The Guarded Widow by K M Gaffney Read Free Book Online Page B

basket and noted she had about twenty items shoved in there.
    “This is the express lane,” he grumbled before Maddy had the chance to answer him.
    “Oh Gavin, you’re so observant.” Maddy smiled widely, placing a hand on his arm. “Did you see my sister last night?” She pretended to pout. “Is she withholding steamy information from me?”
    “Oh your sister’s withholding something,” he muttered, moving his arm out of her reach. Then he narrowed his eyes. “She didn’t tell you about someone just walking right into her house yesterday, while she was at work?”
    That’s incredible, he thought irritably, Olivia Jones doesn’t even open up with her own sister.
    “What are you talking about?” Maddy demanded.
    Her delicate brows furrowed with consternation as she altogether dropped her flirtatious demeanor. Now her sole purpose was no longer attracting his attention, but completely focused on getting answers.
    Gavin curiously watched her transformation, noting she was definitely peeved.
    “Sorry, I just assumed she would’ve called you after Barton and I left,” Gavin replied. “Everyone’s okay, nothing was missing, but whoever it was, walked right in by swiping the house key off the front porch.”
    “Oh, that sister of mine,” Maddy declared. Thoughtfully, she sank her top teeth into her bottom lip and then pondered aloud. “Maybe the boys really did see a man skulking about in the woods this past weekend.”
    So there it is, Gavin thought. The information Olivia didn’t want to offer up last night.
    “Hey Maddy, I’m really sorry if I upset you,” he told her as she paid the bill and collected her bags.
    “Oh, you certainly didn’t.” My sister sure has though, Maddy fumed with her jaw clenched in frustration. After nodding a goodbye, she rushed out in order to get back to school before the lunch break ended.
    As Gavin paid for his groceries, he decided this afternoon would be an opportune time to grant an unannounced visit to Olivia Jones.
    Olivia decided it was prudent to ditch her previous plans and spend the morning having copies of the spare house key made, with the intent of securing one to each of the boys’ book bags. When she returned home, she completed a reassuring search of the house, which was unnerving, since she’d never felt compelled to do so before yesterday, and then began tackling the never ending housework. She’d just finished stripping the kids’ beds when the doorbell rang. An impetuous glance out Tommy’s bedroom window allowed her enough time to mentally prepare for Gavin Rafferty before she even began descending the staircase. Swiftly walking to the front door, she flung it wide open and stood glaring at him with her hands on her hips.
    Gavin snarled at her. “Don’t you even ask who it is before you open up your home to a potential stranger?”
    She gave him a nasty smile. “What does it matter when someone just waltzed right in yesterday by using the house key?”
    Nudging her aside, he entered in, uninvited. “Maybe you shouldn’t leave your house key sitting on your front porch,” he ground out with obvious restraint. “Now tell me Olivia, why didn’t you inform us last night, about the man who’d been seen trespassing on your property this past weekend?”
    Clamping a firm hand over her arm, he began leading her down the hallway toward the kitchen.
    “Welcome to my home! Come on in and make yourself comfortable,” she gritted from between clenched teeth as she attempted to wrench her arm out from under his iron clad grip.
    When he failed to release her, she angrily demanded her release.
    Irritation seeped through him as she huffed by, vigorously rubbing her newly freed arm.
    “Who told you about this supposed trespasser?”
    “Your sister, Maddy. As a matter of fact, she seemed rather shocked to find out that Barton and I made a trip out here last night.”
    Olivia stared at him.
    “Did you go down to the kindergarten classroom and drag my