with the heavy keyed-deadbolt