Holly Grove Homecoming Read Online Free

cordial but matter-of-fact. “May I help you?”
    His smile was obviously forced, but his tone was equally cordial. “I’m Trooper Myers, and I’m visiting my aunt, Myrna Johnson.” He nodded toward the house across the street. “Aunt Myrna noticed that Marshall Aubrey’s truck was over here most of the day, so she figured you hadn’t had time to fix supper. She thought you might like to join us for some chicken salad and fruit. She said to tell you it isn’t much, but that it’s too hot to eat a heavy meal anyway.”
    Carly suppressed a sigh. Life could become complicated sometimes. She’d never figured on meeting Trooper Myers, let alone having supper with him and his aunt. On the other hand, when fate offered an opportunity like this, only a fool would pass it up. “I’d love to join you and Myrna.” She glanced down at her grimy shirt and smiled. “I hope I have time to freshen up.”
    “No problem. Just come over whenever you’re ready.”
    “Can I bring anything?”
    Trooper nodded toward the wine glass in her hand. “Maybe the rest of that bottle, if there’s any left.”
    “I just opened it so there’s plenty. Myrna won’t object?”
    “She won’t join us but she won’t object.”
    “In that case, I’ll let you take it with you and stow it in her refrigerator.”
    “Glad to.”
    “Come on in.” Carly moved back to make room for Trooper to step inside. “Follow me.”
    She led him through the house and into the breakfast nook, then picked the bottle up and turned to hand it to him.
    He wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was sweeping the room, flitting from the picture window that looked out onto the back patio, to the hardrock maple table she’d placed in front of that window, and then around to the renovated kitchen behind them.
    A soft whistle and raised eyebrows preceded his nod of approval. “I like what you’ve done with the place.”
    Carly reminded herself that she wasn’t supposed to know Trooper had grown up in Holly Grove. “It sounds as though you remember this house from a previous owner.”
    “When I was a kid, a family named Jarvis lived here. I used to play with their son. I’ve been away for a few years so I don’t know when the Jarvis family moved. Did you buy from them?”
    “No. It was in the hands of a real estate agent, and I never met the owners. They moved before I came to town. Now I can’t remember whether their name was Jarvis or something different.”
    “Doesn’t matter anyway. But the house is a lot prettier now than it was back then.”
    Carly nodded. “Thanks. I like it. Here’s the wine.”
    “Appreciate it.” Trooper took the bottle from her. “I’ll stick this in Aunt Myrna’s fridge. Come on over whenever you’re ready.” Without waiting for her to speak again, he turned and headed toward the front of the house. A few seconds later, Carly heard her front door click shut. Within seconds, FluffBall pranced into the kitchen, meowing in obvious disgust at having had strangers invading her territory that day. Carly murmured a few soothing words while putting out fresh cat food and water, then gulped the rest of her glass of wine before dashing up the stairs and into the shower.
    After a quick blow-dry and minimum make-up, she dressed in a light summer skirt and knit top. The skirt swirled around her legs as she hurried down the stairs, making her feel girly. “Wonder if that wine’s getting to me?” she asked herself. Girly was not a feeling she actively pursued. She hoped she wasn’t overreacting to Trooper Myer’s sexy smile and hero-handsome face. She didn’t need to stir up feelings for Trooper. Chances were that someday he was going to detest her, and she didn’t want to get her heart involved in a situation that had the potential for deteriorating into a fiasco. Still, she couldn’t suppress a certain degree of anticipation as she made her way across Sugar Maple Drive.
    Trooper waited for her on Myrna’s porch with a smile