Read Online Lakeside Hero (Men Of Millbrook Lake Book 1) by Lenora Worth - Free Book Online

playing across the porch. “You aunt had a lot to do with that. I just followed her instructions.”
    “And she cooked up a wonderful luncheon for us,” Miss Hattie replied.
    “Speaking of that, I’d better check on the food one more time,” Marla said as she brushed past Alec.
    “And find your seat,” Miss Hattie called. “I put you with your mother and two of her church friends.”
    “Thank you,” Marla said, her heart pounding. What was wrong with her? Was she having some sort of panic attack? She needed to remember the last time she’d seen Alec. He’s been standing in an empty parking lot talking cozily to a gorgeous blonde. Hard to get that image out of her mind, but at least it had brought her back to reality. He was off-limits to Marla.
    “Are you all right?”
    She whirled to find Alec behind her on the porch. Brandy pranced by with a smug smile, and two of the extra staff members Miss Hattie had hired gave Marla and Alec questioning stares.
    Alec seemed to pick up on that, his hand touching on the scar. “Let me take you to your mother’s table.”
    Regaining some of her equilibrium, Marla shook her head. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. “You don’t have to do that. I shouldn’t even sit down and eat. I’m here to make sure the food is served—”
    “No, my aunt has people to handle that. You
supplied
the food, and while you’re out there with the other ladies, you can enjoy it. That way, you’ll never know I’ll be in the kitchen snitching a couple of those little women sandwiches and maybe some of Aunt Hattie’s chicken salad. And a truffle or two, of course.”
    Marla couldn’t stop her giggle. “I’ll alert the proper authorities.”
    “No, no. My aunt is
the
authority around here. She somehow convinced me that I needed to be polite and escort the ladies, so if I have to suffer through this, then so do you. Besides, she’d be appalled if she found me sulking in the kitchen. Probably send me to my room without lunch or dinner.”
    Aunt Hattie strolled by. “I heard that, Alec Caldwell. And I’m glad you recognize my status. Now, go along and steal some food. We have things to do here that don’t involve handsome, brooding men.” Then she winked. “Of course, we might actually talk about handsome, brooding men, right, Marla?”
    Marla shrugged and hoped she wasn’t blushing. “Now you know what women really do at these functions. We try to figure out the male species.”
    “Well, all the best with that,” Alec said. “But I will take you to your table as planned.” He glanced back at his aunt. “Even though I’m a brooding, devastatingly handsome, wonderful example of the male species.”
    Marla didn’t miss the sarcasm in his words. She could only imagine how uncomfortable he must have been earlier, being coerced to make small talk with a crowd of curious women. He was being overly considerate to insist on escorting her or anyone else to a table. And that was just it. Alec Caldwell had been raised to respect women and to be a gentleman. That was rare, and while she liked being independent, it was nice to be treated like a lady every now and then. She thanked God for that at least and lifted up a short prayer for Alec.
Let him see his worth, Lord
.
    * * *
    Alec had only agreed to help escort all the ladies to their seats because several of them were getting on in age and, as his aunt had pointed out in her charming way, “We don’t need them falling and their orthopedic shoes going up in the air with them.”
    Of course not. He only hoped
he
didn’t fall. His leg didn’t hurt too much today, so maybe he wouldn’t embarrass himself too much. But Alec had an ulterior motive for deciding to stay and risk people staring at his scar or giving him pitying glances. He’d wanted to see Marla Hamilton again.
    Now he held her elbow in the way his mother and aunt had taught him from the time he could walk and guided her to one of the round tables decorated with