our relationship to date. And I apologize for my bad temper. You hit me on a rough couple of days. Believe it or not, despite my red hair I usually stay on a pretty even keel.â
The skeptical tilt of his head brought a rueful smile to her lips.
âI donât blame you for doubting that claim. But itâs true, Lieutenant.â
He returned her smile. âThe name is Craig. And I suppose Iâll find out the truth for myself if our paths cross again.â
âI expect they will on occasion. Itâs not a very big island. Unless you continue to be the invisible man.â
A puzzled frown creased his brow. âThe what?â
Grinning, she shoved her hands deeper into the pockets of her jeans. âThe invisible man. Thatâs what the locals are calling you. Youâve hardly shown your face in public.â
âIâve been busy getting up to speed at the station. But Iâll be more visible in the community in the future.â
âIâm sure everyone will look forward to that.â
He shot her a speculative glance, as if he was tempted to ask whether she looked forward to it, too. Instead, he smiled and edged back. âIn the meantime, a pile of paperwork awaits me.â
âThank you again for your help with the citation.â
âIt was my pleasure, Kate. Take care.â With a wave, he headed toward Main Street.
She watched him leave, liking the sound of her name onhis lips, waiting until he disappeared before boarding the Lucy Sue to tackle her chores.
But long after he was gone, she kept replaying their conversation in her mind. For once, it had not only been civil, but enjoyable. And heâd proved to be more flexible than sheâd anticipated, bending the rules for her despite the way sheâd treated him. In his place, she doubted she would have been so forgivingâor generous.
As she stored her supplies below, Kate was forced to concede that her initial assessment of the commander as a stuffy, rigid, rule follower might have been a little too hastyâand a little too harsh. Still, one cordial exchange wasnât enough to convince her sheâd been entirely wrong about his character. Before she revised her opinion, sheâd have to see a whole lot more of him.
And much to her surprise, despite their rocky start and her earlier resolve to avoid him as much as possible, she found that prospect quite appealing.
Â
âI smell cinnamon! Oh, goodie!â
Breaking free of Kateâs grasp, Maddie headed straight for the plate of cinnamon toast waiting for her on the hickory table in Edithâs cozy kitchen, her eyes bright with pleasure.
âI gave her breakfast already, Edith. You didnât have to do that.â Kate entered her neighborâs back door at a more sedate pace, stopping two steps into the room.
âI wanted to. I like doing things for people I care about. Have some coffee.â
âI canât. Iâm already running late.â
âYou can be at the high school in five minutes. Iâll pour you a cup to go.â Edith retrieved an insulated mug with a lid from the cabinet and lifted the pot from the coffeemaker. âBesides, I wanted to tell you about an interesting experience I had last night.â
The womanâs studied casualness put Kate on alert. âWhat happened?â
âI met your lieutenant at the market.â She added cream to Kateâs coffee with a quick tip of the pitcher. âI must admit, his manner wasnât at all what I anticipated based on your description. He was charming.â
Kateâs neck grew warm. âIâve revised my opinion a bit.â
âSince when?â
âSince he erased the citation from my record yesterday.â
âDid he, now? How interesting.â The older woman secured the lid on the mug and grinned at Kate. âMust have been your charm.â
Kate made a face at her. âVery funny.â Checking her