Lucky Break by Carly Phillips Read Free Book Online Page B

Perkins’s granddaughter, aren’t you?”
    The few times she’d come to town to do her shopping, she’d had mixed reactions, from silent acceptance to overtly rude whispers.
    â€œYes, I’m Mary’s granddaughter.” She didn’t recognize the clerk, but he must have seen her on one of her visits to Beth.
    He braced his hands on the counter. “I heard you were in town.”
    She nodded. “You heard right.” She pushed the flashlight forward, hoping to urge things along.
    â€œWhatcha doing back here? It’s not like you got any relatives left to visit.”
    Apparently manners weren’t his strong suit. She straightened her shoulders and looked at him head-on. “I’m here to fix up the family home so I can sell it and move on. Which reminds me, do you happen to know the name of a contractor I can hire?”
    He frowned. “Not off the top of my head, but if I think of one, I’ll let you know.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes.
    He was lying. There was no way a hardware store clerk in a small town didn’t know a contractor.
    Gritting her teeth, she pulled her wallet from her purse and slid a credit card across the counter.
    He glanced down at it. “Can’t use a credit card for something less than ten dollars.”
    She narrowed her gaze. “Well, I just spent the last of my cash at the grocery store.”
    â€œThen I guess you’re out of luck.” He folded his arms over his chest.
    â€œGuess Perkins credit is no good here?” she asked sarcastically, shoving her card back into her wallet. “Tell you what. I’ll just take my business somewhere else.”
    â€œPut it on my account,” a distinctive male voice said.
    Jason materialized beside her. She wondered how much he’d overheard and her stomach cramped in embarrassment. “Thanks but that’s not necessary. I can pick up a flashlight at another store.”
    â€œHey, Corwin, you know who that is?” the clerk asked.
    â€œWhat I know is that’s no way to treat a lady, Burt.” Jason stared at the man, a frown on his handsome face.
    Burt scratched his bald head. “That’s not a lady, that’s a—”
    â€œI said put it on my tab.” Jason grabbed the flashlight in one hand, her elbow in another, and led her out of the store.
    Once on the sidewalk she looked him over in broad daylight. He appeared even more handsome than last night. He wore faded jeans and a blackturtleneck. Razor stubble covered his cheeks, giving him a scruffy, sexy appearance, and her stomach fluttered in excitement.
    â€œI looked all over for you last night.” He studied her just as intently.
    â€œI left.”
    â€œPlaces to go, people to see?” he asked wryly. “Or were you just avoiding me?”
    He’d hit a nerve and she straightened her shoulders. “Avoiding a conversation we didn’t need to have.”
    â€œYou should know that I intend to have that talk sometime.”
    Not here, where anyone could see them. “You really didn’t have to put the flashlight on your tab,” she said, changing the subject. “But I appreciate it.”
    He inclined his head, accepting her thanks. “There was no call for Burt to treat you that way,” he said gruffly.
    She shrugged, unconcerned with the other man’s rudeness. “Maybe he had his reasons. I wasn’t about to ask what my grandmother or sister did to piss him off. But don’t worry, I’ll pay you back.”
    He rolled his eyes. He didn’t care about the money. “Flashlight’s on me.” He held it out for her.
    She took it, avoiding his touch. “Thanks.”
    But he stepped closer, his body looming overher. “So how much longer are we going to do this dance?”
    â€œWhat dance?” She knew playing dumb wasn’t the answer but the words slipped out.
    â€œThe one where you avoid telling me why