Read Online Rum and Raindrops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance by Jean Oram - Free Book Online Page A

file into a cake. Of breathing lighter as the smoke slowly lifted from the town. Of seeing residents return, happy and relieved. Of being able to help people unload their vehicles, reversing the bad memories of loading her own car to escape Ken and the hurt and pain he’d caused. Of welcoming people back. Of relief. Of not having an elephant’s weight of guilt smashing down on her whenever she saw another loaded car leave town. Of not having eighty million ‘what if’s circling through her head. Of actually believing she hadn’t started that fire.
    It had been easy to pretend her life was normal and back on track and that everything would be fine without Rob around. But now here he was and all her worries had come along with him. She was up on charges. She was going to spend every penny she had and ever would have between now and retirement paying for an accident.
    Wally paused to size up Rob. “Rob needs to see you. Feel free to use my office if you need it.” He gave Rob a sidelong look similar to a father checking out a new suitor visiting his daughter. He sucked on his lower lip, tipping his head back for a full assessment. Rob gave him a quick, uncertain glance.
    Jen moved between them, leaving her tiny office, and Wally eased off to tidy up a rack of windbreakers.
    “What can I do for you?” Jen asked, noticing charcoal stains on the cuffs of Rob’s jeans, the darkness covering his boots.
    She met his smoky eyes and her stomach tightened. What had he found? Was he here to arrest her? Clear her name? Take her up on her offer to go on a hike?
    “I need you to take me to the clearing,” he asked at last.
    “I don’t think it would be a particularly nice place to camp at the moment,” she said with a chuckle. The laugh faded immediately. Oh. Right. “Um, Saturday?”
    So many people had cancelled out of her Saturday hike and picnic to the local waterfall that she’d had to combine it with the upcoming Father’s Day hike, which she would hold the day before Father’s Day. Apparently, people had a thing against hiking close to a forest fire. Which was completely understandable. But even with the fire out, the people she’d called had been hesitant even to reschedule. Maybe it was because of her. Despite her lovely reviews and references from past hikers posted on her website, at the moment she wasn’t exactly anyone’s first pick when it came to choosing a nature guide.
    “I’d prefer to go sooner if that’s possible.” He lifted his ball cap and ran a hand through his hair.
    “My first day off is Saturday.” If things were as bad as the rumors, she couldn’t afford to take a day off. But personally, she also couldn’t afford to spend a whole day alone with Rob. She’d say stupid things. And do stupid things. Like pet him when she thought he wasn’t looking. If he was going to save her, it might be best that she didn’t try to help.
    “The sooner the better. Scott tried to take me there and it…didn’t work out.”
    “He got lost, didn’t he?”
    Rob gave her a flicker of a smile, his expression still serious. “I’d like to get up there while the evidence is still fresh.”
    The smile slid off Jen’s face. “There is no evidence.” She crossed her arms. “Not the kind you’re looking for.”
    He quirked his head. “What kind might that be?” He leaned closer, a woodsy scent following him.
    “Evidence that I started the fire. Because I didn’t.” She turned in Wally’s direction and hollered, “Wally? Can I get tomorrow off? I’ve got to prove to Mr. Raine that I didn’t start that goddamn fire. He seems to believe I’m the kind of gal who would burn down the homes of innocent little rabbits and squirrels for shits and giggles.”

    * * *

    Jen shook the tension out of her hands and began sanding the canoe she was repairing with Wally in the back room of the store.
    He’d been strangely quiet since Rob left, and she could feel his need to say something building like a