A Deadly Love Read Online Free Page A

dropped into a chair. “My goodness, I don’t know if I have the energy for such an enterprise. The house needs a little work. Dillon has been nagging me about the front porch.”
    “I’d be here to handle the repairs and get the permits we’ll need.”
    “You mean you aren’t planning on going home?” Her eyes rounded with hope.
    Brooke’s grip tightened on the bank statement. “What home? I moved out of Gavin’s apartment after we called off the wedding. I’ve been staying with Mom and Dad, trying to figure out what to do with myself. I quit my job at the bakery before I left town. Getting up at four in the morning was killing me.”
    “I don’t know why you took that job in the first place.”
    “I like to bake, and I wanted a complete change from the art gallery.” She pressed her lips together. “I’ll admit it was an impulsive decision.”
    “A bed and breakfast would certainly be different, and you could bake all sorts of goodies for the guests. Do you really think we can do it?”
    Brooke stood and gave her a hug. “I know we can. You’ll be the brains, and I’ll be the brawn.” She flexed her bicep, and was relieved to see a smile replace the worry in her grandmother’s eyes. “If we get cracking on the repairs, we’ll be ready to open for business by spring.”
    “What an adventure! I’m so glad you’re here.”
    “I am, too. I need to find my own niche far away from Gavin and our life in San Francisco. I want this venture to succeed for me, too, Grandma.”
    “You know you’re always welcome here, darling girl.” June squared her narrow shoulders. “We’ll help each other.”
    “Right now I’m going to help myself to another cup of coffee and then take a look around outside. The fog seems to have lifted.”
    “It’ll burn off completely in another hour or so. It’s going to be a beautiful day.”
    Brooke hoped her grandmother was right. She could use a dose of sunshine. After she poured her coffee, she left the house by the kitchen door. Otis raced up to greet her, a goofy grin on his canine face. His feet were suspiciously muddy.
    “You’re never going to break that habit, are you, boy? Where’s the hole this time?”
    Otis ran off, and Brooke followed more slowly, sipping her coffee and peering up at the house. It definitely needed a paint job, and the roof looked like it was missing a few shingles. Otherwise, the place seemed to be in relatively good shape for a dwelling that had been built at the turn of the century, and not the current one. The lawn was overgrown, and a few of the paving stones leading to the garden at the rear of the house needed to be replaced, but the garden itself was well tended. Even under winter’s gloom, she saw evidence of her grandmother’s loving touch in the perennial beds. In spring, they would be a mass of blooms.
    “How’re you feeling this morning?”
    Brooke jumped, sloshing hot coffee onto her hand. She swore and turned, her gaze meeting Dillon’s. His golden eyes twinkled down at her as a slow grin spread across his freshly shaved face. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his low slung jeans and rocked back on his heels.
    She swallowed as her blood heated at his slow perusal. “I can’t complain. My ribs are a little sore, but the headache is better.”
    “Good. Sorry I startled you.”
    She wiped her wet hand down the seat of her jeans. “Don’t worry about it.” A blur of movement caught her eye, and she turned. A young boy chased Otis across the yard, legs pumping, a wide grin on his face. “My goodness, is that Zack?”
    Dillon glanced over as the two flew across the lawn. “The one and only. He’s fascinated by your dog.”
    “I could swear he wasn’t more than a toddler the last time I saw him. I guess it’s been a few years.”
    “Zack is six.” He studied his son, his eyes glowing with pride.
    “If he’s six, why isn’t he in school today?”
    “Teachers’ meetings or something like that. I took the