Joker's Wild Read Online Free

peoples’ worlds and he landscaped the outside. The real reason they enjoyed their work was because they made the world more beautiful.
    The truth was that he’d never quite trusted reality. If he created a situation, it couldn’t change or disappoint him. He never said anything that would hurt anybody else. Now he sensed that a little imagination could soften the blow for Allison.
    A large crackle of grease spat from the pan and singed his hand. “Ouch! What I am is a gardener. Your grandmother needed help, and I needed a place to live.” His answer was true enough.
    “Gardener? What happened to Ollie?”
    “Ollie? Don’t know. I’d say it’s been a while since he was here. Your grandmother has had a hard time finding help during the past few years.”
    “I can see. She should have told me.”
    “She didn’t want to worry you. And since I needed a place to stay,” he improvised as he cooked, conscious that she was beginning to lose that frantic look, “she let me rent the carriage house.”
    Joker removed the pieces of chicken from the pan and placed them on paper towels. “After Miss Lenice fell, we altered our agreement somewhat. I look after things for her in exchange for my keep. You know your grandmother. She thinks I’m such a sensible boy. She trusts me. And I promise, my gardening is almost as good as my cooking.”
    Boy? Allison smiled broadly. Her grandmother had a unique way of viewing the world. A boy? No, her grandmothers gardener might be many things, but a boy wasn’t one of them. She sneaked a look at him.
    His expression was serious. Unconsciously she watched his profile as he worked. She’d never met anyone like this man. There was something about him, an energy that seemed at war with his size and strength. Yet she could picture Gran and him sitting on the patio talking. Perhaps it was that kind of belonging that made Allison accept his presence in spite of her protests. He was the one who belonged in Gran’s kitchen—not she. The thought made her sad. Somewhere along the way she’d lost the belonging.
    “Almost ready,” he said as he poured tea into familiar gold-colored glasses filled with ice.
    Allison frowned and stretched her shoulders. She hadn’t been so tired since she was thirteen and had skated in her first competition with Mark. She hadn’t known then that he would become so important to her that she’d give up control of her life to please him.
    “All right,” she finally agreed. “I’ll honor Gran’s wishes. But I’m at home now, so we’ll have to work out a schedule to share the kitchen.” Allison took a big sip from the glass of iced tea he’d placed before her. “At least until I can talk to Gran about what we’re going to do.”
    “Maybe you won’t want to bother Miss Lenice about the details just yet, Allison. I mean, she’s improved considerably, but she still has a way to go. Perhaps we could continue to share the kitchen for a while.How do you like the fresh mint in your tea? It’s straight out of my herb garden.”
    Allison swallowed the sweet liquid and watched as the red-haired man spooned peas and new potatoes onto two plates. To each he added a large golden chicken leg and a slice of cornbread dripping with butter, then placed them on the table.
    “You mean you expect to traipse in and out of my house at will? You’ve got to be kidding.”
    “Well, maybe after your knee improves, we can take turns. I’ll make breakfast, you make lunch, and we’ll share the night duty.”
    “I don’t eat breakfast, I can’t cook, and how much better my leg will get is open to debate. All I’m interested in right now is sunshine, rest, and quiet.”
    “Fine. We can supply that. But breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I’ll teach you to cook, and I think I can help with the leg too.”
    “Oh? Do you practice medicine along with your other duties?” she asked with a smile, thinking how much she liked his carefree attitude.
    “I’m a