Tessa's Treasures by Callie Hutton Read Free Book Online Page B

race, Tessa turned to face him, and ran her tongue around moist lips.
    Lucas smoothed her hair from her face. “What’s the matter, honey?” His voice rasped as he searched her eyes.
    She crossed her arms, hugging herself. “I can’t, Lucas. I just can’t.”
    His kissed her forehead. “It’s okay, no pressure.” He put his finger under her chin and tilted her face. “Ah, don’t cry, Tessa.”
    “It’s just that I’m so...I don’t know. Scared, maybe.”
    “Shh, it’s okay. I understand. Believe me, more than you know.”
    He pulled her back into an easy embrace. She rested her head into the crook of his shoulder. They stood holding each other. Visions of a hot cup of tea, her soft snuggly bathrobe and bed—alone—teased her tired mind. The image was soon replaced with a picture of her head in Lucas' lap as he massaged her scalp.
    Don’t go there.
    Lucas kissed her gently on the mouth and released her. “I think we better close up and leave if you don’t want to deal with this mess tonight.” They put the lamps back on tables and turned them off. Lucas grabbed her keys and locked the door as they left. He placed his arm loosely around her shoulder as they walked to her car. “Will you humor me for a little longer?”
    She raised her eyebrows in question.
    “Let me follow you home. I’d feel a lot better if I saw you safe and sound to your doorstep.” He raised his finger to her lips when she began to protest. “No, not what you’re thinking. I’ll see you home, make sure you’re safely inside, and leave. Remember, no pressure, I want you to trust me.”
    ****
    The weather didn’t seem ready to cooperate with Lucas' plans, but clouds or not, he had no intention of canceling this boat trip with Tessa. The Amore Perduto sat at the Waurika Lake Marina, ready to go. Yesterday, he’d fueled up and loaded a couple of beers, soft drinks, and ice in the fridge. With a grin and hope in his heart, he’d changed the sheets on the bed.
    He jumped in the Jeep and headed to Tessa’s, replaying the night her store was vandalized. With all his years of investigating, he still couldn’t figure out how the little devils got in and out. The windows and both doors had been locked from the inside. But one thing he’d learned in his OSBI work was that kids could be clever. Her inventory list showed nothing missing. As Wally predicted, the police filed the report and dismissed it. Yet something about it continued to bug him.
    On another front, even though Brandon had assured him a call to Dean Phillips' parole officer would be a waste of time, Lucas contacted her anyway. Yes, she confirmed, she hadn’t heard from Phillips since his release. He was four weeks late in reporting in. Reluctant at first, she finally agreed to call him if the parolee made contact. Mentioning his former association with OSBI might have helped to convince her. No matter what the PO said, every cell in Lucas’ body screamed Phillips didn’t check in because he was headed to Oklahoma.
    Or was already here. Never one to sit and wait, it frustrated him there wasn’t more to do.
    He braked in front of her house, a tiny cottage painted a bright white with pale blue shutters. Early summer flowers lined the entire front of the house. Crisp white curtains snapped in the breeze against the front windows. Tessa waited on her porch, picnic basket at her feet. In her white jeans and lemon yellow checked blouse, she carried her own sunshine. She waved at him and picked up the basket. Lucas put the Jeep into park and got out to help.
    The weight of the basket took him by surprise. How much could vegetables weigh? “What did you pack?”
    “Plenty of vegetables.” She smiled at his grimace. “And...cheese chunks, yogurt, crackers, fruit, and one very large cheeseburger from Mama’s House. You said you have a microwave on the boat?”
    Lucas wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple. “Yes, plus a refrigerator, small freezer,