Summer's Desire by Kathleen Ball Read Free Book Online Page B

school?
    Summer put the groceries away and tried to smile as
she thanked Mindy Sue. Her already heavy heart grew weighty when Holden walked Mindy
Sue out to her car. It wasn’t any of her business. She hardly knew Holden and if
he was dating Mindy Sue then so be it. She was here to work.
    She couldn’t help herself. She walked to the window
and watched Holden and Mindy Sue talking. It did matter, she conceded, but
there was nothing she could do about it. Any chance she’d had ended the moment Sheriff
Brown arrested her. Trembling, she turned away and went back to setting the
kitchen to rights.
    Homemade mac and cheese was in order. She needed the
comfort food as much as Matt did. Glancing over at Matt she found that he
switched around on the couch so that he could watch her.
    “Did you get along well enough while I was in town?”
    Matt nodded. “I suppose, but I sure am glad that
you’re here.”
    “That’s so sweet.”
    Matt scowled. “I’m not a child you know.”
    “I know.” She turned back to the kitchen counter.
Matt was trying so hard to prove he was all grown up. She never had a choice.
She was a girl one day and a grown up the next. The accident that took her
parents left her on her own. If the whole robbery hadn’t have happened she
would have been proud of her success in keeping a roof over her head. Now the
pride was gone.
    The front door opened and closed. Summer didn’t turn
around, continuing to grate the cheddar cheese. Soon enough she could feel the
heat of him behind her. He breathed on the back of her neck sending a shiver
down her spine.
    “I’m making mac and cheese.” It sounded lame to her.
    He stepped closer until his body barely touched
hers. “I see that. Smells good.”
    Turning her head slightly, she saw the side of his
face as he looked over her shoulder.
    “What are you doing?” Matt sounded angry.
    Summer instantly straightened, but Holden was extremely
slow at stepping back. “Making dinner is all.” Her voice wavered.
    As Holden stepped away, she instantly missed his
nearness and she knew she was a fool. Who’d want to be with her, the suspected accomplice?
Besides he seemed to have his eye on Mindy Sue.
    Holden took her hand in his big, strong one. “We’ll
talk about the sheriff later.”
    She gazed into his eyes trying to read him. He
confused her to no end. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Hell, she
barely knew him and she needed to get a grip on her wayward emotions. “Fine.”
    He let go of her hand and ambled over to Matt. He sat
in a chair next to the couch and the two talked in low tones. Neither one
looked at her, so she ignored them and concentrated on cooking.
    The thought of talking later interfered with her
focus. Would she still have a job? It amazed her that she no longer felt the
fear of being jobless. Caleb took care of that. It was the power of her
feelings for Holden that worried her the most.
    Dinner was jovial with the boys all teasing Matt
about how much work they have to do with him laid up. Summer did not look at Holden
at all. She could feel the heat of his gaze, but she needed to be in self-preservation
mode. It was bound to hurt when he told her to leave. In the short time she’d
been there she’d grown attached to all of the O’Learys .
Who’d want a suspect in their house anyway? Holden needed to do what was best
for his family and the best thing would be for her to go.
    Yet, he had touched her in the kitchen. Her thoughts
whirled as she pushed the food around on her plate. The boys didn’t seem to
notice how upset she felt. She gave them half smiles and half answers. The end
of the meal couldn’t come fast enough.
    Clearing the table and washing the dishes with
Holden watching unnerved her. She finished, turned around and there stood
Holden with her coat in his hand.
    “Am I going somewhere?” She bit her sore bottom lip.
    “I don’t have an office, I thought we could take a
walk together.”
    Summer grabbed her coat