Secrets Among the Cedars (Intertwined Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

palm trees beside the picnic area, then hooked Sadie up to her leash and followed the paved path to the nearest table underneath a pavilion. The ocean lapped on the beach area, the only one in Cedar Key, and the palm fronds danced in the hot, salty breeze. Children laughed and played in the playground, and tourists bustled around the storefront area, filtering in and out of establishments with bags of goodies in their hands. Kathryn breathed in and closed her eyes. She might form an addiction to this place.
    "Let me drink this, Sadie, and then we'll go back to the condo. I don't want to miss one single sunset on the dock. How 'bout you?" She tugged Sadie's right ear; Sadie barked, drool sliding out of her mouth.
    "Yeah, I hate missing sunsets too."
    At the sound of the deep voice coming from behind her, Kathryn jumped and almost dropped her drink. The hair stood up on the back of her neck, and her back stiffened. Some watchdog Sadie was.
    Sadie darted away from her toward the stranger, and she had no choice but to turn around. She locked her gaze with Phil’s, as he squatted to meet her baby. Her breath caught in her throat, causing a hiccough to erupt from deep within, and she covered her mouth with her hand. What was he doing here? Had he followed her? Maybe he was the one behind the threats. Kathryn reached for her keys and positioned them between her fingers in case she needed to defend herself. Sadie certainly wasn't going to do it.
    Not seeming to notice the strange reaction he'd caused, Phil complimented, "Your dog is amazing! What kind is she?"
    "She's a Silken Windhound."
    "She's beautiful."
    "Thanks. I wish everyone around here felt that way."
    "What do you mean?"
    After Kathryn explained to Phil about the threatening note, he responded with obvious concern stamped across his face. "I can't believe anyone would threaten her." He ruffled Sadie's ears and stood, pulling his white V-neck T-shirt down over the low-slung waistband of his faded jeans.
    "I agree." Kathryn sighed and arched her right eyebrow. She tried to ignore the toned muscles bulging from beneath his shirt. He looked great in white. He'd probably look good in any color though. Why had her mouth suddenly gone dry? It had been too long since she’d been this close to a handsome man in a conversation outside of the topic of law. "She's supposed to protect me from strangers." She tugged at the leash and rolled her eyes.
    Phil crinkled his brow. "But I'm not a stranger."
    "To her you are. I suppose I should've gotten a Rottweiler." Sadie wagged her tail and whimpered for Phil to play with her. Kathryn tightened her hold on the leash and dragged her back, shoving her keys into her pocket.
    “Am I bothering you?”
    She felt a pang in her chest. She shouldn’t have been so rude. “No, of course not. But you are following me, right?"
    "No way! I live here. Remember?" He shrugged his eyebrows. "I always stop at my favorite spot to watch the clamming boats come in before heading back home." He directed his attention toward the dock adjacent to the shops.
    Was there no escaping this man? She smiled but groaned and returned to her seat. "Favorite spot?"
    "Yep. You can't beat the ambiance."
    "Is that what you call it?" She giggled.
    "Of course." He held up a sack he'd held underneath his arm. "Care if I join?"
    She held up a finger. "On one condition."
    "Okay, shoot."
    "Don't feed Sadie any of whatever's in that bag…"
    Phil tucked his legs underneath the table and sat on the bench opposite Kathryn. "Deal."
    "…no matter how hard she begs." Kathryn laughed and sucked on her straw. Then she grabbed her forehead and scrunched up her face.
    "What's the matter?"
    "Brain freeze!" She stomped her foot on the ground. Like that would help.
    "Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth and hold it there."
    She squeezed her forehead again. "What?"
    "Just do it. Trust me."
    Kathryn pressed her tongue hard up onto the roof of her mouth and within seconds, the brain freeze