The Sweethearts’ Knitting Club Read Online Free Page A

Find his own blueprint for the way a man was supposed to be. He was going to make his own guidelines, develop his own moral code, police himselfso there’d be no need for anyone else to police him. He’d adhere to the letter of the law and he’d live up to his image of what a real man should be. From that moment on, Beau made it his life mission to be better than Clinton in every way. He’d be everything his father was not—ethical, fair, honest, and self-disciplined.
    And then at sixteen he’d fallen in love for the first time. Madly, deeply, blindly in love, the way that only a teenager could fall. Jodi was beautiful, impulsive, and exciting. Beau was drawn to her, moth to a flame. She strung him along, then broke his heart by leaving town with a thug so much like Clinton it crushed his soul. When he heard a few weeks later that she’d been killed in an accident on the back of the guy’s motorcycle, he took it personally. If she’d just stayed with him, she would still be alive and safe. After that, he’d drawn up his image of the perfect woman. She would be a good person, hardworking, responsible, generous, and practical. She wouldn’t let her head be turned by some swaggering bad boy.
    And then he met Flynn. She fit his mental blueprint perfectly, and he set about falling in love with her in a calm, rational manner.
    They were getting along good, she was his perfect mate. Even though they were still in high school, he was already picturing their children. Then Patsy Cross brought her nephew to Twilight and ruined everything.
    Beau blew out his breath, parked his cruiser in front of the sheriff’s office, and got out, the black velvet ring box weighing heavily in his pocket. He’d put up with a lot from Flynn because he knew shewas right for him and he was right for her. They’d been through so much together. For the most part, he was willing to give her the time and space she needed. He had been happy with their current relationship.
    That was until Warden Neusbaum called him to tell him Jesse Calloway was getting out of prison on early release and Beau knew he had to get his ring on Flynn’s finger before that bastard came roaring back into town. Because he knew Flynn didn’t take commitments lightly. Once she committed to something, she was in for the duration.
    And he was going to make sure that he was the one she committed to. He’d be damned if he let her end up like Jodi. Once and for all, he was saving her from that low-life scumbag, if it was the last thing he ever did.
     
    Her sister, Carrie, stood in the kitchen tying a green and white Froggy’s apron around her waist. Flynn screeched to a halt and said breathlessly, “Red alert. Knitting club is right behind me, where’s the afghan?”
    “Don’t panic. The living room is set up for the meeting. Afghan is by your chair. Your dark secret is still safe. Cookies, sandwiches, and tea…” She motioned to the sideboard. “All laid out.”
    Flynn stared. Her sister had come through for her and in a big way.
    Carrie wrinkled her nose. “Why are you looking at me like I’m Jezebel singing in the church choir?”
    All those years of bailing her sister out of trouble—shoplifting charges, underage drinking andpot smoking, annulling her ill-conceived marriage. Carrie was going to be okay.
    “You’re not supposed to work tonight,” Flynn said. “I thought you had a date with Logan.”
    “I’m taking Dad’s shift.” Carrie pinned her name tag to her chest.
    “Where is he?”
    “AA meeting.”
    Relief that her father hadn’t fallen off the wagon was as strong as the dual twist of concern. “What happened?”
    Carrie shook her head. “Today would have been their twenty-eighth wedding anniversary, Flynn.”
    May 28. How could she have forgotten? Flynn smacked her forehead with her palm. “I’m such a dumbass. It completely slipped my mind.”
    “You can’t be expected to remember everything.” Carrie turned for the door,