NOT What I Was Expecting by Tallulah Anne Scott Read Free Book Online Page A

were unable to locate earlier when
you were talking, and I use that term loosely, to my friend Luke,”  Fry
chuckled as he spoke.
    CeCe came tearing
out of the office in the back, yelling, “Swear Bear!  Swear Bear!”
    “Sure, sure,
whatever,” Fry said, reaching into his pocket for change.  “Now cut the taco
sh...crap, and tell me what’s what.”
    “I’m sure I don’t
know what you’re talking about,” I replied innocently.  “There’s nothing to
tell, really.  Mother and I were there to pick up a faucet and light fixtures. 
I told you she was renovating her bathroom, didn’t I?  I tried to tell her it
would be better to get someone to install them for her, but you know how my
mother can be.  She’s insisting she is capable . . . . ”
    “Actually, I was
more interested in your reaction to Luke,” Fry interrupted.  “I don’t think
I’ve ever seen you so flustered.  I guess he is easy on the peepers, but you
really have it bad, don’t you?”
    “Look, I had just
had the wind knocked out of me.  Literally.  I don’t have anything for or
against Luke,” I said casually.  “I don’t even know anything about the guy. 
Where was he all those years anyway – in jail?”
    “Noooo,” Fry said
eyeing me suspiciously.  His voice took on a quality of softness and patience,
like you would use with a child to make them understand something.  “He did a
few years in the Marines.  I think that might have been court mandated, but
when he got out, he joined the Peace Corps.  Didn’t I mention this already?”
Fry’s smirk had returned, but he removed it when he saw me giving him the evil
eye.  “He spent the last six years in various locations in South America and
Africa working with the Peace Corps, and just as the last gig ended, he came
home to visit his Uncle Barney.  That’s when he discovered his uncle was
beginning to have some problems with dementia.  Barney, his dad’s brother, and
Luke have been pretty close since Luke’s parents died when he was eighteen.  So
he decided to move here so he could look after Barney and make sure he is taken
care of.  Luke is the only relative Barney has left, but he would have done it
anyway, ‘cause he’s crazy about the old guy.  Luke is self-employed and some
sort of construction wizard.  Seems he did a lot of that in the Peace Corps and
picked up some expertise.  He’s been back in town about three months, and he is
seriously in demand.”
    “Really?” CeCe
inquired.  “What’s he working on now?”
    Although the
question was asked casually, I shot CeCe a look to let her know I was watching
her exchange.  My scrunched eyebrow was code to let her know it would be best
not to divulge my interest in Luke since I know where she lives and the time
she will be sleeping.
    “He got the
contract to do the library expansion,” Fry replied.  “He’s hired a crew and
everything.  Big businessman, you know?  Yeah, he’s really straightened out,
and he’s going places.  I’m just saying, in case either of you are interested
in him as relationship material.  He’s a great guy.” 
    Although Fry
technically answered CeCe’s inquiry, he watched me the entire time he responded
to her question.  I also noted the wattage of his smile increased the longer he
spoke.  I’m thinking my calm, cool, and aloof demeanor fooled no one. 
    “I just remembered
we were supposed to stop by the sheriff’s office to ask a favor for the
sisters,” I said looking around for my purse, my keys, a tissue . . . anywhere
but directly at Fry, who seemed to be trying to get a read on me. “Can you
cover us for a while?  We won’t be gone more than an hour.  Let’s go, CeCe.”
     
    CeCe and I walked
nonchalantly through the main entrance of the library.  Yes, we were on our way
to the sheriff’s office to get neighborhood watch information for the sisters. 
Then CeCe had this brilliant idea to stop by the library so she could get a
visual