A Chance Encounter Read Free Page B

Anyone she touches is better off for it.”
    Taylor had to concede the point. He had felt a strange sense of peace surrounding Katie as she knelt down beside the cardiac victim. And he had felt something else—a strange twinge in his heart—as he watched her rapt face. Katie had been in another world. How could he describe the glow on her face or the burning, cobalt color of her eyes as she caressed the victim with her gaze? He mentally shook himself. Come on, Grant. Knock it off! You’re getting soft. Soft-headed would be more like it. He focused his gaze on Claire Garvey, who appeared to be extremely nervous.
    “Special in what way?”
    “I can’t discuss it with you, Mr. Grant. Katie’s gifts are her own business, not mine.” ‘
    Barry wandered over. “Hey, Taylor, I’m hoofin’ it back to the office. Gotta process these shots. They turned out real well.”
    Claire frowned. “Really, Mr. Grant, you have no business writing anything about Katie or even taking her picture. She doesn’t like publicity.”
    One eyebrow moved upward. “Oh?” Taylor said skeptically.
    “Absolutely. Katie wants anonymity.”
    Taylor grinned. “She’s not exactly going about it in the right way, is she, Mrs. Garvey?”
    Claire Garvey glared up at him. “Leave her alone,” she said, enunciating every word.
    Taylor lifted his chin, looking over at the table where Katie had sat. Her books were still piled there, in untidy stacks. That would help, he thought, a genuine smile tilting the corners of his mouth. “Thanks, Mrs. Garvey,” he murmured, walking toward the table.
    “I’ll see you later, Taylor,” Barry called.
    “Right. I’ll want to see those photos when I get back. Tell the editor I’ll have the story ready for the evening edition.” Taylor halted by Katie’s table. Was it his imagination, or could he smell the lingering lilac fragrance that seemed to surround her? She had left one of her books behind. He flipped through it, looking for a clue to her identity. There was a lavender sticker inside the back cover that read. Unicorn Bookstore. Taylor shut the book, tucked it under his arm and he went out the rear exit and walked to his black Toyota Camry.
    Because he was still unfamiliar with Rio Conchos, which nestled against the wealthy area known as La Jolla, Taylor punched the address into his GPS unit. Perhaps someone at the Unicorn Bookstore would remember Katie, he mused, far more curious over the chain of events than he cared to admit.
    Katie Riordan flew through the door of the Unicorn Bookstore. The silvery head of Maud Winthrop jerked up.
    “Good grief, Katie girl, what on earth is the rush?”
    Katie came to a halt, glancing around the store nervously. “Oh, nothing, Maud. Nothing. I’m sorry I’m late. Why don’t you go along to lunch now?”
    Maud came out from behind the desk that served as a cash register and office for the store. “Ain’t been very busy since you left. Oh, Mrs. Clark called to say she’s bringing Amanda to you. Seems the cat has a terrible cold, and she was wonderin’ if you’d help.”
    Distracted, Katie bumped into the corner of the dark mahogany desk. “Ouch! Of course…uh, did you put her down with the other afternoon appointments, Maud?”
    Maud, who was shaped like a plump pigeon, picked up her black leather purse. “Sure did, Katie. Have a nice lunch?”
    Katie bit her lip. She never lied, but there was no sense in worrying Maud just because she herself was upset. “Let’s put it this way—it wasn’t boring. Now, shoo!”
    Maud’s brown eyes took on a lively twinkle. “Okay, okay. It takes me a minute to get my eighty-four-year-old body in gear. Do you need anything?”
    Yes , Katie thought desperately. “No, thank you. Go on, I’ll hold down the fort.”
    Maud walked out of the bookstore, and quiet settled in around Katie. Some of the strain disappeared from her face as she put on some music. Anything to soothe herself. She sat down and buried her face