Read Online North Star by Karly Lane - Free Book Online

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    Bugger the budget , thought Kate. After the hard work they’d all put in, they deserved a treat.
    It was a lovely evening, too. Even Georgia and Liam seemed to be having fun, and for the first time in months Kate was able to let go and enjoy herself.
    People stopped by the table throughout the meal and Jenny introduced Kate to more people than she could hope to remember. Everyone seemed surprised that she was bothering to clean up Henry’s house. Most assumed she would sell the land and that, more than likely, Matthew Unterheinner would buy it.
    Kate saw John Cafferty the minute he walked in. She watched him greet people and stop to chat with a few older farmers at the bar. He was dressed in civilian clothes tonight, looking every bit the country boy in jeans and a flannelette shirt. She envied the way he, at least, could blend in.
    The barmaid, Rhonda, who was also the publican’s wife, and almost a twin for the receptionist at the solicitor’s, handed him a tall glass of beer with a smile that Kate could only describe as rapacious. John acknowledged her with a polite nod of thanks.
    Then he glanced up, saw Kate watching him and gave her one of his lazy smiles. Kate felt herself start to blush and looked away.
    When she looked up again, she saw with a mixture of dread and anticipation that he was heading for their table.
    â€˜G’day, John. How’s things?’ Nathan asked as the big policeman wandered up.
    â€˜Can’t complain. How are you, Jenny?’ John asked with an easy familiarity. ‘Kate.’
    She could feel his eyes on her and she forced out a greeting, wondering if she sounded as flustered as she felt.
    â€˜Pull up a chair,’ Nathan said, sliding out the vacant seat beside him.
    â€˜So how’s the house coming along, Kate?’ John asked, placing his glass on the coaster in front of him.
    â€˜Great, now. I had a lot of help today and we’re finally making some headway.’ She flashed a grateful smile at her friends.
    â€˜Well, if you need an extra pair of hands I can come out next weekend,’ he offered.
    â€˜Good idea,’ said Nathan before she could answer. ‘Come out and stay for a barbecue—we’re going to take the kids down to the river in the afternoon for a swim,’ he offered in his friendly, generous way.
    Kate shot Jenny a look of alarm. Jenny just gave a small shrug and failed to hide her grin.
    â€˜Count me in,’ John said, and Kate didn’t know whether to be pleased or terrified.
    Later that night, after the kids had all finally settled down and gone to sleep, Jenny and Kate folded laundry together. It was over the most mundane tasks that the two women were catching up on the lost years of their lives. Over the washing-up the night before they’d laughed so hard over something they’d remembered that Nathan had come out to make sure they were all right. He’d stared at his wife, bent over the kitchen sink, clutching the edge of the counter to stay upright as she brayed like a donkey, a laugh that had set Kate off in a fit of hysterics again.
    â€˜It’s like having two flamin’ sets of teenagers in the house,’ he muttered, shaking his head, which only made the women laugh harder.
    â€˜I didn’t know you and Nathan knew John,’ Kate said, trying to sound nonchalant, as she folded Liam’s school shirt.
    â€˜Everyone knows John around here.’ Jenny gave her a teasing grin. ‘So how does a woman who’s been in town a little over a week manage to already be on first-name terms with the local policeman?’
    â€˜Don’t ask,’ Kate groaned. ‘Suffice it to say, it was a strictly professional meeting.’
    â€˜He seems rather smitten with Widgerry’s latest bachelorette.’
    Kate gave a snort of contempt. ‘He’s probably just gone through all the other eligible women in town.’
    â€˜John’s not like