Usually they sparred with no ill intent. But for some reason, tonight was different. He knew he was tired, and it was obvious something was bothering her.
“Look, whatever. Go back to your ‘relaxing’ and I’ll find somewhere else to run.”
She started to walk away, but he grabbed her arm before she could get away. He hadn’t meant to touch her. He certainly didn’t want to ignite her bad mood, but she was off. Something had her mad. He couldn’t in good conscience let her go without trying to help.
“Let go of me.” Her voice was deadly quiet.
“What’s wrong?” He stared into her hazel eyes.
Time stilled as she gazed back at him. She glanced away then back at him, tugging at her arm. Guy let go.
“Chloe asked me to help her find her dad.”
Whoa.
He hadn’t expected that. Everyone knew Chloe had been raised by her grandmother. Despite that, not having a mother and father never seemed to bother her. She was the calmest and most collected woman he had ever met. The complete opposite of Michelle.
“Does she have any clue who he could be?”
“No,” she folded her arms across her chest. He pulled his eyes right back to hers, but that was no better.
He swallowed. Charlene was the love of your life.
But there was someone else before her.
He grimaced. The need to redirect his thoughts pressed upon him. “So how are you going to find him?”
“I have no clue. But I have to help her. You should have seen how she looked when she asked me.”
He ran a hand over his face. “I’ll help.”
“What?”
No kidding. What was he thinking? “I have access to databases you may not. If you give me an idea where to search, I’ll look and pass the information along.”
She stepped back. “Why would you want to help me?”
“I’m helping Chloe.”
“Oh, I see how it is.”
He winced as her voice frosted over. The Ice Queen was back. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Whatever.” She waved a hand, not even bothering to look at him. “I’ll tell Chloe you want to help.”
“Great. Do you need my number?”
“No, I know where to find you, Sheriff.” She stalked off.
Chapter Three
Michelle placed her running shoes back into the shoe box. She hated running but when she had a lot on her mind, it was the only thing that righted her world. Too bad you ran into Guy.
“Ugh.”
Freedom Lake wasn’t Mayberry. You’d think it was big enough to avoid people you had no desire to see. Unfortunately, God seemed to have missed that memo. Since Guy’s return, she’d run into him in the least likely places. First, he’d pulled her over in his department-issue Sheriff cruiser. Then she’d bumped into him at the grocery store.
And now the lake.
She hated that he had offered to help Chloe. Sure, he had resources she didn’t, but Michelle had no desire to talk to him in order to use them. However, knowing Chloe, the girl would welcome the extra help.
Michelle laid her forehead against the closet door. Why, oh why, did she have to see him again? And why is he still so fine? Chills rushed up her arms as she remembered his jet-black eyes. It was like his gaze saw straight into her soul.
Frown lines wrinkled her brow. His whipcord-lean frame had become thin. Too thin, it practically bordered on gaunt. Was he eating? She immediately shook off the thought. Why did she care if Guy Pierre was eating enough?
He didn’t give two thoughts about you after that summer.
Stop thinking about him!
She nodded in agreement. Guy was not her problem. Besides, he had two girls and she did not do kids. They were messy and took up all your time. She had never wished for a sibling growing up and despite being in her thirties, baby fever remained absent.
Of course, Michelle really wasn’t equipped to raise kids anyway. She had no experience whatsoever. And no relative to give her pointers if she ever changed her mind. Living the single life and enjoying the freedom it brought remained her agenda.
But do you want to be by yourself forever?
“No, but he has kids. I mean...I don’t want a man with kids.”
“Who are you talking to?”
Michelle whirled around with a screech.
Jo stood in her doorway, wearing her customary overalls and a perplexed look.
“You scared the daylights out of me.”
“Probably because you were too busy talking to yourself.” Jo looked her up and down. “Did you go running?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you have something to do? Why aren’t you with Evan?”
Jo’s grin stretched across her face at the mention of her boyfriend’s name. Michelle had to resist the urge to gag. People in love were sap happy.
“He’s in the city trying to get a new prosthetic.”
Evan had been in the hospital for a week last winter because of an allergy to his prosthetic. After pinpointing an allergy to the material, they had made a new one. Unfortunately, that one gave him the same reaction. She had thought the doctors had encouraged him to use crutches only. Michelle hoped for his sake one could be found that he didn’t have a reaction to. But she knew Jo didn’t care. Her friend would have him anyway she could get him.
“Good for him.”
“I hope this one works.” Jo let out a small sigh.
“Me too. I’ll say a prayer for him.”
“Really?” Jo’s voice went all soft as she looked at Michelle.
“Just because I’m praying doesn’t mean I’ve made peace with God.” She shrugged. “But I have to admit the Bible studies have helped some.”
Jo came over and bumped her hip against her own. “Admit you love God and let it be a done deal, Michelle. No sense dragging it out so you can weigh all the pros and cons. Take that step of faith.”
“Whatever. You don’t know me.” She smiled, knowing it wasn’t true at all.
Jo was probably the
