As Fate Would Have It Read Free Page A

them."
    Her mouth dropped open as she squirmed in her seat at the kitchen table. Her rosy cheeks drew his attention, as did the flicker of astonishment in her eyes.
    "Aunt Sally said you are on vacation." Rye's mouth twitched at her startled expression. Now, this might prove to be very entertaining. Wonder how many shades of red her face can turn? Standing up, he sat his dishes in the sink. Well, he was sure of one thing. He was going to discover each and every one of them. It was too good an opportunity to pass up.
    Following suit, Brie placed her glass in the sink as well, quickly washing her hands. "Yep, thankfully. I am more than ready for a break."
    "So, what are you going to do with your time off?"
    She smiled wide and genuine. "Gardening, landscaping, home improvement."
    His face fell. Of course he had to be saddled with Miss Suzy Home Improvement Girl. A long resigned sigh escaped from his chest. Not that he minded manual labor and even livening up a yard, but he could think of much better ways to spend those days. If he was going to sweat, he could find more enjoyable causes. Something involving a bedroom and a naked seductress.

Chapter 4
     
    Glancing at her watch, Brie slipped on her tennis shoes as she headed to the front door. "Feel up to a tour of the neighborhood, first?" If she got started on the walk early enough, perhaps she could avoid the neighborhood gossip ladies and their endless questions and insinuations about Rye. Though sweet and caring, those women poked their noses into anyone's business they wanted to, or found interesting. If at all possible, she planned on staying below their radar.
    Shrugging, he followed, stepping out the door. "I take it you do this often?"
    Brie fell into step beside him, leading the way to the sidewalk, then hooked a hard left. "Yeah. My morning walk. I enjoy it, anyway."
    Nodding, Rye shortened his stride, easily keeping pace. Gaze moving from one house to another, he softly asked, "Do you enjoy your work?"
    Thinking about that question, she answered truthfully. "I used to. Now, things are just so chaotic with the shortages. I think we're all pretty run down and simply tired." A few more steps passed before she asked in return, "How about you? Is police work all you dreamed it to be?"
    Rye smirked at that. "I like being a cop, especially a detective. Like anything else, you have good days and bad. Can't win every battle, but I think every little bit helps." Glancing down, he watched her hair blow in the breeze, the ponytail lightly swaying.
    "Don't you worry about the danger?" Turning, she surveyed his face, waiting for his answer.
    He took his time before speaking. "Sure. Anyone who tells you different is lying. But, it's just part of the job. Just have to be careful out there."
    A blue-haired elderly lady walked out to the sidewalk from her front porch, morning paper in hand. "Oh, good morning, Brie."
    Sighing, Brie paused, plastering a smile on her face. "Thelma. How are you today?"
    "Just fine. Now, aren't you going to introduce me to your… friend?" She smiled widely at Rye, her eyes traveling the length of his body and back.
    Just resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Brie quickly did the introductions. "Thelma, this is Rye. Rye, this is Thelma."
    Giving the neighbor a charming smile, he held out his hand, taking hers and lightly kissing the back of it. "My pleasure, madam."
    Thelma tittered at his attention. "Oh, my. Such a mannerly one, too." Not taking her eyes off him, she asked Brie, "Is he your new beau?"
    Her face heated. Here we go. Of course, the neighborhood gossips would have this tidbit of information spread in a matter of minutes. Probably by that afternoon, they would have ballooned the story to include something outrageous like she finally found a man and they already shacked up together or some such nonsense. "He's a close friend of the family."
    Thelma slowly removed her hand from his grasp. "Oh, that's just too bad." Leaning over to Brie, she