Read Online Exception to the Rule by Doranna Durgin - Free Book Online

said out loud, braking at one of the few lights in the town. Obediently, the thoughts receded. She’d had years of practice at chasing them away, and the first flush of them, triggered by this little town so much like Munroville, retreated quickly.
    Too bad they hadn’t brought her an image of a younger Garage Boy while they were at it; she could have used that information.
    She drove through to the other edge of town—a journey of only a few moments—and to the Millstream Motel. Garage Boy had actually sized her up just about right—Hunter had chosen the Millstream for Bonnie Miller, too. Of course, it was only one block away from the B&B where Rio had booked himself and Carolyne—that, too, had something to do with the choice.
    The Millstream came complete with an old millstone by the office door and a sign that announced Bath And Shower! as part of the amenities. Kimmer hoped she wouldn’t have to pay extra for such luxuries. She hoped, too, that the room interiors wouldn’t reflect the color sense of the exterior, which came as close to Pepto-Bismol-pink as she’d ever seen in a building. Before she even checked in, she left the Taurus in the parking lot and headed out on foot, camera in hand. Carolyne and her cousin hadn’t passed her on the road, and that meant she had a chance—her only chance—to assess the B&B before they arrived. She’d take pictures, identify her best spots to lurk, and find the security vulnerabilities of the establishment.
    No doubt Rio would do much the same as soon as he arrived. She needed to be gone by then. They’d see each other again, certainly…but not while Kimmer was casing his hidey-hole. That wouldn’t go over well at all.
    On the other hand, it would be a chance to see him in action again. Assess him. Take his measure. Or just plain get an eyeful.
    Kimmer, halfway to Angelina’s Bed and Breakfast, stopped short. Closed her eyes. Took a breath. Rio Carlsen is a playing piece , she told herself. An object. A tool.
    No amount of personable smiling could change that. No silly bowing. And certainly no glimpses at how much he cared for his cousin, and how he protected her.
    Get to work, Chimera. Just…get to work.

Chapter 4

    R io stood in the snack section of Mill Springs’s only grocery store, hands on hips and faint scowl on his face, and decided that calling the place Giant Eagle was something of an exaggeration. He glanced down at the list Carolyne had given him—all of her favorite comfort foods—and confirmed it. Nope, none of these things were here.
    Then again, when was the last time he’d seen apple chips in any store? He’d said as much at Angelina’s, where they shared one of the largest rooms in the converted boardinghouse, one with two twin beds and an adjoining bath—even if the bath also served the smaller room on the other side. It came so full of country character that Rio’s head still spun. Or maybe that had just been the overwhelming potpourri, the spicy pumpkin-cinnamon-clove mixture that had made Carolyne smile and Rio sneeze.
    He resolved to track it down and, when Carolyne wasn’t looking, dump it down the toilet.
    Or would that just blow up the septic system?
    He’d been happy for the excuse to stock up on snacks, both for his stomach’s sake and for Carolyne’s psyche. He hadn’t been as happy to leave her alone—but then, this was the best time for him to scope out the town’s amenities and flavor. He’d been in the room long enough to intercept any immediate threats, and for now the only ones who knew he and his “sister” were here were the hyperactive young couple who owned the place. And, of course, Bonnie Miller.
    He’d left Carolyne carefully divesting a gorgeous burr oak bureau of a surfeit of Thanksgiving knickknacks and miniature pigs, preparing it for peripherals and battery chargers. It seemed they’d drawn the cute-pig theme room, with the overlay of holiday flavor. In retrospect, Rio found himself grateful for