Read Online No Place Like Home by Debra Clopton - Free Book Online Page A

turned up just a bit higher than the treble.
    She sighed when he stepped into the RV, standing on the lower of the two steps leading up into the cabin. Bringing them to eye level in the cramped quarters…which was just way too agitating for a girl who had been having the crazy angst that she’d been suffering with for the last few minutes! All because of him.
    â€œDon’t think you’re getting any of this,” she snapped. “Not after what you did.”
    â€œHey, it was a joke.”
    â€œSo you admit it!” She pointed the chocolate-covered spoon at him. “Do you know how much trouble you got me into?” His smile told her that he did, and that he was still full of more mischief. His gorgeous smile was enough to send her spinning, but she fought it off. “I’m about to drop hot chocolate clusters into these molds and can’t stop at the moment. So, buster, my hands are tied up right now. But you better watch your back, because we are not finished with this subject.” She pointed the spoon at him again.
    He spread his hands out open palmed. “Come on now, just think how happy it made them.”
    Dottie started spooning the clusters into the mold but paused to give him an annoyed look. “Oh, it made them happy all right. They practically have us married!”
    He chuckled. “They are a tenacious lot. But on to the important question of the day… Can a community servant coax a fresh cluster out of the vengeful candy lady?”
    Dottie’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “Now you think I’m going to give you candy? Have you no shame?”
    His grin said “not an ounce” as he stepped up into the room. She arched an eyebrow. “Hey, bud, I didn’t say you could come in.” She was flirting with the man. After all that she’d just put herself through, now she was flirting! What was wrong with her?
    â€œBut you didn’t say I couldn’t.” He winked.
    Dottie laughed, instantly defused. “You’re terrible. Come in. If you dare.”
    He rubbed his hands together and smiled like a kid. His dark brown eyes glittered with good-hearted teasing. He took the seat that Cassie had vacated, but where Cassie had had plenty of room he had very little leeway. He was a very fit man, muscular and tall. Maybe he had a girlfriend! He might not be married, but he could be involved. The women of Mule Hollow might just think they knew everything but maybe they didn’t.
    Whoa, where did that come from? That is none of your concern. Winks or no winks. Only a few minutes ago you thought something was wrong with him. She had never been so confused in all her life.
    â€œSo how about that candy?”
    â€œIt might be arranged.”
    â€œHow are you feeling today?”
    â€œThat’s it!” She held up the wooden spoon again.“No talking about my health or there will not be any candy for you.” Finished, she plunked the pot into the sink, then carefully stacked the molds and set them to the side to cool. Hoping to settle the rapid thumping of her heart, she took a deep breath before turning back toward Brady.
    â€œI bet you were a terrible patient.”
    She dipped her chin and met his eyes and wished she hadn’t been hurting the day she met him. But at least she had something else to focus on instead of her infatuation with him. “Actually, I had to endure people hovering over me for months. Thank goodness for them, I loved them all. But I’m good now. Everyone has twinges here and there. You just caught me in the middle of a twinge.”
    His lips curved at the edges just slightly as he rolled his shoulder and groaned. “Yeah, I had a twinge here in my shoulder this morning, but I slapped some horse liniment on it and it’s gone now.” He rubbed his shoulder. “If you need to borrow it I have plenty. I could trade it for some candy.”
    â€œFunny.”
    â€œNo, really.