North Star by Karly Lane Read Free Book Online Page B

having to worry about their father’s addiction to gambling.’
    He whistled softly. ‘You’ve had a tough run.’ He observed her for a moment then said, ‘You’ve done a good job with those kids, despite everything. They’ll settle in, you’ll see; it’s just going to take a little time.’
    â€˜I hope you’re right. Georgia thinks we’re only here until I can get Henry’s house on the market. Short of tying her up and putting her in the boot of the car, I didn’t think there was any other way I could get her to come.’
    â€˜You did the right thing,’ he told her confidently.
    â€˜Thank you,’ she said, glad to be reassured, even if it was by someone she barely knew. ‘I bet you’re happy you decided to turn down the street by the primary school this morning,’ she said with a sheepish smile.
    â€˜Actually, I am,’ he said seriously.
    Kate took a hasty sip of her coffee to hide her discomfort. ‘So now you know all about me,’ she said, ‘and I know nothing about you.’
    He gave a slow, sexy grin and Kate felt her cheeks grow warm.
    â€˜What would you like to know?’ he asked.
    â€˜What are you doing all the way out here?’
    He shrugged. ‘It’s what the police force does to you if you ruffle too many feathers.’
    She raised an eyebrow but he didn’t elaborate, and she wasn’t game enough to ask him to.
    â€˜My parents keep asking me the same question,’ he said, ‘although they’ve pretty much given up on me by now. Thank goodness I have five sisters to deflect their attention.’
    Kate almost choked on her coffee. ‘You have five sisters?’
    â€˜Yep. I’m the youngest of six. I think Dad had just about given up hope.’
    â€˜Well, you should have women pretty well worked out by now,’ she commented.
    â€˜Yeah—don’t talk to them when they’re premenstrual and learn to get up early to grab the first shower or you won’t get in the bathroom for the rest of the morning.’
    Kate smiled and allowed herself a brief moment to enjoy the company of a handsome man without the burden of responsibility. ‘I’d better get going,’ she said after a moment. ‘I’m meeting Larry Bilco in twenty minutes.’ Rising from her seat, Kate placed her cup in the sink and turned to find the police officer watching her with open interest.
    â€˜I don’t exactly know how to put this, John. I’m extremely grateful to you for listening to me, but I can’t afford any more complications in my life right now, so I need to try and handle things on my own.’
    John nodded slowly, as though he understood but didn’t agree. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘there’s no law against having too many friends—I know because I’m a cop. So if you need to talk any time, you call me.’
    â€˜Thanks, John.’ She smiled then, a real smile.
    â€˜You’re welcome, Kate,’ he answered sincerely, and she felt a small glow of optimism.

Kate and Larry had been working solidly until it was time to pick up the kids from school, and Kate was hot and thirsty.
    Larry, on the other hand, looked as though he had barely started. He had turned up at ten-thirty and took his time climbing up the front steps to meet her.
    He didn’t talk much, but that suited Kate just fine: she ran through what she hoped to accomplish and threw herself back into it. Two hours later and Larry was still pottering along, having made little headway in his section while Kate had been flat out in hers. Now she understood what John had meant: the man was painfully slow. At this rate they’d still be clearing away rubbish into next year. Kate worried that the poor man was about to keel over—it was hard to judge his age. He shuffled around the place, refusing a break when Kate offered him a coffee from her thermos. She had