Read Online About That Man by Sherryl Woods - Free Book Online Page B

him.”
    â€œSpoken like a true cop.”
    â€œI am a cop.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean you can’t make allowances for circumstances.”
    â€œMaking allowances is the reason petty thieves turn into career criminals.”
    â€œTommy doesn’t need a hard-liner in his life. He needs someone with a little compassion.”
    Walker shook his head. Daisy’s soft-hearted, do-gooder nature had just come out into the open. The woman was too naive for her own good. He’d met a hundred others just like her, always eager to defend the juvenile offender as being “just a kid.”
    He was tempted to enlighten her with a few stories of kids who’d been let off too easy by the courts, only to turn right around and commit the kind of serious crimes that gave the justice system a bad name. She wouldn’t get it, though. She wouldn’t give a hoot about those kids, when they were talking about Tommy.
    â€œMaybe we should just concentrate on finding my nephew,” he said finally. “And agree to disagree about the rest of it.”
    â€œMaybe we should,” she concurred, though she looked oddly disappointed.
    He studied her speculatively. “Unless you’d rather argue about it some more.”
    She grinned. “And waste my breath? I don’t think so.”
    â€œSo, where do you think Tommy might be hiding?”
    â€œCould be anywhere,” she said with a shrug. “Just about every house in this area has some kind of garage or toolshed in back. And a lot of them have docks on the river with boats tied up. Tommy’s fascinated with boats.”
    â€œWould he steal one?”
    She looked taken aback, but she considered the question before shaking her head. “I don’t think so. Not with night coming on, anyway.”
    â€œOkay, then, what about those cliffs Mrs. Jackson mentioned? Are they dangerous?”
    â€œThey’re clay and they’re slippery, but I doubt Tommy would be anywhere near them. Frances just said that to get all of us moving.”
    â€œWhy don’t you think he’s headed in that direction?”
    â€œBecause the cliffs are at the state park miles away from here. Trinity Harbor has nice sandy beaches. The only danger to Tommy there would be catching a chill if he were foolish enough to go in the river.”
    â€œYou’re not really worried about him, are you?” he guessed.
    â€œNot especially. Trinity Harbor is a safe place. Tucker sees to it.”
    â€œThen why the ruckus back at your house?”
    â€œI think my brothers and Frances just wanted to get us out from underfoot so they could decide what’s best for Tommy without our input.”
    â€œAnd we’re supposed to live with whatever they decide?” Walker asked incredulously.
    â€œNot me,” Daisy said at once. “I’m rebelling, remember?”
    Walker chuckled. “And doing a darn fine job of it, I might add.”
    â€œThank you.” She slanted a look his way. “I really do love Tommy, you know.”
    â€œI know,” Walker said. “And I just want the chance to get to know my sister’s son. I don’t have any idea what’s best or how this is going to work out.”
    â€œYou’ll keep an open mind, then?” she asked.
    Her eyes were shining with what he guessed to be hope, though he couldn’t begin to interpret exactly what she was wishing for or why. “If you will,” he agreed.
    She nodded slowly. “I can do that.”
    Walker held out his hand. “Then we have a deal.”
    But Daisy evidently wasn’t satisfied with a handshake. She stopped the car and, before he realized what she intended, slid across the seat and gave him a fierce hug.
    Walker froze at the feel of her soft curves pressing into him, at the whisper of her breath against his cheek. The latter meant those incredibly tempting lips of hers were too close to be ignored. He turned and