A Deadly Love Read Online Free Page B

day off work to stay home with him.”
    The brown-haired dynamo took down her dog in a flying tackle. The two rolled in the grass, obviously thrilled with their game.
    “Grandma talks about him all the time. She really enjoys the time they spend together.”
    “I’m happy he has a surrogate grandmother in his life. Gail’s parents live in Seattle, so he doesn’t see them all that often.”
    “I’m sorry about your wife, Dillon. I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. It must be a struggle raising Zack on your own.”
    He bent to pick up a rock and sent it flying toward the huge redwoods that grew down nearly to the edge of the garden. “I’ve encountered a few challenges, but we’re managing.” He smiled and changed the subject. “You should check out the excavation project your dog started in my back yard.”
    She closed her eyes and groaned. “How bad is it?”
    “Let’s just say it’ll take a shovel to fill in the hole.”
    “I’m sorry, Dillon.”
    He patted her shoulder. “Lucky for you I’m in a good mood this morning.”
    “I can’t break his digging habit, and God knows I’ve tried. My brother said I should have called him Digger.”
    “How is James?”
    She followed him through the break in the low hedge that separated her grandmother’s yard from his. “Busy. He just received another research grant, and his wife, Stacy, is expecting. I’ll be an aunt in a few months.”
    “Good for them.”
    “My parents are thrilled, especially since I won’t be making them grandparents anytime soon.”
    He stopped next to a shed and touched her arm. “June told me you broke off your engagement. I’m sorry.”
    Her stomach clenched just thinking about the fiasco that ended her relationship with Gavin. “I’ll survive. I suppose there are worse things than finding out the man you plan to marry is gay.”
    He stared at her, and his lips twitched. “You’re kidding, right?”
    “No, I’m not kidding. Go ahead and laugh. I know you’re dying to.”
    “It’s not that funny. I’m sorry, Brooke.” He draped his arm over her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.
    She felt the embrace clear to her toes. “Yeah, I am, too. Gavin is a great guy. I’m just sorry he didn’t own up to his sexual preferences a little sooner.”
    Dillon studied her from the top of her blonde hair pulled back in a haphazard ponytail to the toes of her dirty running shoes. “You’re not exactly hard on the eyes. You’d temp any man. Did the two of you—” He stopped and held up his hands. “Not my business. Forget I asked.”
    She let out a sigh. “Yeah, we did, but not very often. That should have been my first clue. Instead, I assumed he loved me more for my brains and charming personality than my looks.”
    He opened the shed and took out a shovel. “No disrespect intended, but if you ever date a guy who can keep his hands to himself, you can be pretty certain he’s playing for the other team.”
    She laughed. “You’re good for my self-esteem, and right now it could use a boost. Let’s go see how big Otis’s hole is this time.”
    The hole was nearly three feet deep, but thankfully it was under a fir tree on the edge of the property and not in the middle of the lawn. Dillon made short work of filling it in. He stomped down the dirt and smiled at her over his shoulder. “Should I keep my shovel handy?”
    Brooke frowned. I’ll tie him up if I have to.”
    “Don’t do that. I gave your dog a stern lecture when I caught him in the act. Maybe it will have an effect.”
    “I hope so. I can’t have him digging up Grandma’s yard once we’re open for business.”
    His eyebrows rose. “What sort of business?”
    “We’re going to open a bed and breakfast after I fix up the house.”
    “Why would you want to do that?”
    “I need a project to keep me occupied, and Grandma needs the income. We both do. My savings certainly aren’t going to last forever.”
    He put the shovel back in the shed